M&P Shield: Removing the Slide.

[dkleiner]

Hello, all:

After receiving great advice advice here, I purchased an M&P Shield today. I wanted to clean it tonight, but I cannot remove the slide. I am pulling back on the slide and simultaneously attempting to push up the slide lever on the left side of the gun. The slide lever will not move upward.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you.

 

[jehu1290]

Try putting an empty magazine in and pulling the slide back? It should automatically lock back with an empty magazine in; then eject the magazine.

 

[Pants]

YouTube is your friend.

M&P Shield 9mm Field Strip/Disassembly - YouTube

 

[Telly]

I know that lever should be rotated down. Also once you have the slide back and the take down lever rotated down you will need to allow the slide to move forward and pull the trigger to get the slide to come off. If all else fails read the owners manual or watch You Tube.

 

[dkleiner]

Try putting an empty magazine in and pulling the slide back? It should automatically lock back with an empty magazine in; then eject the magazine.

Tried it. No go.

 

[jehu1290]

My wife recently purchased a new shield that did the same thing. Sometimes it would lock back and sometimes not. Sometimes we could get the slide of and sometimes not. It was very difficult to pull back as well. We ended up taking it back to where we bought it and the salesman tried it and he could not get it to lock back without trying it 3 times. He then could not get the slide to come off either. He said it was defective and allowed us to make an exchange.

 

[chuck8388]

There is another step there is a small lever inside mag well that has to be rotated down.

 

[dkleiner]

There is another step there is a small lever inside mag well that has to be rotated down.

I thought that lever is rotated down after the slide is locked in the open position.

 

[OldCat]

Relax. The recoil spring is very stiff in the Shield and it feels very progressive which means as the slide moves back the springs resistance increases. The slide lock engages when the slide is virtually at the end of its travel which is why a lot of people have a hard time pulling it back.

Now once the slide is locked you need to rotate the striker disconnect lever and rotate the take down lever downward, you'll see a small arc recess in the slide where the lever is. Now release the slide lock and it comes apart.

Be patient, it will work but not when you're frustrated.

 

[dkleiner]

I do pull it all the way back. It will not lock. Should I just keep pulling it back repeatedly?

 

[OldCat]

Are you applying upward pressure on the slide lock lever or using an empty mag? Either way the lock lever should move up.

 

[webfarmer]

OldCat is right - the recoil spring is notorious for being very, very stiff when new. If you can't get the slide back enough yourself, maybe ask a friend to try (no offense). If another person cannot do it - call S&W. It's part of the new gun deal I guess - can be frustrating for sure. Keep trying and good luck!

Oops - updated while I was writing. Yes - keep trying pulling the slide back while watching the notch line up with the lever and pushing up. The safety is off yes?

 

[OldCat]

I just disassembled mine twice since my last post.

Mine is still relatively new and still difficult to pull back but it locks every time. Put in an empty mag, hold the slide with your left hand and push the grip with your right hand. That's how I did it. Now I can do it without a mag in place just by pushing the slide lock lever up with my right thumb while pushing the gun forward.

 

[dkleiner]

I am using an empty mag. I cannot pull the slide back and push the lever up with my right thumb while pulling the slide back with my left thumb and forefinger. The resistance is too much.

Instead, I have the left side of the gun facing up toward me. I am pushing the slide rearward with my left hand while pushing up on the slide lock lever with my right thumb.

It will not lock.

 

[dkleiner]

I was typing when I saw your post, Oldcat. I have been trying to do the same maneuver as you.

 

[webfarmer]

dkleiner - you are trying the middle lever yes? I just tried mine and the rear lever (safety) means nothing when locking the slide. Just saying....

 

[OldCat]

dkleiner - you are trying the middle lever yes? I just tried mine and the rear lever (safety) means nothing when locking the slide. Just saying....

Ha, I would never have thought of that, I'm too used to a 1911 and you can't rack the slide with the safety up. Not so with the Shield. In fact I like the safety just to unload the gun without having it accidentaly discharge.

 

[dkleiner]

Yes, I am trying to move the lever in the middle of the gun, just behind the rotating clip.

 

[OldCat]

Well the lever in the middle is the correct one and it shouldn't be able to move up a lot until the indent is directly above the stop. Take the mag out and see if the lever and stop will move at all. You should be able to push it up 1 to 2 mm.

 

[webfarmer]

Yes, I am trying to move the lever in the middle of the gun, just behind the rotating clip.

Hmm, with the mag out - should be able to. Does the slide stay back on an empty mag?