Slide release when mag is inserted M&P9 FS

[Nitrous SSC]

The slide release on my M&P9 activates whenever a mag is installed. Even with very light pressure. Any way to adjust/fix this without sending the gun back to S&W since I've put a full APEX kit on it?

Thanks guys.

 

[MSG Glenn]

That slide shouldn't close unless you slam the mag in. At least that's the way it is with my full size 40 & my compact. Unfortunately S&W will probably blame it on the Apex kit. (I joke but there may be some truth to that) It's possible the slide catch isn't holding good enough & maybe you could get a new assembly & install it yourself. Hopefully someone onsite can give you an educated answer. It might be as simple as bending the part that catches the slide a little bit.

I really can't see a real problem with the slide closing on a mag insertion. Just make sure your fingers aren't in the way. My friend has just the opposite problem with his M&P40 - it won't close on a hard insertion like both of mine do & he's jealous. I rarely do it that way but I have in mag change drills. It's good to know that both of mine will do it every time.

 

[blujax01]

My M&P 45C does that.

I like it.

 

[Bkreutz]

I have difficulty understanding why this is a problem. If you're loading a full mag into the pistol, isn't the next step releasing the slide? Or are you intending to insert a full mag and then walk around with it locked back? None of mine do it and I wished they did, it would eliminate a step.

 

[smokey0118]

When you seat a mag in your handgun, the grip angle is 18 degrees and you're probably pressing forward just a bit with the meat of your hand. This means there is some force vectored to push the frame forward. As the frame accelerates forward, the weight of the slide causes it to lag behind a moment until the recoil spring presses enough to move it along. This lag behind in the slide mimics you pulling it back a little and gives an opportunity for the slide catch(not slide release) to fall by it's spring pressure. You can get this to happen in most semiautomatics by hitting slightly forward with the meat of your hand when you seat a mag. It happens a little easier on the m&p for a variety of reasons, one being the rear of the slide stop cutout is angled to reduce local stresses that could cause a crack there.

It's not a big deal and will actually help speed up reloads. Keep in mind, your muzzle should be in a "safe" position and your trigger should be out of the trigger guard until you're ready to fire anyway, so this shouldn't cause anything bad. View it as more of a feature than anything and enjoy.

 

[Rastoff]

My .40 does it with a normal insertion. You can see it in this video: Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol 400 Round Test - YouTube

My .45 does it as well, but takes a little more force.

I have a friend that doesn't like this "feature" on his 9mm. He says that it causes him to eject a live round when it happens. He has a habit so ingrained that when he sees the slide closed, he automatically racks it when inserting a new mag. I think it's a problem with his technique and he thinks its a problem with the gun. We have agreed to disagree on this point.

 

[Houdini1953]

What you are experiencing is what is called "auto forwarding" and most of my weapons do it unless I gently insert a mag which is seldom. It is not really supposed to but the fact that it doe for me at least it is a bonus.

Now when I insert a new mag I make sure I am pointing downrange and verify that my slide is in fact ready to go again and proceed from there.

To some people like me this is a feature and not a bug! I like not having to rack the slide if I don't have to!

 

[Nitrous SSC]

I don't like it one bit. My other 3 M&P's and 3rd gens do not do it. IMHO its not a bonus. I don't want a function that "sometimes" does this. Screws up your consistent training and shooting.

I guess I'll play with the release a little bit. If not I'll strip the apex kit out and send it back to S&W.

If anyone here has fixed this themselves please let me know the process you used.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

My .40 does it with a normal insertion. You can see it in this video: Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol 400 Round Test - YouTube

My .45 does it as well, but takes a little more force.

I have a friend that doesn't like this "feature" on his 9mm. He says that it causes him to eject a live round when it happens. He has a habit so ingrained that when he sees the slide closed, he automatically racks it when inserting a new mag. I think it's a problem with his technique and he thinks its a problem with the gun. We have agreed to disagree on this point.

I 100% agree with your friend.

 

[bp231986]

My Glock 19 gen 4 does it on a hard reload. I don't mind it.

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk

 

[Sgt 45]

My full size 9 does it my 9c does not - bummer!!

 

[Rastoff]

II don't want a function that "sometimes" does this. Screws up your consistent training and shooting.

I would agree if it only does it sometimes. Mine does it every time so, I have no issue with training.

Also, it's easy for me to say this because my M&Ps are secondary guns. They are not my carry guns or my competition guns so, it's not something I worry about. If they were, I'd be more concerned. Still, because mine do it every time, I'm fine with it.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

I appreciate the opinions on the matter but can anyone give me insight on how exactly to fix it so this doesn't happen anymore? As I mentioned I have 10+ S&W's and various fire arms in the safe, none of them do this.

 

[Rastoff]

I don't think anyone's found a surefire cure for it. If you send it to S&W they will say it's within specs. I honestly hope someone posts a fix.

I think it will ultimately have to do with the way the slide stop engages the slide. You may have to alter the angles a little.

 

[BillyMagg]

I appreciate the opinions on the matter but can anyone give me insight on how exactly to fix it so this doesn't happen anymore? As I mentioned I have 10+ S&W's and various fire arms in the safe, none of them do this.

Well, you are quite right, it should NOT happen, PERIOD. Now it appears that lots of posters are having this issue, and it is a safety issue. NONE of my autos do it, Colt, Springer, Beretta, nor my Smith and Wesson 3913, in fact I have never fired another auto that exhibited this "feature"???? So???

The slide is held open by the slide stop bearing on the lower slide stop notch in the slide, if the insertion of a loaded or unloaded magazine, causes the slide to strip a loaded round and go into battery, with out depressing the slide stop, or retracting the slide, it is most likely the slide stop that is out of spec, probably not the slide stop notch in the slide, and very unlikely the frame being wonky, but any one of the three could be the issue. If you tell S&W to fix it or replace it, it will return to you "fixed". billy magg

 

[BillyMagg]

I don't think anyone's found a surefire cure for it. If you send it to S&W they will say it's within specs. I honestly hope someone posts a fix.

I think it will ultimately have to do with the way the slide stop engages the slide. You may have to alter the angles a little.

You are quite right Rastoff, it is likely the slide stop, the angles MUST be right for it to function as it is designed, but "fitting" is done by hand, too much bearing surface and it will not disengage properly, to little and it will not engage properly, it is an "art", hence the term "gunsmith". billy

 

[John4251]

I have 2 of the Pro CORE 5" pistols and they would Both release the slide when mag inserted under normal speed. It kind of reminded me of my H&K P7, M13 squeeze cockers. I needed a slightly larger/longer mag release due to hand size. I recently ordered a pair of M&P Extended Length Magazine Releases from LF Arms. They are steel bar stock and work perfectly. Besides working the mag release as needed, they also eliminated the slide release when mag is inserted under any pressure/speed. I have intentionally slammed mags as fast/hard as I can now and No slide release until I release it. Hope this gives some light?

 

[Grail Knight]

My Makarov started doing this so I replaced the slide catch which was worn and no more slide releasing upon magazine insert unless manually operated. I spent $14 for a new slide catch and the problem was solved.

Well it may save a millisecond not having to slingshot the slide or pressing the slide release button and have the slide operate on its own upon inserting a magazine it does not guarantee a round is stripped from
the mag. and chambered as the slide could release before the mag is fully seated. Just my opinion.

 

[ussoldier1984]

My .40c only does this with a forceful mag insert, a really hard insert. I kinda like it. Never had a live round eject though.

 

[ATF]

Lots of semi-autos will release the slide when a mag is inserted forcefully or not. Personally I like it and it's never failed to chamber a round. If it's an issue for you I understand.