I bought my latest Shield yesterday and have a problem with the slide lock. Field stripped it for initial cleaning before shooting. Also own an M&P 9c but slide lock is different setup. When tried to reassembly after cleaning and lube I was unable to get the slide lock up. I am certain that recoil spring assembly is in correctly. When I look at the slide lock from the side the rear most tab sticking up is hitting the slide without any cut out designed to relieve it. It would appear that the tab is misaligned as it prevents the stop from rising up to lock the slide. Any input or opinions would be appreciated. Intend to call S&W tomorrow if I can't figure it out. TIA

You must have engaged the slide lock prior to disassembly, yes?

Yes I did. As I recall I pulled the slide back on an empty magazine engaging the slide lock. Then pushed down on the sear deactivation lever and then released the slide and disassembled the pistol. After cleaning when I tried to reassemble the pistol I cannot get the slide stop to go up. The rear, upright tab hits the bottom of the slide.

Hmmmm... I recall mine was kind of stiff when new, and I did fumble with the slide lock while reassembling the first time. I did get it locked back though. After a couple/few hundred rounds, the gun has loosened up nicely on all accounts.

If it locked back on the empty mag, and you were able to remove the mag and it stayed locked back, then the slide lock had to engage the slide.

I'd say a call to S&W is probably in order and will clear it up.

Here is a photo of a Shield with the slide locked back.

Does your slide go back as far as shown in the photo?

Does your slide lock go up as far as shown in the photo?

I had the same problem with my new Shield 9 last night. It's been fild-stripped a few times. Never a problem any other time. I just confirmed the placement of the recoil spring a coupla times and on the 3rd try it worked fine.
Not sure the cause.
Works fine now.

There is nothing to re-assembling a Shield, but unless I am very careful, the recoil spring compresses when putting the slide back on and when you lock the takedown lever, the recoil rod is protruding from the front and the slide won't come back off. This isn't your problem, but I'm just saying that if everything isn't just so, it will dispute you.

I have a Kel tec that had to go back to the factory with a similar problem. They acknowledged the problem and fixed it. They told me not to even try because the pins had to be pushed out and the gun actually disassembled to clear it.

Sometimes, pulling the trigger (EMPTY GUN) will let things loose.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I read somewhere that when reinstalling the recoil spring to face the end of the coil (where the coil winding starts) up. Been doing that and no longer have issues trying to reassembly the pistol. Worth a try

Thanks for all the input. I realize now from the picture that the upright tab is what holds the slide open. I cannot get the slide back far enough to engage the tab. Tried putting coil start upright as per suggestion still no go. Probably something I'm doing, I am 82 and won't be the first time. Will call customer service today. Thanks again.

My new Shield has the same issue as it's a beast to rack as the recoil spring is on super tough and after disassembly it seems especially tough to get the slide to lock.

My PC shield was the same but it loosened up some over time after firing. The smaller sub compacts have some tough springs in them. I put my PC spring in my new shield and it is noticeably different.

If you remove the recoil spring assembly and put it together without it does slide smoothly and can you lock it? That would rule out a misaligned slide or lower. I am going to guess the new spring in your shield is a just strong as H@ll being new. Could be wrong.

Hopefully customer service got you squared away. It's probably just very tightly sprung, being new and all.

If you need more oomph for pulling the slide back for reassembly, I'd recommend holding the slide with your left hand, keeping your hand close to your chest and the slide parallel to you (pointed downward at about 45 degrees). Push the FRAME, not the slide with the web of your right hand - you can lean into it with more force this way. Your right thumb should be free to apply upward pressure on the slide lock while pushing.

Hope that helps.

Let somebody else shoot it (and maybe let somebody else put it together first . . . )

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

My RA keeps me from using my thumbs to rack the slide on my Shield 9. I have to grab it between my palm and four fingers. And yes, pushing with the right hand works for me too.

I see these guys on YT like Hickcock45 rack all those pistols with two fingers. I have to wonder if the recoil springs have been replaced with something out of a ballpoint pen.

__________________
Si vis pacem para bellum.

Tinhack,
I see that too.lol
But he's a big-old-boy with big forearms.
I'm a big-old-boy, too. But without those forearms.
This was just for humor. Nothing personal, Tinhack.

Due to their stiff recoil spring assemblies, Shield 9mm slides can be very difficult to lock back, especially when new. Unfortunately this is fairly "normal" for these pistols, and I'm not sure the factory can be of much help. The best solution I've found is the Handi-Racker, a piece of molded plastic about 1/2 inch thick with a cutout for your slide. Insert the slide, grab the grip, put the edge of the Handi-Racker on some convenient surface, like a table or work bench, and lean on the grip with all of your weight. It will get the slide back far enough to engage the catch. It has never failed to work for me while I've broken in four new recoil spring assemblies on my Shield 9. (Why four? It's a long story...) Here is the website for the Handi-Racker: Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker.

You can accomplish the same thing by carefully aligning the top part of the slide (above the barrel) with the edge of a table or bench (one you don't mind dinging up) and pushing down on the grip. However, it is easy for the Shield to slip off the table while you're leaning on it, damaging the table, the Shield, or yourself. To avoid such unpleasantness, I consider the $20 Handi-Racker money well-spent.

__________________
What, me worry?