So under shocking grasp, you get +3 to hit if the target is wearing metal armor. Does this count for a spellstriking magus?
Yes, I know it says in the spell melee touch attack, and spellstrike makes it a melee attack, so it might not work. What I'm really wondering is, if the magus swings and misses, but by 3 or less, could this be interpreted as "well, your weapon hit the target's armor but didn't pierce it, so you don't do any weapon damage, however the shocking grasp still goes off because it was metal armor."
I agree. The bonus applies vs. metal wielding/constructed opponents. Some disagree, but I personally don't see the ambiguity. Spellstike or no, you're still casting the spell, and everything in the spell description applies, for better or for worse.
The language regarding the melee touch was written before there was an alternate delivery method (spellstrike), but spellstrike overrides it. Further, the text describing the bonus to hit is a separate clause altogether and is therefore independent of the first clause (where the bit about the successful touch attack resides).
The second part of what you posted does not work though IMO. Even if one were to decide the bonus did not apply, there is no "partial hit" mechanic in PF as far as I am aware. Its all or nothing, hit or miss, for both the weapon and spell portions of spellstrike.
The Magus shouldn't be nerfed in anyway - he has enough problems.. Getting a +3 to hit I would allow it, unless it's a optimized magus with a underoptimized group - but then a +3 to hit in a few situations should matter much anyway..
