Slide difficult to pull back

oldfwsshooter · Jan 28, 2019

I have an M&P Shield in 9mm. The slide is very difficult pull back, locking the slide even harder. My SW 5904 is much easier to load and lock. Can the recoil spring pressure be reduced?

bigwheelzip · Jan 28, 2019

Don't know about reducing it, but there are third-party replacements.

Edit: Should mention that it gets slightly easier with use, and I feel a bit less resistance with a high grade lube on the slide rails, like TW25B from Mil-Comm.

CB3 · Jan 28, 2019

Shield recoil springs are especially stiff when new. Pulling the slide back compresses them, so it is this compression you want to work with.

Some have similarly noted that the mag springs are hard to compress when new.

In both cases, leave the springs compressed in between shooting until they become easier to use. Leave the slide locked back when the gun is not loaded. Leave mags fully loaded.

If this does not help enough with the recoil springs, there are aftermarket recoil spring assemblies (RSA) that many say are easier to rack while still allowing reliable functioning.

Worst case scenario, I believe there may be a replacement back plate for the slide that has two small wings sticking out sideways. These provide a better grip on the rear of the slide, similar to an AR charging handle.

oink · Jan 28, 2019

Mine is the same way which is why I carry one. I got it for my wife but she couldn't pull the slide back or load the magazines. She now has what was my Glock 43 and I now have the Shield. But I'm fine with the trade. I like the Shield.

oldiegoldie · Jan 28, 2019

GT-5000 Grip Tape might work for you....it did for me. i put a small piece on the front of slide on both sides. got it on amazon.

Real Old Navy · Jan 28, 2019

Install an SS Stainless Steel Guide Rod...I did, Smith & Wesson(R) Shield 9mm & 40 cal Guide Rod by Stainless Steel Guide Rods - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

jbtrucker · Jan 28, 2019

Get a Uplula to load your magazines

swsig · Jan 28, 2019

oink said:
Mine is the same way which is why I carry one. I got it for my wife but she couldn't pull the slide back or load the magazines. She now has what was my Glock 43 and I now have the Shield. But I'm fine with the trade. I like the Shield.

Very clever of you!

rch27834 · Jan 28, 2019

When I first bought my Shield I thought it broke. It was a beast to lock to rear manually. It feels like it actually has 2 stages of tension in the recoil spring. It's all good now.

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WR Moore · Jan 28, 2019

oldfwsshooter said:
I have an M&P Shield in 9mm. The slide is very difficult pull back, locking the slide even harder. My SW 5904 is much easier to load and lock. Can the recoil spring pressure be reduced?

It's easier to pull the slide back on your full size pistol because the mass of the slide is heavier, the travel longer and the spring pressure is set accordingly to provide proper function.

Mini pistols must have heavier springs because the slides are lighter, the travel shorter and so is the service life of the spring. This is the cost of having something handier. Reducing the spring pressure will increase slide velocity, causing damage to the pistol frame and possibly feed failures.

Yeah, you can screw with spring rates, but remember you're potentially betting lives on the pistol working properly. Those springs are that heavy because they have to be. Remember: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

spirit4earth · Jan 28, 2019

oink said:
Mine is the same way which is why I carry one. I got it for my wife but she couldn't pull the slide back or load the magazines. She now has what was my Glock 43 and I now have the Shield. But I'm fine with the trade. I like the Shield.

Is the Glock 43 much easier to manipulate? I also cannot operate a Shield, but I would like a smaller carry pistol.

dschamp · Jan 28, 2019

Have you considered the Shield 380 EZ? According to S&W, "Built for personal protection and every-day carry, the M&P380 Shield EZ is chambered in 380 Auto and is designed to be easy to use, featuring an easy-to-rack slide, easy-to-load magazine, and easy-to-clean design." More info here: M&P(R) 380 SHIELD™ EZ™ | Smith & Wesson

spirit4earth · Jan 28, 2019

dschamp said:
Have you considered the Shield 380 EZ? According to S&W, "Built for personal protection and every-day carry, the M&P380 Shield EZ is chambered in 380 Auto and is designed to be easy to use, featuring an easy-to-rack slide, easy-to-load magazine, and easy-to-clean design." More info here: M&P(R) 380 SHIELD™ EZ™ | Smith & Wesson

I’m not comfortable with that until they fix the stovepipe issue.

oink · Jan 28, 2019

spirit4earth said:
Is the Glock 43 much easier to manipulate? I also cannot operate a Shield, but I would like a smaller carry pistol.

Yes, the 43 is noticeably easier to manipulate. Wifey tried several other 9s in that size category and the Glock was the only one she could consistently manipulate. I tried working with her on her technique and she got to where she could "sometimes" manipulate the Shield but not really. For her the Glock is the ticket. I like Glocks but for me the Shield works and I like it just fine. The Glock does cost more.

Raisin · Jan 28, 2019

I put grip tape on the full left side of my Shield. It made a world of difference.

Somertime · Jan 30, 2019

tight shield slide

I had trouble racking my shield so I bought a green(small) Handi-Racker on Amazon. It works great on a flat surface or with the palm of your left hand. solves the problem. Somertime

mltndw3 · Jan 31, 2019

This has been a problem for years and you can use the search function to read the many posts. I was one of the first. The slide was very stiff out of the box for me and my wife couldn't do it at all. It went away after a few hundred rounds and we both enjoy shooting it now. That being said, we both prefer the Sig 365 (1 yr old and zero problems) but still have our Shield 1.0 and shoot it often. Great little gun.

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395dog · Feb 1, 2019

M&P Shield hard to rack

I did as someone one on this forum suggested and left the slide locked and in my safe for a week. It's fine now. Shooting it didn't seem to help; i have several hundred rounds through it. But leaving the slide locked back for a week did the trick.

pakettle · Feb 1, 2019

spirit4earth said:
Is the Glock 43 much easier to manipulate? I also cannot operate a Shield, but I would like a smaller carry pistol.

Glock 43 has a pretty stout trigger pull, much like a d/a revolver.

pakettle · Feb 1, 2019

spirit4earth said:
I’m not comfortable with that until they fix the stovepipe issue.

NO stovepipes on mine,keep that grip safety depressed!

Slide difficult to pull back

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