I'm a new owner to the M&P 40c as of yesterday. As I was tearing it down, I noticed that the sear deactivation lever isn't like the one pictured in the manual I had to download online.

My lever comes out strait then jogs to the left and then goes strait. The one in the manual shows it coming out strait then makes the letter "c". I have not fired this gun yet, but am wondering if mine is bent or something. Any input is much appreciated.

Scott

Sounds normal to me. Basically lever should not get in the way of anything and in the down position it should fully raise the sear. Real easy to see with the slide off.

Mcracco,

Thx for the response.

S

S&W made a change to the sear deactivation lever early in the M&P's production. This was reportedly because some LE users couldn't remember to keep the lever in the down position during reassembly, when they were trying to install the slide.

If the early lever design was in the up position as the slide was being installed, the slide's pickup rail could catch against the lever, risking damage to it. Oops. User error.

S&W engineers revised the lever so it would clear the pickup rail under those conditions.

In this picture the old style sear release lever is on the left, and the new style lever is on the right. (The left block also has the mag safety lever in it, but no ejector, BTW.) The first armorer manual (Feb '06) shows the original lever, while the first revision (Aug '08) shows both types of levers in different pictures.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Fastbolt,

I really appreciate the post and pics. That's exactly what mine looks like on the right. Thanks again.
S.

Good post FastBolt!

De nada.

I just happened to have one of the older sear housing blocks I could take a picture of, along with one of the newer ones, in my parts collection.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

pics were definitely helpful, thanks

Let me add my thanks Fastbolt. That is a good pic.

Personally, I wish they hadn't changed it. It would be easier to use without a tool.

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Freedom isn't free.

Yes, it was easier to lift with a pin punch, but it brought slide installation to a quick halt of it blocked the pick-up rail. Imagine how someone just thinking it required "more force" could damage the lever.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer