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  #1  
Old 08-09-2011, 08:21 PM
LOBONCA LOBONCA is offline
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Default M&P's Auto Forward

I have both an M&P Pro and an M&P 40c. Both slides will automatically go forward after I slam a mag in. There have been references to this in other forums but I wanted to get info from other M&P owners.

Some people say this happens 100% of the time, others say it only happens some of the time. Still others say that S&W has changed something and the newer guns do not do this.

What is the real scoop?

Were the guns designed this way or is it just a fluke?

Personally I like it and I can count on both guns auto forwarding. Makes things very fast on reload. What is your opinion?
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Old 08-09-2011, 08:39 PM
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There was a recent thread on this. The slide is designed to stay back after a magazine is inserted. Slamming in a magazine may bump the slide stop out of place, but it is not a "feature". Slamming in a magazine to make the slide go forward is not a correct loading technique, even though a lot of people do it.

That part is called a "Slide Stop" not a "Slide Release" for a reason.
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Old 08-09-2011, 08:43 PM
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It happens with a lot of different brands of pistols. My opinion is it's fine if you are playing games, but I wouldn't like it in a self defense situation and the reason being is this. Whether this will happen with M&P's I don't know, but I had an officer tell me his dept issue Sig P229 40s&w was malfunctioning. He said it wasn't chambering a round when inserting a partially loaded magazine during a drill. We were able to replicate the issue easily and what was happening was he was inserting a 1/2 loaded magazine with enough force to cause the rounds to compress the magazine spring and in turn when the slide went forward automatically it wasn't able to strip off the top round. He had to recycle the slide to chamber a round. Like I said, I don't know if this will occur with the M&P mags, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind...if it should just go "CLICK"
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Old 08-09-2011, 10:02 PM
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Default Auto slide close.

I called the S&W phone number and talked to a tec. According to him the gun is designed to do this. I have no idea if this is S&W making lemonade out of lemons but this is what I was told. My 45 does this and I hope it always does.
Best, Frank.
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Old 08-09-2011, 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Dragon88 View Post
That part is called a "Slide Stop" not a "Slide Release" for a reason.
Really...I wonder why, then, they made it external, protruding, and ambidextrous.
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Old 08-09-2011, 10:35 PM
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I called the S&W phone number and talked to a tec. According to him the gun is designed to do this. I have no idea if this is S&W making lemonade out of lemons but this is what I was told. My 45 does this and I hope it always does.
Best, Frank.
Total BS!

This is something that has been known about for a long time now. A lot of people will tell you "it happens to mine, it's normal, don't worry about it". But it doesn't matter how many people say it happens to them, it is not supposed to happen that way!

I didn't have the problem with the original magazines that came with my M&P40. Then I got my two rebate magazines and it did happen with these two new magazines. What I found out was the springs in the new mags were shorter, therefore exerting less pressure on the follower and in turn on the slide stop so it didn't engage the slide stop notch fully. So when the next mag was inserted forcefully the stop slipped off the notch. New springs in the new mags fixed the problem for me.

If not weak mag springs in your case it could be a worn slide stop or the notch on the slide could be misshapen/rounded. But in any case the rep gave you a load of BS which is becoming far too common lately!!
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Old 08-09-2011, 10:46 PM
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Really...I wonder why, then, they made it external, protruding, and ambidextrous.
So you can push it UP with either your right or left thumb when you want the slide to STOP OPEN.

Any further questions!
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Old 08-10-2011, 12:05 AM
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So you can push it UP with either your right or left thumb when you want the slide to STOP OPEN.

Any further questions!
Yes...Why, then, did they put serrations on the top of the two levers, and why would they consider an administrative function so important as to make it ambidextrous, yet leave the take-down lever conducive to right hand use?
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Old 08-10-2011, 12:41 AM
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The takedown lever does not need to be activated quickly in the field or during use. The slide STOP does have to be activated quickly in order to clear certain types of malfunctions, or to do an administrative lock and clear.

This is the most ridiculous thing to argue about, yet there's about two threads a week on it. If you want to play games with your pistol on the range and "auto forward" the slide, go for it. I hope you never have to use your pistol for real and get a click-no-bang because you trained yourself to operate your pistol incorrectly.
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Old 08-10-2011, 12:53 AM
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It's kind of like setting down a mousetrap. If you bump it the trap springs!

On a M&P there is NO TRIP mechanism that would cause auto-loading. I suggest reading the owner's manual for verification. Shame on the S&W tech that told you this was designed to auto-load.

Last edited by Lost Lake; 08-10-2011 at 10:32 AM. Reason: Cleaned up sarcasm.
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Old 08-10-2011, 08:52 AM
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In my case with both guns which auto-forward they have the mags that come with the guns from S&W. Both guns are under a year old.
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Old 08-10-2011, 09:08 AM
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Doesn't anyone read the manuals that come with new stuff anymore?
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Old 08-10-2011, 10:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon88 View Post
The takedown lever does not need to be activated quickly in the field or during use. The slide STOP does have to be activated quickly in order to clear certain types of malfunctions, or to do an administrative lock and clear.

This is the most ridiculous thing to argue about, yet there's about two threads a week on it. If you want to play games with your pistol on the range and "auto forward" the slide, go for it. I hope you never have to use your pistol for real and get a click-no-bang because you trained yourself to operate your pistol incorrectly.
You mean to tell me that running out of ammo in a gun fight is so second nature to you that you will calmly drop the empty and seat the new mag with just the right amount of force that it fully seats, but has zero chance of auto forward so that you may grasp the slide and let it go. I personally dont think its a feature or problem. The California neutered 10 round mags dont fully seat unless you slam them home with enough force to get an auto forward most of the time. I dont count on the auto forward, but in hundreds if not thousands of reloads that it has happened, it has never failed to load a new round.
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Old 08-10-2011, 11:18 AM
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Total BS!

This is something that has been known about for a long time now. A lot of people will tell you "it happens to mine, it's normal, don't worry about it". But it doesn't matter how many people say it happens to them, it is not supposed to happen that way!

I didn't have the problem with the original magazines that came with my M&P40. Then I got my two rebate magazines and it did happen with these two new magazines. What I found out was the springs in the new mags were shorter, therefore exerting less pressure on the follower and in turn on the slide stop so it didn't engage the slide stop notch fully. So when the next mag was inserted forcefully the stop slipped off the notch. New springs in the new mags fixed the problem for me.

If not weak mag springs in your case it could be a worn slide stop or the notch on the slide could be misshapen/rounded. But in any case the rep gave you a load of BS which is becoming far too common lately!!
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In my case with both guns which auto-forward they have the mags that come with the guns from S&W. Both guns are under a year old.
I have posted this on several forums yet no one seems to give a rats *** that I may have offered a solution...It worked 100% in my case. Just like the REPS that hand out BS like it was candy...S&W is just as likely to hand out defective NEW parts also.
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Old 08-10-2011, 12:51 PM
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What's going to make any magazine hard to seat when the slide is locked back, there's nothing to interfer with it seating, no reason to slam it in, just insert it until it locks in place. As a LE firearms instrctor, we teach to give the magazine a little tug to make sure it is seated, then manually release the slide by pulling it fully to the rear to get all of the spring that you paid for, and let the slide run forward to reload the gun. If one hand is all that is available, one can use the slide stop to release the slide, or a boot heel , or whatever else is there. Think about reloading an auto with one hand while you slam in a magazine. Auto pistols are not designed to slam and close, it's unsafe at best and could lead to damage to your gun and magazines. Bob!
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Old 08-10-2011, 04:23 PM
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Just in case you didn't get a manual here is a link. Look at the third red warning on page 16.

"WARNING: DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN INSERTING A LOADED MAGAZINE INTO THE PISTOL. EXCESSIVE UPWARDS FORCE COULD CAUSE THE SLIDE TO MOVE FORWARD, CHAMBERING A ROUND AND MAKING THE PISTOL READY TO FIRE."
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Old 08-10-2011, 06:07 PM
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What's going to make any magazine hard to seat when the slide is locked back, there's nothing to interfer with it seating, no reason to slam it in, just insert it until it locks in place. As a LE firearms instrctor, we teach to give the magazine a little tug to make sure it is seated, then manually release the slide by pulling it fully to the rear to get all of the spring that you paid for, and let the slide run forward to reload the gun. If one hand is all that is available, one can use the slide stop to release the slide, or a boot heel , or whatever else is there. Think about reloading an auto with one hand while you slam in a magazine. Auto pistols are not designed to slam and close, it's unsafe at best and could lead to damage to your gun and magazines. Bob!
Roadranger-

Your post made me think about what I wrote about having to slam the 10 round Ca mags. You are right, I was confusing my dificulty in seating a full 10 round mag during a tac-reload, or during an IDPA match when reloading with retention versus seating a mag at slide lock. Wierd thing is, I just pulled out my pistol and when I gently insert the mag, then give it a sharp hit (not necessarily hard) with my palm, the pistol auto forwards. When I give it the same sharp hit with no magazine in it at all it does the same thing. Pretty sure it is the slight shock to the grip that causes the slide to move back slightly and lose contact with the slide stop. Having just done this drill several times, I can see no way that the slide could move forward on a M&P and not chamber a round regardless of what causes the slide to be released. YMMV
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Old 08-10-2011, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by markush View Post
I have posted this on several forums yet no one seems to give a rats *** that I may have offered a solution...It worked 100% in my case. Just like the REPS that hand out BS like it was candy...S&W is just as likely to hand out defective NEW parts also.
How does your new spring idea work with 15 rounds in the magazine?
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Old 08-20-2011, 08:31 AM
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Yet, some Spec. Forces people I know that now do tactical pistol training for LE and civilians count on the auto forward ability of just about any modern semi-auto pistol to get sights back on target as quickly as possible.

Just saying.

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Old 08-20-2011, 07:14 PM
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Both of my M&P 9s drop the slide when slamming in the mag. I like this feature, comes in handy in action pistol competition. And my H&K USP does this also, so it is not just a S&W feature.
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Old 08-20-2011, 07:39 PM
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At least you have the manual and have read it and this is the third red warning on page 16 of the manual.

While I am used to racking the slide when qualifying for a carry permit I slammed the magazine and chambered a round and automatically ejected it by immediately racking the slide and had to re-chamber the round I ejected onto the range floor.

So now I pay attention to what is happening to my slide when I insert a magazine, actually the auto forward to me is a good thing even if you waste a round out of 17 or 18 if you carry like I do ready to go with the pull of a trigger!
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Old 08-20-2011, 08:54 PM
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My yet to be fired M&P 40 does the auto slide release too.
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Old 08-21-2011, 04:22 PM
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Default So go shoot your gun

Your gun is just sitting around not doing anything at all you need to pay attention to it and let it shoot a few rounds, ya gotta wear the new off it sometime so go ahead and shoot it already!
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Old 08-31-2011, 07:11 PM
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I have several semi-auto pistols mostly Smith's, I can make any of them do this on a mag change, and I agree it is a benefit in competitive shooting. I tried it with my new M&P 9, and found that with only 6 rounds in the magazine, I could slam the magazine home, and the slide would go forward, but NOT strip the top round off the mag. This does not help in competitive shooting or real life. Based on this fact I made the decision to abandon this practice, and go back to my training and manually rack the slide. It is my opinion, that if this was in fact a design feature, it would work 100% of the time, with any number of rounds in the magazine. Just my 2 cents.
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Old 08-31-2011, 08:51 PM
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I have several semi-auto pistols mostly Smith's, I can make any of them do this on a mag change, and I agree it is a benefit in competitive shooting. I tried it with my new M&P 9, and found that with only 6 rounds in the magazine, I could slam the magazine home, and the slide would go forward, but NOT strip the top round off the mag. This does not help in competitive shooting or real life. Based on this fact I made the decision to abandon this practice, and go back to my training and manually rack the slide. It is my opinion, that if this was in fact a design feature, it would work 100% of the time, with any number of rounds in the magazine. Just my 2 cents.
I would like to see a video of it not striping a round. I have never had it happen with anywhere from 1 to 10 rounds in the magazine. I have done it hundreds of times, as has my wife. The only way I see this hapening is if you jar the pistol enough finding the magwell, as opposed to the mag bottoming out. I can slap the magwell with my bare hand and no magazine and get it to auto forward.
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Old 09-01-2011, 09:09 AM
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I will do some testing at the range this weekend and report back. I gave it some more thought, and I may have had the not stripping the top round off the magazine issue, with my 5926.

More info to come.
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Old 10-20-2011, 06:22 PM
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Hello all,

This is my first post, so i will apologize if i am not familiar with the local forum jargon.

I just picked up my M&P 40c and shot it today. I did experience the auto-forwarding on both of the mags that came with my M&P. I will say that i did not read the manual before shooting, and found the auto-forwarding to be a little un-nerving to say the least. I thought something was wrong with my new toy. Found this thread and read the manual and saw that others are having the same "issue".

I say "issue" cause according to S&W, and some forum members here, this is normal with a hard mag insertion. I just tried it with my mags partially( 3 and up would trigger the auto-forward) loaded. I tried inserting the mag nice and easy and the slide would remain locked.
If i slammed her home, she would release the slide.

Now i have had firearms for the last almost 20 years. I have had Glocks, Rugers, Colts, and Sig handguns. This has never happened to any of my other pistols. So i guess we are still on the fence with this "issue".

I must say that the M&P does have a bit more kick than my Glock 23, but also it is a little smaller and has a shorter barrel, so i am sure that accounts for some of the additional kick i experienced.
The gun is still not unpleasant to shoot, but i wouldn't hand it to my grandmother.

The gun functioned flawlessly with the 50 rounds i put through it, and look forward to shooting it some more to get use to it. I guess i will characterize the M&P slam auto-forwarding a M&P characteristic and try my best to adapt to it until, either the "problem" is addressed by S&W, or i learn not to slam it in.

Also, does anyone know why S&W didn't bother to include two pinky extensions with both of the mags ? When i first started to shoot with the non-extension mag, i felt like it would fly out of my hand, and had to adjust my grip on it. I suppose that the full size mags with the grip extension installed will cure this issue i have with this unfamiliar pistol.

Oh well, live and learn right ? I'm off to play with the grip adapters to find my comfort zone. I will add this site to my daily routine of browsing, and look for any other updates to this thread.
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Old 10-20-2011, 10:25 PM
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All 4 of my M&P's have this trait and as an active USPSA/IPDA competitor I REALLY like that as a feature. Don't know where some feel that it is unsafe however.
Don't know if it was really designed to do that or if it is a side benefit, regardless I LIKE it!

Randy
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Old 10-20-2011, 11:26 PM
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When you insert a loaded mag and slam it into it with the slide back sometimes it auto loads and releases the slide stop. I also called S&W on this after watching videos on YouTube and they told me it is an M&P gun, imagine you are in a gun battle and you need to load a new mag fast! The slide lock is meant to auto load the round, it could be the fraction of a second between life and death. I am in the air about that with many others confused if that is just a flaw in the gun. But, then again S&W came up with a good argument of why it does that. My opinion is if its meant to do that then why do you have to SLAM it in.
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Old 10-21-2011, 08:47 AM
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I've had Glock's prefection do it
About half of the issue Ruger P89 at the agency I retired from would do it.
A 1911 target with a very light recoil spring did it.
Just to name a few.
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Old 10-21-2011, 01:40 PM
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I was playing with the M&P and my Glock 23. I noticed that if really slam in a mag in the G23, it will auto load. The M&P was much easier to auto load then my glock. When i went to the range yesterday with the M&P, i wasn't really slamming the mag in during a reload. Just a firm insert.

I was looking at the smith last night and compared the magazines with my glock's this morning. On the Smith i noticed that maybe the slide release bar extended a little to far in to the breech area, and could be bent slightly to get it out of the way. Or maybe(easier and less risky) the follower on the magazines could be trimmed down a hair or two with a small file. This could facilitate the right tolerance to not auto load, upon a hard (or normal as it seems to be in other pistols) magazine insertion.

The mag follower on the Smith seems to really be pronounced when compared to the glock's. I really noticed this when at the range and loading the magazine. That first round had to be fumbled with to load it in, the rest went in fine and loaded to capacity with out a problem.

I will try to contact S&W and see if i can get an extra follower for my magazine and try to file it down, and see if this is a cheap fix for this "issue/benefit." I will post back once i get it done.

Last edited by Jman78; 10-21-2011 at 01:49 PM.
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Old 10-21-2011, 01:52 PM
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I just picked up my M&P 40c and shot it today. I did experience the auto-forwarding on both of the mags that came with my M&P.
I just tried it with my mags partially( 3 and up would trigger the auto-forward) loaded. I tried inserting the mag nice and easy and the slide would remain locked.
If i slammed her home, she would release the slide.

I guess i will characterize the M&P slam auto-forwarding a M&P characteristic and try my best to adapt to it until, either the "problem" is addressed by S&W, or i learn not to slam it in.
If I take an M&P with no magazine and smack the mag well I can get the slide to release. I have no idea why that would bother someone, but each to his own I guess.

I'd be a lot more worried about only getting two mags with your gun. All mine came with three...
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Old 10-24-2011, 10:19 AM
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Follow up post....

Just picked up a new M&P 9c yesterday and I can tell you this one won't auto forward.... I can't even release the slide with one hand. I have to either pull the slide back or use two thumbs to push down both release levers at once. The slide lock must have a burr on it or something because it locks against that slide HARD.

Magazine count in the box: 2 mags with pinky extension and 1 mag with the flat plate.
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Old 10-24-2011, 12:10 PM
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If I take an M&P with no magazine and smack the mag well I can get the slide to release. I have no idea why that would bother someone, but each to his own I guess.

I'd be a lot more worried about only getting two mags with your gun. All mine came with three...
I had an officer doing this with his Sig P229 40 with partially loaded magazines and the magazine spring would compress just enough when he "slammed" the magazine into the gun to cause it to not feed a round. I would call that quite bothersome.
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Old 10-24-2011, 01:16 PM
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Well, I got the new 9 to "auto load".

Even with the super stiff slide lock, it will release when a mag is slapped in.
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Old 10-24-2011, 06:50 PM
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My brand new M&P 9c does NOT do this.....
came with 2 mags
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Old 10-25-2011, 01:17 PM
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My new M&P 9c does about half the time. More specifically, it has a harder time auto forwarding when I use full size factory magazines opposed to the compact 12rnd. Not sure what the difference is but it is more reliable on the comapact...by reliable I mean it is more likely to auto forward. This is a feature that I like and would prefer it happen all the time.
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Old 10-27-2011, 12:23 AM
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I had an officer doing this with his Sig P229 40 with partially loaded magazines and the magazine spring would compress just enough when he "slammed" the magazine into the gun to cause it to not feed a round. I would call that quite bothersome.
This will happen with M&P's too. I've seen it myself four times. It requires an "excessive" slam, but it can happen.
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Old 10-27-2011, 09:36 AM
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youve got to remember something - the full magazine is not pressing on the slide stop. it is being held only by the tension of the slide. when you smack the magazine in you are forcing the gun to go away from the slide stop. remember it is just floating and is released by the inertia of the gun going the other way. its kinda like removing the slide plate from a revolver. you dont hit the plate or pry it - you simply hit the frame with your hammer away from the plate and it comes off. the forcing of the frame away from the slide stop causes it to release. with strong recoil springs and unworn slide notches it makes it more difficult but it will become easier over time with more wear and usage.
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Old 02-03-2012, 01:41 AM
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My new m&p 9c auto releases consistently. A little unnerving at first, but I feel better knowing I am not alone. I never had this feature on my SW99 that I have had for the last 12 years. thanks all for sharing.
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Old 02-03-2012, 05:26 AM
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My M&P 9 fs does this sometimes. I don't really like that it does though.
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Old 02-03-2012, 11:57 AM
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I have a 40 and 40c. I have had the full size for 6 months and the compact for two weeks. The full size started doing this about a month ago. I have around 1200+ rounds through it. The compact does not do it but I only have 250 rounds through it so far. I do not slam the magazine but I do close it with some force. It doesn't really bother me other than in a high stress situation the more repetative the your actions are the less likely you will have trouble.
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Old 08-07-2017, 07:26 PM
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It happens with a lot of different brands of pistols. My opinion is it's fine if you are playing games, but I wouldn't like it in a self defense situation and the reason being is this. Whether this will happen with M&P's I don't know, but I had an officer tell me his dept issue Sig P229 40s&w was malfunctioning. He said it wasn't chambering a round when inserting a partially loaded magazine during a drill. We were able to replicate the issue easily and what was happening was he was inserting a 1/2 loaded magazine with enough force to cause the rounds to compress the magazine spring and in turn when the slide went forward automatically it wasn't able to strip off the top round. He had to recycle the slide to chamber a round. Like I said, I don't know if this will occur with the M&P mags, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind...if it should just go "CLICK"
Sorry about the necro-thread, but I've been googling for a couple days trying to find anyone else talking about this issue. I've only just recently encountered my Glock 19 doing this (failing to strip the top round) when slamming in 15 round mags loaded to 10 at a slide-lock reload. i.e. The slide does close...but the chamber is empty. Even with brand new mags, it'll do this.

Another shooter at the match where I just had this happen twice told me to use 10 round mags. I'm curious if there are any other fixes other than use full mags (can't in IDPA) or insert more gently and release the slide manually. I suppose maybe Wolff extra-power mag springs?
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Old 08-07-2017, 07:30 PM
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I've run a Glock 19 in IDPA quite a bit. Always use the fifteen round magazines downloaded to ten rounds. Never experienced the phenomenon you are describing. I'm thinking something might be going on with the gun itself. Might break it down and see if there's anything obvious.
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Old 08-07-2017, 07:39 PM
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Yet, some Spec. Forces people I know that now do tactical pistol training for LE and civilians count on the auto forward ability of just about any modern semi-auto pistol to get sights back on target as quickly as possible.

Just saying.

All of the special forces people I know (none) would say that it is a TERRIBLE idea to depend on what a few arm chair warriors believe to be a designed in feature no matter how many people say otherwise. All of the regular lifelong shooters that I know (many) agree that it is terrible training to train someone to depend upon the slide to "close itself" when it is not really designed to do that.

If you ask me, the design is defective for allowing this to happen.
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Old 08-07-2017, 07:51 PM
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The slide stop of M&P 2.0 is redesigned to prevent this phenomenon. My M&P9 has the auto forward "feature" and I don't particularly like it.


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Old 08-07-2017, 08:25 PM
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I've run a Glock 19 in IDPA quite a bit. Always use the fifteen round magazines downloaded to ten rounds. Never experienced the phenomenon you are describing. I'm thinking something might be going on with the gun itself. Might break it down and see if there's anything obvious.

What sort of ammo do you generally shoot? In all cases so far my 19, it's been two varieties of my own reloads using either 147gr Montana Gold or 149gr flat point hi-tek coated lead (H&S).
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Old 08-07-2017, 08:28 PM
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Design isn't defective. It's simply something that happens when the mag is inserted hard enough. I've had it happen on every semi auto I've owned. And on Saturday it happened twice on a new gun

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Old 08-08-2017, 08:07 AM
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Any semi-automatic pistol with a slide stop spring that is strong enough will do this. One can use a weaker slide stop spring to prevent this but then the risk becomes having a gun that will lock open before the magazine is empty.

The design/shape of the slide stop notch on the slide plays a part also.

In my opinion, a properly designed and maintained semi-automatic pistols should NOT do this.
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Old 08-08-2017, 09:46 AM
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Any semi-automatic pistol with a slide stop spring that is strong enough will do this. One can use a weaker slide stop spring to prevent this but then the risk becomes having a gun that will lock open before the magazine is empty.

The design/shape of the slide stop notch on the slide plays a part also.

In my opinion, a properly designed and maintained semi-automatic pistols should NOT do this.
The variances in slide stop spring pressure certainly will affect whether the slide auto-forwards. For me, however, the key determining factor has been the amount of friction between the slide stop and the slide notch.

Lots of friction = a stop that is difficult to disengage, even with a relatively new or stiff spring. Often new stops, commonly a stamped metal part, will have a fairly sharp ridge that engages the slide, making them most impossible to release unless the sling shot method is used. When the mating metal surfaces wear, reducing friction, auto-forwarding is more likely.

Most slide stops on semi-autos work the same way, the new 2.0 M&P being a notable exception.

So, here's the fix:

You don't want it to auto-forward? Use some 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper and lightly rough up the two mating surfaces.

You do want it to auto-forward in a manner you control? Polish the stop's engagement surface first to reduce friction, just a little at a time. Add some roughness if you screw up, or buy a new (cheap) stop. Avoid working on the slide's notch, although the same polishing principles apply.

For me, a properly adjusted slide stop will function in numerous ways to release a locked slide (Thumb, finger, slingshot, auto-forward). This means I polish the stop engagement surfaces on all my pistols of all makes before I ever shoot them, and I have been doing so for over 25 years. They all function the same, and I control it, not some haphazard factory slap-together procedure with varying spring pressures, tolerances, and amounts of friction based on mass produced parts and speed of assembly. All custom guns have adjusted slide stops.

Training is the issue more than mechanics. Any procedure or mechanical part can fail. You must have an ingrained plan "B" ready to go as a backup. Whatever method you choose as your primary for releasing a locked back slide, you need to train for an alternate. If you release the slide and expect a bang and get a click, tap-rack-bang immediately. The problem could be any of a number of things, with not picking up the top round from the mag being just one of them.

If TRB, doesn't work, go to your next trained procedure, usually a complete reload.

I have found auto-forwarding to be very fast, simple and reliable for me when my stop/slide interface is adjusted correctly. It is my primary means of releasing my slides from lock. However, I use other methods to release a slide to stay familiar with them and as a backup.

As far as the claimed reproduceable failure to pick up the top round in a downloaded mag, I have never had it happen. Running the mag home hard seats it positively--a good thing. This seating of the mag jars the slide enough that the stop immediately drops. The laws of physics seem to favor the idea that the rounds in the mag would want to continue in the direction they were traveling, i.e., upward. I don't see how they would do the opposite, i.e., compress down into the mag so the slide would not pick up the top round.

On the other hand, if in a two-step procedure, the downloaded mag is inserted and locked in place with the slide open, and THEN the gun is brought DOWNWARD and hits a hand or other object at the base of the grip to jar the slide stop loose, that could send the rounds down into the magazine and the slide could miss the top round. This wouldn't happen with a fully loaded mag, or a mag spring stiff enough to prevent such compression, either from being new or because of having enough rounds in the mag to prevent it. It also doesn't happen with the single step sharp insertion method I use.

Just because I have not experienced the problem does not mean others have not either. I look forward to being educated with some logical explanation.

Last edited by CB3; 08-08-2017 at 01:04 PM.
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