I have brand new Shield 9mm and have field stripped it twice; once to inspect and clean after purchase and once to clean after firing.
Seems each time I place the slide back on the rails and try to engage the slide lock, I cannot get the slide back far enough to engage the slide lock. Removed slide and readjusted recoil spring. Same problem. If I slide an empty magazine in I can get the slide back far enough to lock and then continue with the process. Break in issue?
NOTE: owned a Shield 9mm before and this was not a problem.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

Have you flipped back up the the little pin/lever that you had to push down to remove the slide? It can get in the way.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have the same issue from time to time. For me, I think it's related to the strength of the new recoil spring.....and it appears to hang right in the area where the smaller or secondary spring begins to be compressed. Seems to be less frequent now that I've fired it some.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Might be a break in issue. I have one that I recently purchased & it is kinda stiff. Although I dont have any issues putting it back together I'm guessing that the machining tolerances are really tight.

My new Shield has also been hard to engage the slide lock. Like said, hopefully this will lessen with more rounds through the gun.

Thanks guys..

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Si vis pacem, para bellum