Slide lock after field strip

Audiman77 · #1 04-19-2015, 05:03 PM

Hey guys new to the forum. I've been shooting and collecting guns, mostly glock and h&k, for about 15 years. I bought and fired about 300 flawless rounds through my new Shield 9 after cleaning and lube. Question is, it took about 10 or so attempts to lock the slide back after the last cleaning. Anyone have this issue before? Just curious since I'm new to M&P's. Thanks for any feedback.

John R · #2 04-19-2015, 05:51 PM

The rebound spring is pretty stout in these pistols, your not the first guy to have problems locking the slide back.
Insert the mag to get the slide to lock back.
More shooting seems to help this issue.

Audiman77 · #3 04-19-2015, 06:34 PM

Great thank you. I thought after 300 rounds it might have been a little easier. Guess all this weight training really doesn't pay off. My dad was right lol

NCW Ray · #4 04-19-2015, 06:56 PM

I have about 500 rounds through my Shield 40 and I can't say if the spring has loosened up a bit or if I've just learned how to deal with it. I think it's probably the latter!

rsrocket1 · #5 04-19-2015, 07:01 PM

Don't be shy about trying to gently hold the slide back to lock it. Hold the slide rigidly against you with your left hand, grip the gun like you are shooting it with the right (finger off trigger of course), and use your right thumb to press up with the slide lock. Push forward with your right hand almost like a snap. The slide will lock open and you are in business. You can do the same with an empty magazine if you don't want to hold the slide lock up.

The spring will loosen up after a few thousand rounds.

Audiman77 · #6 04-19-2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsrocket1

Don't be shy about trying to gently hold the slide back to lock it. Hold the slide rigidly against you with your left hand, grip the gun like you are shooting it with the right (finger off trigger of course), and use your right thumb to press up with the slide lock. Push forward with your right hand almost like a snap. The slide will lock open and you are in business. You can do the same with an empty magazine if you don't want to hold the slide lock up.

The spring will loosen up after a few thousand rounds.

Sweet. So 3700 more to go and good. Lol. Thanks for everyone's help. I just field stripped it and it locked back the first time.

Audiman77 · #7 04-19-2015, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCW Ray

I have about 500 rounds through my Shield 40 and I can't say if the spring has loosened up a bit or if I've just learned how to deal with it. I think it's probably the latter!

That's how I pretty much deal with things. Just deal with it. Much easier that way

Saudade · #8 04-20-2015, 12:02 AM

My Shield 9 is sometimes a bear to lock back upon reassembly. Just show it who's the boss. It might take a few tries to get the recoil assembly in just the right spot. It does get easier.

Brucenterry · #9 04-20-2015, 01:49 PM

One method that works well is, before even moving the slide to the rear, is push the slide stop up and hold it there. Then rack the slide with authority. Don't try to "time it" by racking the slide and then pushing the slide stop up. The recoil spring is so stiff and the slide WILL move forward ever so slightly and you'll miss the indent!

Dandecoteau · #10 04-20-2015, 02:19 PM

I know where your coming from. I had the same problem. The recoil spring should have a little hump near the bottom of the recoil spring assembly where it touches the barrel. That little hump in the spring needs to be at about 1:00 if the barrel is pointing towards you. Check out your manual and look REALLY close and you'll see what I'm talking about.

And then just go shoot the piss out of it to break her in.

uechikid · #11 04-20-2015, 02:58 PM

I have had this happen also. The recoil spring needed to be turned a bit.
Here is a pic for the correct position for the recoil spring.

Shield Recoil Spring.jpg

Texas40 · #12 04-20-2015, 03:12 PM

How mines sitting right now in my 40 shield. Gun functions flawlessly. Ive never paid any attention to how the spring is positioned in the many many times I've taken the gun down and reassembled it.

Audiman77 · #13 04-20-2015, 08:03 PM

Thanks for your help everyone. It must have been a fluke or something. I put another 200 rounds through it today, and after cleaning, reassembly, it locked back. Guess I'm just used to my glocks. This is my first M&P and first small pistol. I love it though. Definitely going to be buying more M&P's soon.

uechikid · #14 04-20-2015, 09:12 PM

As far as I know, this is only an issue with the Shield. I have a FS and two compacts and never had nor have I heard of of any issues with the orientation of the recoil spring in other models.

Audiman77 · #15 04-20-2015, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uechikid

As far as I know, this is only an issue with the Shield. I have a FS and two compacts and never had nor have I heard of of any issues with the orientation of the recoil spring in other models.

The only other pistol that I own that has a finicky recoil spring is my glock 29. Seems to shift as soon as I put it in. Have to line it up perfectly than quickly get the slide on before it moves. It's a mean shooter though

Bud33 · #16 04-21-2015, 02:34 PM

If you continue to have trouble, try a "HANDI RACKER"
Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

Audiman77 · #17 04-21-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud33

If you continue to have trouble, try a "HANDI RACKER"
Safest way to rack your pistols Handi-Racker

I've seen those before. I'm a bodybuilder so strength isn't an issue. It was that one incident, and now it's working fine. I might actually pick one of those up for my grandfather.

Bud33 · #18 04-21-2015, 03:52 PM

I'm 82 years old with arthritis in my hands and the Handi Racker is a god send!!!!!

Kadonny · #19 04-21-2015, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas40

How mines sitting right now in my 40 shield. Gun functions flawlessly. Ive never paid any attention to how the spring is positioned in the many many times I've taken the gun down and reassembled it.

I just make sure each time the spring and guide rod sit perfectly center of the slide and make sure it's sitting properly in the notch in the barrel. I find that works for me and my slide works great. Also as others have said, the spring does loosen up after shooting a few hundred rounds or so.

Gaucho59 · #20 04-21-2015, 05:49 PM

Forgive me if this has already been posted. Mine is sometimes difficult to lock back after a field strip too. If I can't get it, I insert an empty mag and rack it. Locks back every time and then I can release it, drop the mag and it will then lock back with the release lever. It seems like that release lever sometimes doesn't want to move immediately after reassembly, but the empty mag gets it going every time...