New M&P 9 owner and already have a problem.

[shart1971]

Just this morning I went to my FFL dealer to pick up my new M&P 9mm up. I inspected it everything looked awesome! Took it home and cleaned it up. I reassembed it and locked the slide back. The slide stop will not close the slide on it! But I can manually release the slide. The slide stop will not work? Has anyone seen this before?

 

[accessbob]

That is a slide stop, not a slide release. I think too many people start thinking they should be able to press it down to release the slide, but it really isn't there for that. It is there to hold the slide open and, the finger switch on it is there to manually lock it open when necessary.

Dropping the slide with the slide stop lever can, like any physical thing, wear out where it holds the slide. So, while it seems nice and all "movieish" to put in a mag, drop the slide using your thumb on the slide stop lever, it isn't something one should do on a regular basis.

Now that's my opinion based on gleaning several things from several sources and some may say I am totally off-base, which is fine. I know I have gone to not doing it.

Also, over time, it will loosen up (hence my statement about wear) so that it will work as a release if you want to do it.

 

[Bigpoppa]

My M&P9's slide stop was extremely tight when I got it about
4 years ago. I just gave it some time and shot it as much as I could and it eventually loosened to the point where I can release it with just a firm press of my thumb.

 

[patbelly]

Don"t worry. The slide stop is just that. It is not a slide release.
Some people don't like that feature but with use it may loosen up so that you can release the slide that way. Main point is there is no problem with your new M&P. Congrats on a fine gun and hope you enjoy it.

 

[lamrith]

I just got my M&P last month and can tell you the M&P's have a bur/edge on the slide stop notch, it will loosen over time. Mine was the same way, it would move and then get hung up... It will loosen and free up over time, or as mentioned get in the habit of racking the slide with your hand. I am still working on racking the slide myself.

 

[Dohmein]

My Compact 9 does this. I personally like it since I always manually release the slide and never use the slide stop as a release. If it bugs you over time it may loosen or you can send it back etc.

 

[Houdini1953]

Just take your left hand and rack the slide back now you weapon is ready to fire that is if you had a magazine in the mag well with ammunition in it! You said it in your post the slide stop is doing exactly what it is supposed to do which is to stop the slide, you push up on it to lock back the slide and you rack the slide to chamber a round and ready the weapon.

 

[shart1971]

Thanks for the information! I am still new to the gun world! I learn a lot from everyone here!

 

[tharper2202]

i hardly ever use the slide stop to release the slide. However, when i first got my FS9, it took 1 maybe 2 trips to the range and the stop got to the point where i could easily release the slide. I prefer to manually release the slide with my hand tho.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Are you trying to push down on the slide stop with an empty mag inserted without pulling back on the slide first? It can be hard that way with most guns. Try it with a snap cap in the mag or with the empty magazine out of the gun.

As others have said, it's a slide catch first, slide release second. Good to know it can be done one handed but the slingshot or over hand method is better and is a universal way to chamber a new round with any semi-auto.

Loading from empty - YouTube

 

[blujax01]

The manual says nothing about it being a "slide release" anywhere and is very specific on the method to be used (page 13).

 

[had2]

As you use the gun, you may find, as many others have, that when a full magazine is inserted with the slide back, the slide will self-release and chamber the first round. Some were concerned that this was a defect, as experience showed them that few other semi-auto's behaved this way. So as the gun gets broken in, you will find many changes in the way the gun operates and feels, including the slide and the trigger. This forum is a good source of information on all things M&P.

 

[Silversmok3]

This is one area of pistol design which varies by the model.Some weapons you can hit the slide release to reload and its all good. On other model's that tactic is a warranty claim waiting to happen.

On a 5906 S&W you certainly can safely release the slide by depressing the slide lock lever.

On a striker fired piece like the M&P you run the risk of shearing off the lever by using it that way, as the weapon is intended to be placed into battery by slingshot maneuver of the slide-that's why the back end is so scalloped after all. Some handguns like the Walther PK380 don't have an outside slide release at all.

 

[Deputy]

This is one area of pistol design which varies by the model.Some weapons you can hit the slide release to reload and its all good. On other model's that tactic is a warranty claim waiting to happen.

On a 5906 S&W you certainly can safely release the slide by depressing the slide lock lever.

On a striker fired piece like the M&P you run the risk of shearing off the lever by using it that way, as the weapon is intended to be placed into battery by slingshot maneuver of the slide-that's why the back end is so scalloped after all. Some handguns like the Walther PK380 don't have an outside slide release at all.

Maybe on an M&P there is that risk, but Glock states in their manual that you can either chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and releasing it, or using the slide release.
I find it a bit disturbing that you can't use the slide stop as a release. The Murphy Factor could come into play and you may not be able to use your free hand to pull back the slide. I want the option of using my firing hand to manipulate the slide release.

 

[blujax01]

This is one area of pistol design which varies by the model.Some weapons you can hit the slide release to reload and its all good. On other model's that tactic is a warranty claim waiting to happen.

On a 5906 S&W you certainly can safely release the slide by depressing the slide lock lever.

...

Yep. Page 18.

 

[blujax01]

... I want the option of using my firing hand to manipulate the slide release.

Well, some guns are designed that way and some aren't. 5906 is and specifically states that you can release the slide with the slide stop lever. M&P doesn't.

Not saying it won't do it, just that S&W does not state that you can. The manual says to pull the slide back and release it.

I can on my Colt 1911 but not consistently and the Colt manual does not recommend it.

 

[Deputy]

Well, some guns are designed that way and some aren't. 5906 is and specifically states that you can release the slide with the slide stop lever. M&P doesn't.

Not saying it won't do it, just that S&W does not state that you can. The manual says to pull the slide back and release it.

I can on my Colt 1911 but not consistently and the Colt manual does not recommend it.

The Colt manual doesn't say one way or the other about using the slide stop as a slide release. At least, in the manuals on Colt's website. And IDPA 1911A1 shooters regularly use the slide stop as a release. As a matter of fact, they have modified them as extended slide releases to make it much easier to use. If using the slide stop ona 1911 produces some kind of excessive wear, than you have some really crappy parts or a crappy gun. The parts you can make durable by installing Ed Brown Hardcore® parts. They are guaranteed for life. If you have a crappy gun...well...there is always a trade-in.


SIG also offers the option of using either the slide release or slingshot the slide itself.

 

[Deputy]

The manual says nothing about it being a "slide release" anywhere and is very specific on the method to be used (page 13).

I read every page of the manual, and while it does state to use the slingshot method to chamber a round, nowhere does it say to NOT use the slide stop to chamber a round. I would think if there was a warranty danger from using the slide stop to release the slide, S&W would have been VERY clear about it in the manual. They certainly have enough red ink warnings about other things you shouldn't do with the gun. Shearing off the lever!?!? If that part is that flimsy, then I don't think I want to buy the gun.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

It's good to see that manuals are suggesting the sling shot method. They're trying to teach good habits.

Using the slide lock as a slide release is fine for a one hand manipulation drill, but think about what's happening when you use it. Metal is being pressed against metal with a compressed spring. You then drag down the slide stop against the slide notch under this pressure to release the slide. Any time your grinding metal against metal there will be extra wear, especially with tension behind it. I don't think anyone lubes that area either, yet we lube every other sliding/rotating surface.

It can have a worse effect on some pistols than others. People do it enough where they eventually post threads like "My slide won't lock back on an empty mag." or "The slide releases by itself when I insert a new mag, even though it never did before."

The slide locks on some poly pistols like the XD, M&P, Glock and so forth, are just bent over sheet metal and are not as substantial as say a 92FS,1911 or BHP slide stop. This may be the reason some of those manuals will actually suggest the sling shot method but it's a good habit to get into because it allows that little bit of extra tension by pulling back the slide to chamber a round and it will be second nature to chamber a round weather a gun has an external or internal slide lock.

Lot's of things are done in movies that look neat like using the slide lock and flicking the cylinder over on a revolver, but they're not exactly great on the gun in real life.

 

[Deputy]

It's good to see that manuals are suggesting the sling shot method. They're trying to teach good habits.

Using the slide lock as a slide release is fine for a one hand manipulation drill, but think about what's happening when you use it. Metal is being pressed against metal with a compressed spring. You then drag down the slide stop against the slide notch under this pressure to release the slide. Any time your grinding metal against metal there will be extra wear, especially with tension behind it. I don't think anyone lubes that area either, yet we lube every other sliding/rotating surface.

It can have a worse effect on some pistols than others. People do it enough where they eventually post threads like "My slide won't lock back on an empty mag." or "The slide releases by itself when I insert a new mag, even though it never did before."

The slide locks on some poly pistols like the XD, M&P, Glock and so forth, are just bent over sheet metal and are not as substantial as say a 92FS,1911 or BHP slide stop. This may be the reason some of those manuals will actually suggest the sling shot method but it's a good habit to get into because it allows that little bit of extra tension by pulling back the slide to chamber a round and it will be second nature to chamber a round weather a gun has an external or internal slide lock.

Lot's of things are done in movies that look neat like using the slide lock and flicking the cylinder over on a revolver, but they're not exactly great on the gun in real life.

Never mentioned movies or TV. My experience with using the slide stop as a slide release came from my training while in the big green machine (US Army) using a 1911A1. Evidently Uncle Sammie takes Murphy's Law ("Anything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong") into account more than civilian folks. Calling the slingshot method a "good habit" is a bit dismissive of IDPA shooters who have a LOT more experince than most folks in these matters. Again, if you have quality parts and not flimsy junk, using the slide stop should be no problem. And yes, I lube the slide stop, although more for smooth operation than preventing wear. Cripes, you folks make it sound like the grinding is equivalent to a rasp on the metal. The slide stop on the SIG is also sheet metal and SIG DOES recommend using it to release the slide. Go figure.
I think we are running into a lot of "theorists" who are suggesting possibilities rather than actual events that take place.

Slides not locking back on an empty mag are more likely caused by weak springs in the magazine than worn slide stops.