How necessary is it to have to flip up that little yellow lever before taking the slide off? The consensus so far is that it's just an added safety measure.
Just want to make sure I don't mess anything up.

You won't harm the gun by pressing the trigger to take the slide off.

I recommend using the sear disconnect lever. It is indeed a safer way to remove the slide. It's also so easy, there's no reason not to.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

^^^^^^^
What he said!

__________________
Loving retirement!

I just worry about the time I don't have a screwdriver or paper clip to mess with it. If it's not necessary to flip it down, I just figured I'd skip it.

I can't imagine a scenario where you wouldn't have a tool capable of moving that lever. Anything will fit in there. I usually use my pinky.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

Am I the only one who gets out the Q-Tips to start cleaning?

I always pull the trigger, if the gun is clear and you make sure it is empty before pulling the trigger IMO there is no need for picking a lever


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
M&P 9, Shield9.

You and my GF


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Indeed, IF... Lots of holes in lots of walls (and a few people) because of complacency.

On the other hand, when using the lever, it's impossible to fire the gun.

Choose wisely.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

Oh, I use it because it is the safest way. For one thing though, it ain't yellow. And it's dark in the recess that it stays even with good lighting, The only way I can get it down is to use a small pointed tool (small flat head screwdriver or a nail file I have and feel around for it. I keep poking and looking in there to see if I 'got it' or not.

I've never been without something to lower it, but it's nice to know that I can if I need to. Except for that, the takedown is a piece o cake.

PS. I ALWAYS drop the mag and clear before takedown.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Mine started out yellow, but that wears off pretty quickly.

The yellow was probably gone well before I bought it. I'm going to have to put some day glow orange on a front sight of another gun that I can't see quickly enough to do SD shooting. I guess I"ll touch the disconnect as well.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I have a Shield 9 and always thought that sear disconnect is dumb. I also have a Ruger American. To field strip it you just lock back the slide, turn the takedown and slide the slide off

I just use a bic pen with the guts removed. Easy to catch the lever and being plastic it wont harm anything. I keep it handy on my workbench for cleaning, right next to my qtips.

😉

I used to do this, too. Then one time as I'm sticking my pinky in, I hit the slide lock on the inside of the frame. Mashed my finger pretty good!

Now I just verify the chamber's empty, verify it again, then pull the trigger to release the sear.

When you say that you "pull the trigger," when is this done?

Rack the slide twice to verify the chamber is empty and the magazine is out.
Pull the trigger.
Rack the slide back again. (Doesn't this cock it again?- am I supposed to pull the trigger now? Would that even do anything?)
Then just flip down the take down lever and pull the slide off?

Rack the slide and lock it to the rear (verify the chamber is empty)
Rotate the takedown lever down
Release the slide to the forward position
Pull the trigger and the slide will come off the front of the frame.

If you're uncertain of the order, just follow the instructions in the manual and use a pencil to push down the yellow lever while the slide is locked back, then when you release the slide, it will come off the end of the frame without pulling anything (that didn't sound good, but you know what I meant)

__________________
Minimize the variables

1. Drop the magazine
2. Rack the slide two or three times until you are sure 100% there is no bullet in the chamber.
3. Rack the slide all the way and hold it with the slide release stop.
4. Visually inspect that in fact there is bullet in the chamber.
5. Release the slide
6. flip the take down lever
7. pull the trigger
8. the slide now will come off.

__________________
M&P 9, Shield9.

I wish every Glock owner who has ever had a negligent discharge pulling the trigger to disassemble was on this forum. What the hell is the BFD for pushing the little lever down with a pencil, a q-tip, whatever?!?

Just do it!

__________________
Loving retirement!

Lots of drama here. Where is the popcorn. :-)

I can't see it. I poke around with a pointed object and check to see if I got the thing out. Maybe it's no BFD for some people and it's no really BFD for me, just makes it iffy to take down compared to all my other pistols that have the 'controls' easy to get to.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I always flipped the lever for the first few years, til I read that you could pull the trigger. Now I just do that. I may on occasion if I've got something right there with me to pick it with, but I don't go digging with a fingernail anymore.

Remove magazine or slide back to lock then remove magazine . Slide is locked to the rear inspect the chamber (empty ) , gently push DOWN sear lever (small yellow lever in sear block ) until it stops ( I use a polymer cleaning pick with a flat face ) , push down take down lever , release slide should slide right off . After reassembly . To push sear lever back up insert a magazine . You can also skip the sear lever step and pull trigger .

It just seems like something that can break...pretty flimsy. I've done it PER the manual 3 times now, and being a Glock owner (and a 1911, and Colt model Ms) I have no problem visually verifying that the chamber is empty.

If I break that flimsy little rod- or bend it- I have a pistol that needs to be sent back. If I rack the slide back 3 times (for OCD's sake) I don't need that to keep a cartridge that is not there from being discharged.

I'll get used to it, I guess, but I was just curious how to do it without manipulating that lever.

My full size has a mag disconnect so pulling the trigger is a real pain. I use the lever on my Shield to stay consistent. I can't imagine not having something handy to flip the lever.

It's not flimsy. It's actually quite stout for what it is. I've never even heard of anyone damaging this lever.

People have said this a few times, but they're forgetting the chamber check. Racking the slide is not an assurance the chamber is empty. If the extractor is broken or the slide isn't allowed all the way forward, there could still be a round in the chamber. Only looking in the chamber give you 100% assurance of the condition. So, yeah, rack it a few times, but it isn't empty until you've inspected the chamber.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

I have three M&Ps, two Shields and a 40 compact. Between them, I have field stripped them at least 150 times (nearly 100 times for the 40c alone). I always follow the owner's manual and lower the sear disconnect lever. I have never come close to damaging it. It is very stout, and it is very easy to push. You'd have to do something really stupid to damage it, like using a hammer and chisel. I mostly field strip my M&Ps for cleaning, so the handles of my cleaning tools are always there to use to push the lever down. On other occasions, if those aren't available, a retractible ball-point pen will do an excellent job, as the lever will fit right into the tip. It only takes one or two seconds, and it makes a negligent discharge impossible.

__________________
What, me worry?

I have never understood the aversion to pulling the trigger during the cleaning process. You should be treating every gun you touch as loaded until you verify the chamber is empty anyway. Why is there always drama about not wanting to pull the trigger or considering it an unsafe practice?

EDIT: To more directly address the OP's question - it isn't necessary. It's an option you can add to your cleaning procedure that's unique to the M&P series of guns. It is very unlikely you will mess anything up choosing to use or not use it.

It's not an aversion and it's not drama. It's just less safe to not use the sear disconnect.

There are several guns that require pulling the trigger to disassemble. The Glock and Ruger Mark I, II, III are a couple that come to mind. Both of those guns, especially the Glock, have numerous stories of negligent discharges while being field stripped. It happens. People get complacent or distracted and an ND happens. If rule 2 is being followed (never cover anything with the muzzle you're not willing to destroy) no one gets hurt.

With the M&P, if you use the sear disconnect lever, it's IMPOSSIBLE to have an ND. Not just unlikely, impossible.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

Unless you have a Shield where you must have a magazine in it to pull the trigger. Then you rack it, release the slide, insert empty magazine, pull trigger, remove magazine, then remove the slide. Just push down the lever.

I've never used the lever, so I'd say it's not necessary at all.

^^^^^^
What he said!

I go with the directions in the S&Wl manual

It's inspired don't ya know. All the manual needs is chapter and verse.

__________________
Minimize the variables

RTFM BABEE!!!!!