Need help SD40 field breakdown

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michaeld1953

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In regards to my new SD40VE. Hey folks. My hands are not the strongest in the world but maybe not necessary, maybe it is technique. You are suppose to grasp the weapon with your right hand in a particular way to pull back the slide about an 8th of an inch and pull down the two tabs, one on each side of the gun and when all the way down, hold and push the slide forward and off the gun. I can not for the life of me get those tabs to pull down at the same time to release the slide. I have watched the various videos a 100 times but those tabs suck. You have to get them with your fingernails it seems. Very frustrating. The release tabs should have a better design to get ahold of. Do you fellow fans have a solution or is there a sweet spot to pull down the slide release tabs. Not going to fire this weapon until I can break it down, clean and lube. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.:(
 
I'm not sure if this is a dumb question or not, but I remember I made this mistake in the beginning... Is the magazine taken out? I think that's what I was forgetting to do when I first tried to field strip mine.
 
Well wasn't a dumb question at all. Yes I still had the mag in I took it out and had to still struggle with it a bit but I actually got it off, now I can clean and lube. Figure 1 says remove the magazine. Boy I feel stupid but still they need to improve on those tabs, it was still difficult. I was contemplating building a tool specifically for that and may yet do that. Thank you Techse7en77. I appreciate the response.
 
That's the beauty of this message board... Most of us have dealt with the same problems as each other. I have asked some of the stupidest most simple questions and have received nothing but great help!
 
I agree, good thing I have a machining background and access to a shop. I am going to custom make a tempered tool to make it easier on me. I could remake the part but I can make a tool easier. I just got it to open a second time but it was a bear. Maybe the more I do the break in will eliminate the problem. I do appreciate this forum. Thanks once again.
 
I struggled with it for a while,now i dont even really think about it aside from making sure the weapon is safe before i pull that trigger.
 
michaeld1953 said:
In regards to my new SD40VE. Hey folks. My hands are not the strongest in the world but maybe not necessary, maybe it is technique. You are suppose to grasp the weapon with your right hand in a particular way to pull back the slide about an 8th of an inch and pull down the two tabs, one on each side of the gun and when all the way down, hold and push the slide forward and off the gun. I can not for the life of me get those tabs to pull down at the same time to release the slide. I have watched the various videos a 100 times but those tabs suck. You have to get them with your fingernails it seems. Very frustrating. The release tabs should have a better design to get ahold of. Do you fellow fans have a solution or is there a sweet spot to pull down the slide release tabs. Not going to fire this weapon until I can break it down, clean and lube. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.:(
Click to expand...

Field stripping is like the Glock.

Make sure it is unloaded and point in safe direction before dry firing.

Wrap your thumb around the back of the grip so it is under the beavertail, and with the same hand, wrap your fingers around the top of the slide.

Using that hand, squeeze so as to pull the slide back just enough to release the tension on the take down latch.

Wrap the fingers of the other hand up from under the pistol and, at the same time, pull the take down latch down. It is one solid piece and you are seeing two sides of the same metal bar or tab or whatever you want to call it. While holding the latch bar down, release the slide and let it go forward and pull it off the front of the frame.

It is quite easy once you get the hang of it.
 
Last edited:
Galloway makes an extended plate for easier takedown.

Like I said in the other thread I put finger grooves in the frame like the old ones had, look at the pics.

Sigma

3
 
I got so irritated with how stiff the spring was in the takedown lever that I took the spring out and bent it a little, first time I did to much and it didnt work at all then with a little adjustment I got it just right...be careful though because there is always a chance of breaking the spring....I am glad I did it though, because when I first got my sd it was so stiff it hurt my fingers
 
3hounds said:
Galloway makes an extended plate for easier takedown.
Click to expand...

I got one of those, and while it isn't a whole lot wider (which after thinking about it, I guess was by design, so it won't drag on a holster) it does make it easier to catch and depress the lever. If you do get one and install it, be aware that the lever spring is not retained in the frame like on a Glock...if you don't keep it depressed while you are swapping the levers, it will fly out of the frame. It will fly a surprising distance too!

A tip I have read somewhere is to take a cloth (like a cleaning rag) and drape it over the hand/fingers you will be using to grasp the lever (or I guess you could even use a cloth glove.) The cloth will snag it easier than you can do using your fingernails.
 
I like your idea Ken, going to give that a shot. I did find that grasping the weapon properly with my left hand on the beavertail instead of my right and used my stronger hand my right to release the latch but when they designed the weapon they could have made the design on those tabs better, without any interference. My problem is getting my nails into the grooves and I have whacked both left and right middle fingers. Next time I take the gun apart I am going to reverse engineer that latch and use a wire EDM and perfect it for my guns.
 
michaeld1953 said:
I like your idea Ken, going to give that a shot. I did find that grasping the weapon properly with my left hand on the beavertail instead of my right and used my stronger hand my right to release the latch but when they designed the weapon they could have made the design on those tabs better, without any interference. My problem is getting my nails into the grooves and I have whacked both left and right middle fingers. Next time I take the gun apart I am going to reverse engineer that latch and use a wire EDM and perfect it for my guns.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, I like the take down on M&P pistols better...but, the SD is much easier now that I have the extended lever in it. The only way I can do mine, though, is to grasp the frame in my right hand, with my fingers over the slide, pull the slide back slightly, and then use my left hand/fingers to pull down the lever. I am right handed, and using my left hand to grasp the frame just feels awkward.
 
GKC said:
A tip I have read somewhere is to take a cloth (like a cleaning rag) and drape it over the hand/fingers you will be using to grasp the lever
Click to expand...

Thanks for that tip! I've had the same problem with my new SD9. I have a small CNC mill out in the garage, but your method sounds a lot easier! :D
 
I am having the same issue with my sd40 I can not break it down.. Is this a defect and should I send it back to S&W...
 
Solution for easy takedown

As posted before when they did the mold for the frame they did not leave enough radius in the area below the take down plate to where you could get an easy grip on both sides to slide down easily and then work your slide, pull the trigger and then remove the slide. Go to Galloway Precision and buy this wide body take down lever and it is an easy install or if you are uncomfortable with it, take it to a gunsmith. It is a 10 minute job. I did it to the SD9VE and the SD40VE. Piece of cake. Wide Body Take Down Plate for SD VE and Sigma VE :: Sigma and SD Performance Parts :: Smith & Wesson(R) Performance :: Galloway Precision

Problem solved.
 
Before I bought a .9mm longer bar I used a washcloth between my finger/thumb and the bar. Worked fine.

I tend to believe, now, that "technique" is the answer . . . just practice.
 
Outside of replacing the triggers with Apex trigger kits for $21 each, the wide body take down plate was the best investment I made in the functioning of the gun because S&W really botched that up in the mold or they could have made the take down the right size to begin with because it was a cluster of a mistake. Another example of designers not thinking but I am happy as I can be and have been since I put on 3 years ago.
 
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