I am a big guy with lots of strength. I cannot pull the slide on my Shield back far enough to engage the stop, or the take down lever. I hit a hard stop. the grove for the take down lever is still to the left of the lever itself.

What Could be wrong wrong? And how should I fix it?

I could not do it myself at the beginning. Use the "ladies" method that I took up once the arthritis set it.

Put in an empty mag. Hold the slide firm with your support hand, and use your strong hand to push the frame forward until it locks.

I've seen discussions of other issues, but that solved mine.

Recoil spring is likely slightly out of place. Try to pull the slide as far back as possible and flip the takedown lever down. Release the slide to the normal locked up position. Hopefully the gun is fully unloaded. If so then pull the trigger and the slide should release and can be removed.

Upon reassembly the big issue is to make sure the recoil spring is pushed fully down and centered into the groove. Then put the slide back on and this time you should be able to get the slide pulled back enough to engage the slide lock.

Bob

I was being WAY too gentle!

A mistake I often make with an unfamiliar gun. Glad you solved your issue.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

Two issues - the spring is in fact insanely tight and the recoil spring assembly does indeed get out of place.

I have found I have to sort of heave, heave, HEAVE it back to lock it sometimes, like I rack the slide 3 times in succession real quick, building up strength and therefore a little bit more length each time, rack then rack then real hard RACK! and push the slide stop up, usually does the trick.



I did have a faulty guide rod from the start, and I ruined it completely within a month. At first it got so bad I couldn't open it at all, then I couldn't close it at all, had to resort to a soft rubber mallet. S&W sent me a new one and I have been much more careful with how I reassemble it now, the end has to be PERFECTLY seated properly for reassembly.