I picked up a new M&P Shield in 9mm about a week ago. I have put about 300 rounds through it. The issue I seem to be having is the slide "sticking" back. Note the slide lock when it sticks back is not engaged. Had the gun shop grease it. After that I did not have a problem with the slide sticking back, but now the gun shoots very low. I am somewhat new to handguns, only acquiring my first pistol about 6 months ago. What suggestions do you have for me? Thank you!

Matt

Clean and lube it as discribed in the manual.

You could be having trouble with grease and dirty ammo. Grease is for heavy equipment,tractors and trucks.

Thank you, Maddmax for your reply. Perhaps a very more details would help getting other suggestions.

Put 100 rounds initially on Tuesday resulting in about 15 to 20 incidents of the slide sticking back - mostly not on the last round in the magazine. At this point, I was extremly happy with the accuracy of the gun - pretty much put shots at 7 yards where I wanted. After discussing this with one of the guns at the gun range, he suggested, I clean and lubricate it which I did. Took it back to the range on Saturday. This time I shot about 150 rounds. Slide continued to "stick" as described above, this time only on the last shell with 1 exception. I again, I called this to the attention of the guys at the range. One of the guys took the gun and applied what he called "gun grease." The next 50 rounds resulted in no sticking of the slide, but the my accuracy was greatly dimenished - shooting as much as 6 inches low at 7 yards.

Can anybody help with what's going on and what to try next?

Although you mentioned the slide stop isn't engaged when this happens, the first thing that comes to mind is just that. It could be a possibility your grip may be activating the slide stop and locking it open when you fire the gun.

Other than that, call S&W and get a return label. There should be no reason for it to lock back as described, even when dirty.

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

When you say the slide sticks back, you don't mention how far back it sticks. Is it that its 1/4-inch out of battery? More? Less? Does the slide stick completely open without engaging the slide stop?

I've had my Shield chamber a new JHP round and have the slide stick around 1/8-inch out of battery before. I simply needed to push on the back of the slide to move it back into battery. It does not happen often to me...

Thank you for your reply!

Slide sticks completly open without engaging the slide stop. I have to bang on the back of the slide to get to go forward (in battery?). Excuse me if I don't know all the correct terms, as I am fairly new to shooting.

does releasing the magazine allows the slide to go forward??

No, releasing the magazine does not allow the slide to go forward. Only slapping the back of the slide with palm of my hand allows the slide to go forward.

I appreciate all of the suggestions in trying to figure this out, but at this point I will be sending back to Smith and Wesson to take a look. Again, thank you to everyone.

Matt

Someone else on the forum had something similar awhile back. Seems like it had to do with the barrel.

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John 3:16, Carry Everyday!

Did you ever figure out what was causing this? My new Shield I picked up yesterday is doing the exact thing.

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

Bad recoil spring is the cause of my issues. Smith sent a new recoil spring assembly at no cost

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

S&W sent me a new recoil spring - and the first 40 rounds were just fine - now it is doing it again! Very frustrating. Sending back to S&W

I'd buy a guide rod assembly from stainless steel guide rods. I haven't shot my new non safety model and the rsa doesn't allow the slide to be locked back without force. RSA from my older shield works perfect in it. Called s&w and they said they won't send a new rsa because I haven't shot it yet. I also told them the rsa compresses and will not expand back to normal position. Told me I can send gun in or shoot it. Gonna get an aftermarket rsa. S&W customer service is disappointing as well as the construction of the raw. I told them I'm a LE range instructor and armorer so I'm familiar with firearms. I told them how am I to shoot the gun if I can't even lock the slide back to strip a round from the magazine realibly. Sorry for the rant but best of luck.