M&P 9mm Disassembly Problems.

[Mick Small OAM]

I have never previously field stripped my S&W M&P 9mm, as there has been no need. I rarely use it for target / Military Shoots, in Australia SSAA Club shoots! It always shoots well and only recently incurred a carbon build up below the chamber.

When I attempted to clean it properly, I was unable to field strip it, as despite racking it three times, using the butt tool to deactivate the internal wire and depressing the take down lever, the bloody thing would not allow the slide & barrel to come apart.

Before everyone jumps in with well meaning information and questioning my ability, I am a 65yo Armourer, with experience in the Correctional system and as a private Armourer.

In the process of attempting to disassemble the weapon, I did stuff up and managed to remove the pin under the take down lever. Three hours later, I still cannot get it back and allow the trigger to operate!

I could easily relocate the pin & trigger spring if the slide was removed! This comes back to the original problem with faulty disassembly processes.

I would really appreciate any similar experiences and relevant solutions. I am ready to send it back to the Australian Dealers, Grycol, as I am fed up with it.

[WR Moore]

OK, let's start from the beginning.

Drop magazine, clear chamber, lock slide to the rear.

Use any implement to lower the sear release lever. I find a pen or small screwdriver a heck of a lot easier than pulling the widget in the butt.. Make sure the sear release lever is all the way down-don't force it. BTW, if your pistol has a magazine disconnector, the sear release lever is the one on the left when looking from the rear of the pistol.

Rotate the takedown lever to the 6 o clock position and hold it there. Pull the slide back slightly to allow the slide stop to release and then allow the slide to go forward. It should slide right off the frame. If it doesn't, the usual issue is not having the sear lowered enough to clear the striker leg.

The disassembly process really isn't faulty. May not be as slick as the Browning High Power, but much better than some others.

If all else fails, lock the slide back and remove the striker assembly from the rear of the slide. That'll let you get the thing apart and figure out what you're doing wrong.