I just purchased a brand new M&P Shield 9 and I am unable to lock the slide manually. I took it to the range to try to loosen it, fired 50 rounds and had 5 FTFs. The slide locked fine when the magazine emptied, but I still cannot do it myself. I really want to clean it, but I can't strip it without locking the slide back. Before I purchased this gun, I went to the range and rented one to make sure I could handle it properly and I had no issues then. Racking the slide is no problem; it is just the slide stop will not push up and feels like there is something blocking it. Has anyone else had this issue or have any ideas about how to fix it? Any help would be appreciated
Unable to manually lock M&P Shield slide
- Thread starter GBlueStang
- Start date
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OP
Nevermind, I finally got it. Operator error, I wasn't pulling the slide back far enough.
The easy way to lock the slide back is to put an empty magazine in it, rotate the gun sideways, grasp the slide with the off hand, and push and pull at the same time with both arms. Then remove the magazine.
This also keeps the muzzle downrange.
This also keeps the muzzle downrange.
Lockback
Member
Been there, done that.
My first time with the Shield, I had the same problem and had to call a buddy who owns one and he talked me thru it.
Then I realized the slide lock tab is behind the slide release lever and I just wasn't pulling it back far enough.
Plus the fact that new recoil spring assembly is stiff!
dullh
Member
If the rear of the recoil spring assembly isn't properly seated the slide won't lock back either. Consider that when you reassemble the pistol.
Stratajema
Member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2013
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Or the recoil spring assembly is out of spec and in certain rotated positions will not let the slide fully retract the last 1/4" or so. It happened to me and it happened to others.
As you have read, many of us have had the same problem with our new Shields. I couldn't believe how hard it was to lock the slide back but I only had my Glock 19 to compare it to since I am fairly new to handguns. It wasn't that I wasn't getting it back far enough, it was just really stiff. I found the slide lock lever really stiff as well. Thanks to the good advice here, and a few videos on YouTube, I figured it out and after a few hundred rounds it became much easier to operate.
8th SPS USAF
Member
Shield
I have several sub compact 9/45 pistols. To me the Shield 9mm has the heaviest recoil spring of them all. I have a H-ll of a time locking the slide back.
I have several sub compact 9/45 pistols. To me the Shield 9mm has the heaviest recoil spring of them all. I have a H-ll of a time locking the slide back.
