Tight slide release for M&P Shield .40SW

[d'zaster]

Guys, My new M&P .40 and a really tight slide release. Common problem? I'd rather modify the part myself vs vs sending to S&W. Comments/suggestions welcome.

 

[Havok7416]

I have an M&P9c that has the same problem. They are similar, but I haven't had the chance to play with the release on the Shield. No idea how to fix it, but then I'm not that concerned (about mine).

 

[ATLDave]

My M&P9 has a slide release that is all but impossibly tight when there is not a loaded magazine inserted. With a loaded magazine, it's much easier. Is yours consistently stiff even when you've got a charged mag in it?

 

[ny32182]

Define "tight". It is not locking open when empty?

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

How is it tight? During what operation?

 

[d'zaster]

Thanks Gents. Tight means using two thumbs and pressing really hard to get it to release the slide. This is with mag empty. As suggested, I tried with a snap cap in the mag and it was better. Still really tight but doable.

 

[rcmodel]

It should be tight if you lock it open with an empty mag in the gun.
You have the mag spring & follower pushing it up into engagement at full force.

You don't normally need to do that anyway.

Try this:
Put a dab of grease on the slide stop notch in the slide
Then load it with a loaded mag, or else take the empty mag out and try it a few times.

Either relieves mag spring pressure from holding the slide stop up in engagement with the slide.

rc

 

[9mmepiphany]

Tight means using two thumbs and pressing really hard to get it to release the slide. This is with mag empty.

Might be because it wasn't intended that the slide lock be used to release the slide when a unloaded magazine is inserted.

I didn't noticed the that the slide lock was unusually tight when I first got my M&P, until someone mentioned the issue...maybe it was because I usually just grab and retract the slide to release it...plus then, I can ease it closed on an empty chamber

 

[rsrocket1]

Just a suggestion. Use it as a slide lock and not a slide release. To close the slide after inserting a fresh magazine, use the slingshot method by pulling back the slide and releasing it.

That way you don't have to fight the friction of the slide lock. If you inspect the slide lock, you'll notice that it is nothing more than a bent piece of metal. Pushing in as well as down on the exposed part stresses the bend and after a lot of pushes, the cantilevered part will break off. The good news for me is that the slide lock on the FS is ambidextrous and the other side still worked.

That happened to me after about 18 months with my M&P FS (about 1,000 releases). Yes, it's covered and S&W replaced it no charge, but it took about three weeks to get the part replaced ($11 if you simply bought one). I now use the slingshot method and only operate the tab to lock back the slide when field stripping the gun.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Thanks Gents. Tight means using two thumbs and pressing really hard to get it to release the slide.

Well, there's your problem. According to S&W, your firearm isn't equipped with a device to release the slide from lock back into battery. It's only equipped with a device to hold the slide open. According to S&W, the proper technique for releasing the slide is:

"Pull the slide to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully
forward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine and seats it
in the chamber of the barrel."

 

[ny32182]

I'd take the part out and polish the engagement edge of the slide catch so there is less friction when pushing it down. I do this anyway on every gun I intend to shoot a lot.

Also, there is no reason to ever do this with an empty mag in it anyway... the follower is pressing up on the slide catch, and you're having to overcome the frictional tension and the mag spring tension... any time you are loading the gun from slidelock it is not going to be empty obviously, so just adjust it with no mag in the gun.

In my full size M&P pro, in about 32k+ rounds, I broke the slide catch once... and it was still functional. The left side thumb pad broke off. The kicker: I'm left handed, and in the event the slide didn't auto-forward, I would always press the right side button with my left thumb. So the part that broke off, was a part that I was NEVER pressing.

It is a cheap part... buy a couple extras, and if you ever break it, it is a 10 minute job to replace. No way in hades I'd spend weeks and possibly pay shipping to send a pistol somewhere for a warranty replacement of a ~$5 consumable cookie cutter part.

 

[rsrocket1]

It is a cheap part... buy a couple extras, and if you ever break it, it is a 10 minute job to replace. No way in hades I'd spend weeks and possibly pay shipping to send a pistol somewhere for a warranty replacement of a ~$5 consumable cookie cutter part.

...agreed, the next order you place with Midway or Brownells, buy a couple of spares. S&W will pay for postage both ways and will fix it for free, but it will be a few weeks without a gun and replacing the part takes very little time.

 

[mgmorden]

My M&P doesn't have what I'd call a slide release - its a slide lock. Unless you pull the slide rearward first its darned near impossible to drop the slide with the lever.

Given that slingshot works on all guns, and using the lever can have mixed results, I just slingshot the slide and don't worry about it. If I'm trying to close on an empty chamber with a mag in then I just pull back the slide first, press the lever down, and then ease the slide down. There's no time I'd ever be in a hurry to drop the slide on an empty chamber and mag so that doesn't bother me.

 

[d'zaster]

Thanks to ALL!!!! I generally use the slingshot method but thought it should be easier to release when not loaded. Makes sense that is really meant as a slide lock. I will try lubricating it and shooting more rounds down range. Will have the opportunity this weekend.

 

[ATLDave]

One other thing. My M&P will more reliably "auto-forward" (release the slide when a full magazine is forcefully inserted) than any other gun I have ever seen or used. It took me a long time to learn that the slide stop/release works better/easier with a full mag than empty for the simple reason that I shot it a lot before I ever needed to manually forward the slide!

Just seat the mag firmly and see if you find it unnecessary to either slingshot or thumb the lever/lock.