M&P Shield 9mm - very stiff slide action

Survivor87

Survivor87

Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
38
Reaction score
9
Just curious, and not that big of a deal, but is there a particular reason that the slide action on the shield 9mm is so tough? It takes some serious effort to pull back and lock the slide open, or check to see if the chamber is empty of any rounds.

On my SD9VE, it's much smoother and not near as stiff as it is in on the shield.

Again, certainly not a deal breaker for me and my new Shield, just wondering.
 
Register to hide this ad
That is common on the Shield. S&W customer service told me to Lock my slide open when not in use. I did for over a year but it's still very hard to lock open. I put rubber grip tape on both sides of the slide and that makes it much easier to lock open. Such a short slide and light weight gun needs a stiff spring.
 
Last edited:
Go shoot it....a lot! It'll loosen up after a few 100 rounds.

Valistar
 
Thanks for the insight. I was wondering if it would loosen up over time or not.

Always appreciate the knowledge of everyone here!
 
Afternoon, I`m a new member and I too am having trouble with the stiff slide .but I do have arthritis real bad in my wrists . So I called S&W customer service. Their rep. said his was the same . Said run a lot of ammo in it , he also said to try some 147 gr , then move down to 124 gr.then 115 gr. it has been working for mine . run 200-400 rds through it.
 
I got my Shield in Nov 2014. A little over 1500 rounds through it. It hasn't really loosened up much. Still quite stiff. The grip tape on the slide sounds like a good idea. Think I'll give that a try.
 
I bought my 9mm Shield in 2015, put almost 1,000 rounds through it, and I still cannot lock the slide back without an empty mag. I've tried the 'locking it open for weeks at a time', that hasn't worked. I cannot field strip as the take down lever doesn't move. I feel like trading it in, but I don't want to. I was told as a last resort to send to S&W and get it checked out. I'm not strong enough is probably the issue.
 
The very stiff recoil spring assembly on my Shield 9 has been in use for 2000 rounds, and has not softened up hardly at all. In comparison, my Shield .45 with 1000 rounds through it has been fairly easy to rack. If ease of racking is a concern, and round capacity isn't, I'd go for the .45.
 
I have only one good hand to rack the slide due to my stroke so I have learned different ways of operating this little gun etc: pulling slide back,dis/reassembly. Sometimes I have to put a empty magazine to lock the slide back then drop it. The things I have to do to shoot doesn't look pretty sometimes but it works. Bottom line this gun is a great little gun.
 
Smitty57 said:
Afternoon, I`m a new member and I too am having trouble with the stiff slide .but I do have arthritis real bad in my wrists . So I called S&W customer service. Their rep. said his was the same . Said run a lot of ammo in it , he also said to try some 147 gr , then move down to 124 gr.then 115 gr. it has been working for mine . run 200-400 rds through it.
Click to expand...
Smitty, it will break in with use. It is real soft shooting which may be good for your wrists. If it is too difficult, the Ruger LC9s may be a better choice for you.
 
Valistar said:
Go shoot it....a lot! It'll loosen up after a few 100 rounds.

Valistar
Click to expand...

I haven't tried locking the slide back when not in use, and in a few hundred rounds it has gotten easier/smoother. The other posts in here saying 1500 hasn't changed, make it seem it won't get much better.

My P320 is really easy to rack, even their SC model.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
New 686 very stiff hammer pull
Replies
13
Views
1K
AudieMurphy
A
C
M&P Shield Plus - Known Issues
2 3
Replies
54
Views
16K
cromag27
C
C
Shield Plus Potential Issue?
2 3
Replies
40
Views
7K
J a s o n
J
cmansguns
A few "newbie" questions M&P 2.0 45acp..police marked
Replies
3
Views
629
smith10
S
chief38
SHOT A M&P THIS MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Replies
1
Views
375
Harry Callihan
Harry Callihan

Latest posts

Back
Top