Does anybody know what causes this? I was at the range and assembled my gun and it went together but the recoil rod was sticking about 1/2" out of the end of the slide. I couldn't get it apart and a range employee got it open for me. All was well. Last night I took the gun apart to use the barrel for a gauge, and when I put it back together, the recoil rod was sticking out the front again. I got it apart by pulling the trigger and I couldn't see the magazine disconnect lever. I was hoping it wasn't broken off, but I was able to fish it out with a little screwdriver. It looked twisted. I tried putting the gun back together and the rod was sticking out again. This time I said, "This isn't right. I shouldn't have to force anything open or closed." I'm going to call S&W and get a shipping label, but I wanted to ask first what this was all about in case somebody had some experience with it.

I had a similar problem with a Kel Tec and the factory said they would have to disassemble the gun to fix it.

I'm getting tired of this stuff. Does anybody know what causes this and can it be prevented?

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

No, but it seems my Tupperware pistols are all more headache to strip and reassemble than my metal pistols.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

If the recoil rod is not ALL the way down and forward on the bottom step in the slide before assembly, it can hang up. The shield is the worst offender in the M&Ps because it is small and there is no spare room.

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Science plus Art

I'm finding this to be true too, especially compacts.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Absolutely.
I guess it's a compromise made in the quest for tiny size.
I forsook my compact semiautos for my model 36.
I still have them. I just don't carry them much.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?