it sounds like you're not lining the guide rod up center of the barrel lug and it's getting caught where it's not supposed to.
the issue of the slide release sounds like your're not pulling it back all the wya. the shield 9mm spring is VEEEEEEEEEEEERY tight until a few hundred rounds down range. you can try hand racking it a few hundred times and leaving it all the way locked back (if you can get it back) for a week with the slide lock engaged to give the spring a little bit of a set.
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