I see a lot of folks who advocate pulling the trigger instead of using the little internal takedown lever when field stripping the M&P. I could never make mine do this and wondered why my gun didn't work.

I know that since you can't pull the trigger without the magazine inserted in the gun on certain models, including mine, those guns cannot use the "trigger trick" unless a magazine is in the gun (temporarily)

Here's the trick. Start with an empty mag in the gun.

1. Lock the slide back.
2. Pull the takedown lever to vertical (it must remain vertical during this whole process).
3. Release the slide lock and move the slide forward until it stops.
4. Pull the trigger.
5. Push the magazine release button to drop the mag.
6. Voila! Now the slide will move all the way forward for removal. The slide will not move any further until the magazine is released.

Yes it may be a pain to do this, but it beats fishing down the magwell for that little lever.

Hope this helps.

You could always disable the magazine safety, that's what we did with my brothers.

I've never had a problem with the sear disconnect lever. Using certainly fixes the AD problem common with Glocks.

I've also never had a problem with the disconnect or take down levers on any of my M&P's. I think the disconnect is a good safety feature. It only takes a few seconds to push dow even with the rubber end of a pencil.

The hollow end of a retracted ball point pen moves the sear release lever nicely.

I have taken to pulling the trigger to field strip my M&P9. It works well and has worked every time. I double check the gun to be sure it's unloaded before doing so.

I just keep a small allen wrench in my cleaning kit to disconnect the sear safety. Only takes a second. I would rather not pull the trigger until I'm ready to light something up.

I've noticed on both my full size M&P (9mm) and my Shield (.40), pushing down the little sear safety lever does not let the slide come off. I have to pull the trigger so now I don't even mess with the lever. Of course, I triple check the gun before pulling the trigger.

Why drop the mag? My slide will come right off even with the mag inserted.

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Freedom isn't free.

Rastoff, do you have both the sear safety lever and a mag safety lever?

Maybe it only works this way only if you have a mag safety and a sear safety lever. I absolutely cannot remove the slide after pulling the trigger until I press the mag release button.

My brothers had a mag safety and we took it out.... worked fine in his after.

I never use the sear safety lever, DOUBLE CHECK THERE IS NO ROUND IN THE CHAMBER and pull the trigger the same way I do with my Glocks.

My gun came with the magazine disconnect, but I have removed it.
I thought the slide would come off without dropping the mag before I removed it, but I could be wrong about that. I certainly see that the mag disconnect lever could interfere with the slide with a mag inserted.

So, I recant my previous statement and endorse the mag drop.

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Freedom isn't free.

Give me a good reason for the magazine safety and I can give you more reasons for not having one. California is the only state that requires the mag safety on new guns sold. Some manufacturers don't bother with just CA models, so they put it on all their guns. Another stupid law is the 10 pound trigger pull mandated in MA. What safety advantage is a 10 pound pull compared to a 6.5 pound pull? Do you really think that 3 1/2 pounds extra pressure will make any difference in a tense SD situation. Some people have these ideas as to ways to make a gun safe!!! Why not make all handguns weigh 50 pounds, then kids could not pick them up.


Bob

You are right robkarrob, but this thread isn't about that.

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Freedom isn't free.

Agreed lol

I have always carried a pocket screwdriver to use for field stripping my M&P. Works every time, and does not risk a ND. My choice.

(A reason to get a magazine safety -- to avoid that unsightly printing on your slide, "CAUTION-CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED") Seriously, I have the unsightly printing and no magazine safeties in my FS or Shield.

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Bob
NRA, MSI, SAF Member

Mag safety in my FS 45, and the slide comes free after a trigger pull with the mag in the well.

Thanks for the thread, rsrocket1, I'd never put those actions together in that order to field strip it without having to toggle the pin.