S&W recommends that you take down the shield by pulling down the internal small lever painted yellow. This is a pain and I just lock slide back, pull down take down lever, release slide lock back and pull trigger at point slide would be in battery. And I leave the little yellow lever in place when I reassemble.

I know S&W recommends using internal yellow lever to avoid discharge if round left in pistol. My question is will alternative (non S&W method) I use harm the pistol over time? Naturally assuming I make sure pistol is unloaded.

Absolutely not. That yellow lever inside is about as useful as the plugged hole for the internal lock on M&P's.

Use a small flat head screw driver or a plastic stirrer. It works well and it better to follow the instructions IMHO.

Either way is fine IMO though I use the trigger method only when I don't have access to a tool to flip the lever down. Should never do that with your finger unless you want to test the power of the recoil spring

__________________
JR
SD40VE and Shield 9

I have done it both ways. Most of the time, I flip the lever tho. I don't think it hurts anything doing it the other way. You still have to pull the slide back and that will eject a round that may be left in the chamber. Now, if you left a loaded mag inserted, you will have a negligent discharge.

I usually use the method of pulling the trigger after verifying empty.
If I have some sort of tool handy (screwdriver, mail file, etc) I'll flip the sear disconnect, but I'm not going to go searching for something.

Removing the slide by pulling the trigger is no more damaging to the firearm than dry firing it.

As others have said, pulling the trigger will allow disassembly. No harm done unless you neglect to clear the weapon. However, you can grab just about anything and flip the lever. I keep a small section of bamboo skewer in my range bag. I also have a cheapo Winchester cleaning kit in the red alum tube. I can use one of the brass tips.

Clear weapon, double check, pull trigger, done. Shouldn't cause a problem.

Don't skip lightly over the comment about testing the recoil spring. I stuck my fingernail over the yellow lever, rammed it up under my nail and jerked. The slide popped off of the slide lock and closed like a bear trap on my already injured finger.

It hurt.

If you really insist on operating the yellow lever just use the tool at the bottom of the grip

Do what you are comfortable with. Either way works and doesnt hurt anything. I should say though that you must eject the mag, lock the slide back AND inspect the chamber. Sometimes your extractor may not grab and extract a chambered round.

Nope! No tool provided with the Shield.

Sorry My Bad

Man you just can't win

Yeah forgot we were talking Shields

So do the other M&P models have a tool to flip the yellow lever? The shield is the only newer smith I own.

Yes there is a small tool in the grip base that holds the interchangeable grips in place. It's basically a pin punch. In an emergency you may be able to completely strip the whole gun using this tool, but I've never tried it.

I've used my finger countless times and never considered that happening. I don't think I'll press my luck any further.

Right but it's way too hard to remove. That's why I carry the skewer. A toothpick works well too.

The tool does come in handy if I to disassebly those 10 round mags though.

My 9c also does. Not sure about the others.

Fullsize and compacts. That includes the Pros and COREs.

Why go out of the way to do something different from what they request in the manual? Does anyone really NOT have as much as a toothpick at hand?

I follow the rules. As such, when I need to send it off for work, I have no doubt that it has been handled as expected.

I dont even bother to lock the slide back. I just turn the lever and remove the slide.

If you are doing a field strip preparatory to cleaning you will have a cleaning rod close at hand. I find that the tip of the rod works well to rotate the yellow device downward once the slide is locked open but before rotating the take down lever.

Give this man five gold stars!!!! I seriously cringe when I see video of someone sticking their finger inside a Shield Ejection Port. With that over stout recoil spring and violent closing, the Shield would work as well as a Pair of Fiskars Pruning Loppers.The OP' practice is sound as long as the gun is carefully cleared on live ammo.