First off, I love this little gun. So much so that I talked my cousin into it as her first handgun. It feels great, looks great, shoots great and is of great quality.

BUT, there are three big issues with hers.

1. It's nearly impossible to load the last few rounds into the magazines. The spring is WAY too stiff.

2. Fully inserting the magazine into the gun requires a bit of effort for the last few millimeters before it clicks. Probably associated with issue #1.

3. The slide release is damn near impossible to engage. I'm a pretty strong guy and it takes lots of effort and leaves my thumb sore.

I'm not sure if this thing is defective or what?

Can't help her with 2 or 3, but for #1, get her a Magula Upula (Butler Creek Lula) pistol loader. It will be the best $27 present you ever give her!

+ 1 Rockbottom Amen!

S&W M&P40, SW9VE, SW40VE

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M&P 40, M&P 40C,

As for number 2, don't be afraid to smack the magazine with your palm to make sure its seated.

As for number 3, why engaged the slide release? Do you mean disengage? If so, use the slide itself to chamber a round.

I've had my mags loaded for about 5 days now and they are definitely "loosening up" to the point where I don't need to slap them in as hard as before. They were very stiff at first, as are many brand new Smith mags it seems (the 4506 and 1006 mags I bought new were REALLY stiff).

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Wheelguns 'n 3rd Gens.

How do your magazines work in her gun? Like already said, it's probably just the mag springs.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I'm used to giving the bottom of the mag a little smack to snap it in place, but this thing requires more force than that.

Yes, disengage the retracted slide. The slide itself is very hard to rack, but aside from that I'm used to tapping the slide release after popping a new loaded mag into the gun after ejecting a spent mag.

The recoil spring looks like it's overloaded as it's deformed a bit.

Most all gun take a little extra effort to seat the mag fully, with a full mag and the slide closed. Open the slide and the mag will seat effortlessly. If you think your shield takes effort (and I know what you mean, mine is the same way), you should try a Glock 30 in 45 ACP. It starts to get hard to insert about a half inch before fully inserting.

As for the mags, load them, and leave them loaded. When you're done shooting, reload the mags and let them sit.

As to the slide release, Are you referring to releasing the slide? Or are you referring to locking the slide back? I can't see any way there would be tension to the slide lock when trying to lock open. But if you are trying to thumb the slide closed with the slide lock and it's hard, don't do it, just sling shot the slide from the back. I have several pistols that I cannot use the slide lock to release the slide.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I'm hoping the mags will break-in. I've got them loaded up now.

I don't own one so I can't compare. What I can compare it to is my Sig and Beretta and they were just as easy to operate new as they were after several years and thousands of rounds. I'm not sure if this is just the way new S&Ws are or if it needs attention.

I'm trying to release the slide with the slide release they put on the gun. If it doesn't work then it's a useless addition, IMO.

By force of habit, I never use the slide release lever on any of my pistols...I pull back on the slide and sling shot the slide forward. For one, this makes sure that I have uniform muscle memory no matter which pistol i'm shooting. This motion also coincides with clearing a stovepipe or other malfunction. Also, most of the time this ensures proper round feeding no matter what kind of ammo you are using, by getting that extra bit of force of the sling shot vs. just using the slide release lever.

+1 more on the Upula

Very hard seating the mag at first. After 400 rounds, much easier.

Different story on the slide release. It's just as difficult to release the slide with the lever today as it was day 1. For me, not a huge issue, but I feel as though it takes more effort than any other slide release I've used.

FWIW ... one can "engage the slide release" and can also "engage the slide lock". Same button/lever, just differing points of view.

Read your owners manual, most gun companys tell you to rack the slide and not to use the lever to drop the slide.

Not sure what the Shield Manual says, anyone out there with a Shield, what does it say ??? I wondering if it says to rack or lever ???

EDIT: OK I just looked at the manual before posting, S&W does say to "pull the slide" .

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...04-02-2012.pdf

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.

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NRA & GOAL LIFE MEMBER

I am a 61 yr old lady and both mags are loading easier now. I did use a UpLULA loader to begin with. Springs will loosen up. Same goes for the gun. Practice working the slide, locking back and releasing. All of the guns that I have bought new have been very stiff to begin with. Use an unloaded mag, seat it and practice racking/locking it back and release using both thumbs. It will get easier. I never could get my Ruger LCP to rack and lock back. The S&W BG.380 is much easier. I can now load a mag without the UpLULA. Just practice to strengthen hands and loosen the gun.

You are a lady of 61 years. Sounds much better.

Yup! In a few more months and I get to add another. Better that than the alternative. lol My hands are not strong at all. SO I really have to work/practice with any new gun. This will help build up hand strength and hand coordination. That is a good thing. I am also getting full slide serrations which will give me a better grip too. In the mean time, I just practice working the gun, dropping the mag, strip it quickly, seat it etc .. This is a great gun and the issues that have been posted are the same with any new gun.

On the M&P it is not a slide release - it's a slide stop. As documented on the bottom of page 17 of the Owner's Manual, the proper way to release the slide is to pull back on the slide and then release it (i.e. sling shot the slide) to load the top round of the magazine. This method will work on all semi-autos including those that don't lock the slide back after the last round.

I had the same criticisms, however, the safety is loosening up... it won't be a problem. And the mags will break in.

*On a side note, I've seen many people complain that there is a safety. I took the gun apart and removing it was very simple. I don't believe it will affect the function of the gun at all. It's a metal bar that blocks the mechanisms from moving. With it removed they just move freely.

Good to know... I experienced the same while testing it at the LGS... Newbie mistake... Rtfm right?

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Stay safe, stay alert
Wachuko

All of the various brands of mini & sub-compact semi-autos that I have handled have been like you describe when new. The ones I bought loosened up after a couple hundred rounds. I think they put stiffer springs in these guns than in the FS ones because their size and mass requires it for proper functioning.

Perhaps the break-in period is also for the user... so that they will get accustomed to it.

Beat me to it....it was never designed to be a Slide Release and should not be used as such. Most training schools such as Gunsite have you pull the slide fully to the rear and release it. This procedure also ensures that the spring is fully compressed when the slide re-engages.

The best way to load a magazine is with a magazine loader such as the UpLULA Pistol Magazine Loader: UpLULA Pistol Mag Loader Unloader Polymer Black

You can load the magazine in half the time it takes without it and your fingers won't get sore.

I think the UpLula is the best thing since sliced bread. I even bought a second one for my range bag.

Now, if I could just find one for my revolvers....

I've given Uplulas to friends as gifts after they've used mine at the range. It is the most useful loading device that I've found! I always instruct folks to slingshot the slide on semi-autos, and fully agree on the advice above. It's a compromise to reduce the tab on the slide stop to the point where it's difficult to get a purchase on it, BUT S&W (and most of us) are looking for every MM of slimness we can find. Once you make a habit of slingshoting the slide, it makes the slide stop issue moot IMHO.

OK, so I need to get her a loader and not use the slide lock as a release. Now if only the slide wasn't so hard to rack.

I'm going to run a few hundred rounds through it to see if I can get it to loosen up a bit.

Thanks for the replies.

Is it now? Really? How else would you lock the slide back? There are several pistols that this is used as ONLY a slide lock, not a slide release.

You're stuck with the gun now, you might as well shoot it and quite looking for problems. If after shooting, you still don't like it, trade it in on something else.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I agree here. He will have the same issues with any new gun, especially a smaller gun. Just learn to function it.

Do you know anyone else that is familiar with firearms? You might have someone more knowlegable check it out. I'm not saying you don't know about them, but I'm guessing you've not been around many at all.

Also, you say it's hard to rack the slide and you also say you're a fairly strong guy. A fairly weak guy should be able to rack this slide, at least mine isn't anything to rack (especially compared to my SR9c).

As to the slide lock, I was quite surprised mine works great as a release. I say surprised, because of the shape of the lever. Most that are intended to be used as a release are built in such a way as to give you leverage, the shield is not built this way. That's why I recommend shooting it, it may break in. Or, your slide might have a slight burr making the release harder to release with tension on it.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Looking for problems? I didn't have to look, they made themselves clear the first minute I spent on the range.

As far as being "stuck with the gun", I appreciate your compassion and will remember it the next time I look at a S&W automatic. This is my cousin's first gun and she was excited to get it, but she had such a hard time loading it up that she is uncomfortable with it and left it with me. I was apprehensive about buying a first-run gun, especially a S&W, but I put faith in the company and recommended it. Now I look like an idiot.

Like I said, I'll be putting a few hundred rounds through it in hopes that it loosens up enough for her to handle it. If not then we'll have to trade it in on a Kahr CW9.

I'm pretty familiar with pistols, but I did have my father take a look and he agreed that the slide was too stiff and the magazine springs were ridiculous.

I just bought a Sig P238 two weeks ago. Easy as pie right out of the box.

Yeah, not really sound advice to recommend a brand new offering to someone who's never had a gun before. That's the type of person that really needs a 'proven' firearm.

Loading the mag is, well, loading the mag. If you want to make her feel all warm and fuzzy about her shield magazine, have her load the last couple rounds in a glock magazine. Then have her insert that full magazine in the glock. She'll think that Shield is the cats!

You can get around the stiff mag insertion problem by locking the slide back, then inserting the mag. But then again, that doesn't get around the fact that you all are having a hard time getting the slide back to begin with.

LOL, yeah, I know lots of compassion. I check a firearm's function prior to buying, then fit and finish. If I like, I buy. Once bought and I get home and find something a miss, I only have myself to blame. If something breaks or starts wearing odd after shooting, well, that's a different story.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

AndrewGS, if it were me I'd swtich out the recoil spring. Yours for hers and see how it works. I have owned several short barreled guns and I agree with some of the comments here in that they can be tough. I had a Kahr pm45 that had the double spring and it was all I could do to lock it back in the beginning but it got better with time.

Wow, some of the comments here are borderline nice...

Please AndrewGS don't be discouraged. This forum is actually one of the best for S&W or any gun for that matter. You may have struck a nerve though mentioning any amount of discontent with the newest baby of the family, the Shield.

I knew you'd get blasted if you called that little lever a 'slide release' which I have done before and I also got blasted. For the record, I use the slide stop as a slide release on my M&P's, and some are really hard to use that way! And lately my 9c hasn't been 'auto-forwarding' so I've had to pull the slide. I don't like it but I guess I'll make do. My 40 auto-forwards and has an easy to misuse slide lock and I just love shooting that one.

What I'm trying to say is that I do the same things you do, I admit it, so I'm bad, I'll get over it.

As for that mag spring... Why are they so dang stiff? I have a lot of semi-auto's with much softer springs, so it must have something to do with the distance the slide travels and how much time the next round has to get into position or something. S&W wants that spring to push hard on the next round. The UpLula is awesome, and with a new mag I won't load it all the way until I have broken it in for a while. I can make do with 11 rounds or 16 rounds instead of 12 or 17, no big deal. They do soften quickly so they won't always be that stiff. With an UpLula you can ram that last shell in there and let the mag sit for a few days. That helps a lot.

Good Shooting!!!

Wow, I'm sure glad nobody refered to the magazine as a "clip" in this thread! I'll say this. Maybe she'd be better off with a 22 caliber semi auto or say the Sig P380. Easy as butter to rack the slide. Ahm juss sayin.

I echo the comments of Lost Lake. This is indeed a great forum. There's quite a bit of knowledge and experience in here and you'll usually find the answer to a question from guys who are very willing to assist without bashing you. I know I have.

As far as the magazine spring; that's one of the first comments made by both my son and wife. They are indeed a little difficult to fully compress. I had problems fully loading the magazines of my 45C when I first got it. I thought maybe the magazines had the wrong spring installed and went so far as to contact S&W CS. But after a couple of range visits and a couple of hundred rounds it's no longer an issue.

I hope everything works out for you. After my first range visit with my Shield I knew I'd made the right decision to get one. It's going to give my PM9, that has been my most prevalent carry pistol, a serious run for it's money.

Well said Lost Lake!

I use the "slide stop" as a "slide release" occationally. Whatever. I think they encourage you to use the slide instead of the stop so there isn't an issue with the bullet not fully seating and you can use the full potential of the recoil spring. I've never heard of anyone breaking their gun by using that little tab as a slide release so I don't think it hurts anything, it's just that using the slide instead of that tab is just a good habit to get into.

Sorry to hear that you're initailly disappointed with the shield. Just remember that a gun takes some time to break in so reserve judgement for after 300 or so rounds. If you're cousin is disappointed too, especially with your advice, you may want to remind her of that.

While I haven't had that stiff of a gun as the problems that you are describing(usually it's the last round in a new clip that doesn't like to load. Yes I said clip. Reminding everyone there are some things in life not worth getting worked up about), where was I? oh yes, the springs including the mag springs and recoil spring will soften with time and wear. Think of it this way, how long until the springs wear out? Would you prefer a softer spring that needs attention 2000 rounds later? Or would you rather have an initially very stiff spring that will never wear out?

Your problems seem to be ones that will be solved with a little time and the help of a mag loader. Way better than some of the other problems that you could have like the gun jamming and not being dependable.

P238, but I was thinking the same thing when it was mentioned about slide being difficult to rack.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I think you'll figure it out buddy. Those dual captive springs can be tough.

Thanks guys. I picked up an UpLULA and 300rds. of ammo this morning. The loader is great and fixes the magazine issue, so thanks for the recommendation.

I put 75rds. though it yesterday, 225rds. through it today and will put another 100rds. through it tomorrow. I haven't noticed much of an improvement, but it seems a tiny bit better. I can, however, report ZERO malfunctions in all of it's first 300rds.!

I asked the range proctor his opinion and while he thought it was stiff, he didn't think it was overly so for a new gun. He advised that it could take 1000rds. for the recoil spring to soften up a bit, so I guess it'll just be something to get accustomed to.

Someone got their feewings hurt... I'm sorry man..

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Something I need to remind myself all the time!

In the army we were taught (in a most degrading way) that we don't carry GUNS. We carry WEAPONS. Our 'gun' is a completely different thing, and something women don't have, and if you EVER called your weapon your gun you were made to run around the platoon, front to back as the platoon did a 5 mile jog. You carried your WEAPON above your head and alternated grabbing your 'gun' while singing:

This is my weapon,
This is my gun,
This is for fighting,
This is for fun.

I never had to do this, but my God those who did were just about dead after running around a jogging platoon for 5 miles. Not to mention the peer pressure exerted on someone that just caused their entire platoon to jog 5 miles because they can't remember it's a WEAPON.

Even now (I've been out for over 20 years) I still have a hard time calling a weapon a gun, but I was told in the civilian world we should call them guns as weapons imply you are out to hurt someone, whereas sidearm or gun is an object you just happen to carry.

Sorry to get off track.

I still can't call a mag a clip though. I know what a clip is and I have no idea what the punishment would be if I made that mistake and don't want too find out.

So many people new to guns are buying them and do not know what to expect. It is up to those of us who have the experience to be polite and helpful when they seek our help.As for me I want as many people with us as I can help to enjoy their purchase no matter what it is. I have been an old 1911 fan for over 50 years but I am also a M&P fan. They are wonderful guns and so is my M&P Shield 9mm. Right now I am wearing a Taurus PT738 which is very easy to shoot and to carry. Guess I will catch it from someone for that, huh? I will still be glad I own it. Like my Ruger LCR 357 too.

Too many internet "teachings" are based upon humiliating and intimidating someone. The old "tear 'em down to build 'em up" strategy.

Too much tearing down and not near enough building up goeson, hidden by the anonimity of the internet.

I absolutely understand the reasons why the military and LEAs have their specific terminology. I have the utmost respect for the work you do and have done. You folks have laid your life on the line to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy.

Just remember, one of those fundamental freedoms is of speech and expression. Everyone gets to use it equally.

OT content:

I now have almost 500 rounds theough my Shield. all the issues the OP outlined are slowly going away ... whether its real or perception really doesn't matter.

That's funny, because the old fart teaching the concealed handgun course I took last year told us that it was a GUN, and not a WEAPON. He also insisted that we say "shell case" and not "shell casing".

This attention to detail was indeed ironic (and probably misplaced), as during the safety portion of the course he showed us how to unload a semiauto but never once told us to actually look into the chamber and down through the action to verify with our eyes that the gun is unloaded.

I consider this one of the greatest oversights I've ever encountered in training of any kind.

Concerning the Shield, I'm sure it will loosen up. If you think the slide stop is difficult to release, try the takedown lever and/or safety on a Bodyguard 380. You'll think the Shield is heavenly.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I put another hundred rounds through it today and I think it's starting to get a little easier to manipulate. I'll take the advice I've received and just help her practice quite a bit until she feels comfortable with it.

Oh did that bring back memories a 1 1/2 yrs ago .. lol .. I had to send my BG.380 back to S&W due to the take down pin walking one time. They sent me a new frame/gun and wOw the first few times were difficult to say the least. After that I was good to go breaking the gun down. My friend had bought a Shield and has been complaining about the overly stiff slide release. I told him that it needs to break in. He normally buys a used gun and isn't used to a new one, where as I do buy new. I have found out that compacts and smaller tend to be much stiffer and need to be worked to loosen up.

Press check regularly, like 1st thing in the morning when dressing. Some makes you can't visibly see a round from the top. I think Glock it's from the side. M&Ps you can see from the top.

I hate to be that guy, but I noticed today that the white dot of the front sight has fallen off.

Maybe it's just my luck? lol

I've heard that several times. I put night sights on mine....

Yep, and that's unfortunate, very unfortunate. That kind of behavior is not really conducive to creating a helpful, mature, forum environment.

This thread wandered off track a little. Back to the original issue, mine was the same way and a very good sign for a small compact design. When making a small frame semi auto tolerances become more of a factor in many ways (reliability, durability and safety ect.) Looks like S&W did their homework on this one! All of the three original issues will work out with use and this pistol will last a long time. Work It, Work It, Work It.......... Get a Uplula loader and Load mags over and over and keep mags loaded all the time when sitting idle. And finally Put rounds down the pipe!! Beleive me you will find you got a keeper and it will last forever as long as you take care of her and give her a little loving. Smith & Wesson has again proven they are on top.

I noticed a lot of the same issues as the OP and after my first 300 rounds, the slide release has eased up considerably. The magazine does need a tap or good solid pressure to "click" in when the slide is closed, but with the slide open, it slides in like butter. As far as the last round or two, the mag loader works wonders, but if I don't have it, putting in the last round is manageable, just not without plenty of want to.

I did some work yesterday and today with my cousin getting her familiar with her Shield and she is confident in using it now. She is able to rack the slide, lock it and load the mags using the UpLULA. We went to the range and she loved it. Out of 500rds. now there have been ZERO malfunctions.

I also fixed the sight issue today using White Out.



Good as new.

I have a little different issue with my Shield 9mm. My slide works perfectly unloaded but as soon as I rack the slide to put one in the chamber, it stops about 1/8 - 1/4 inch short of seating fully. It doesn't happen if I release it from the extreme back or if I use the slide stop and a release. Any amount of resistance or shortening of distance for the slide to travel forward causes it to stop short. Any ideas why this may be happening? Really don't want to send it back to S&W if it's not necessary.