Hi everybody, I am new not only to the forum but a new gun owner in general. I took criminology in college and have been exposed to firearms before so I know the basics of the S&W SD40. I just bought the SD40 yeaterday and took it out and fire off some rounds. About 100 rounds into my time at the range I noticed that myths were not dropping out freely from the mag well. I would press the release which would let loose of the mag but it seems to be getting stuck right after its released. I tried shaking it loose but nothing. It's forcing me to strip the mags out and reload. My question is, is it common for this series pistol to have this problem? And, does it just need to be broken in? My fellow shooter said just oil the mag and maybe a little bit inside the mag well. Any suggestions/comments? Thanks!

Assume SD40VE??

Two mags and both do this after being fired until empty?

Do empty but un-fired mags hang up when released?

Do full, but un-fired mags hang up when released?

I assume you are holding the magazine release in long enough. Dumb question but just checking.

How far down do they stick and is it the same distance for both mags?

(Your question, no, it's not common.)

If I recall properly I was practicing tactical reloads. Didn't matter if there were loaded mags or not. Although I didn't try it full mags (I live in California so only 10 round mags)

I was pressing the mag release firmly enough and long enough to drop the mag as I was in the middle of my tax reload and noticed it didn't drop freely. I tried multiple times to drop the mag freely but it only just released the mag and dropped maybe 1/4 inch forcing me to strip all future mags for the day. Total bummer. But pressing the mag release does release the mag and stripped out pretty easily( not as much effort as dealing with a double feed) yes same situation with both factory mags.

Doesn't seem to matter if mags are empty or loaded

I couldn't sleep because of an issue with another post I made.

I was able to simulate your problem, maybe your problem, by releasing the magazine latch with the magazine partly in the gun.

If you have the problem when you do hold the release down and it happens on more than one new magazine, there must be some obstruction in the magazine well.

I have the SD9VE, but my drop free with no issues. I'd look for some obstruction on the magwell. Maybe remove the slide and observe the mag release motion.

Kabuki209 - Any final report? I agree that it has to be something in the magazine chamber. Let us know.

I haven't had a chance to try anymore tests. I will be testing it again in a couple hours when I get back home and I will update. I'm hoping to chalk it off due to placing a dirty mag back in the mag well. Do any of you think that oiling the mag and mag well a little bit is a good idea?

I wouldn't oil a magazine. They are shipped dry.

Oil = Slippery, collects dirt.

That was my main concern. I can just imagine all that **** being pushed up by the mag into the action...prob cause more issue than it solves.

-Both of mine drop freely when empty. I've never had an issue with them hanging up while dropping from the mag well. Try making sure that the mags and the mag well are completely dry and free of any oil or dirt...

L8R,
Matt

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SD40-VE owner and proud of it!

Hey everybody! I got to looking closer and I think it's my mag safety lever. It's not fully releasing tension for the mag to drop freely. Its seems to being slowed down to a point where the mag won't drop but on the ever so slightest pull it will come out once it clears that mag safety. I'm hoping it's just needs some cleaning due to the cheap reloads I was firing. Haven't had a chance to clean it but I am tomorrow once I buy a kit. I gonna keep trying it but this time with fully loaded mags and see if there a diff

I wiped down my mags pretty good and took a Q-tip to the mag saftey and it has improved. With an empty mag I'm having about 15 out of 20 successful mag drops. But with a full mag it's a diff story...maybe 5 out of 20 mag drops without shaking or a little help. But still a slight improvement it will disconnecting drop 1/4 of an inch when before a full mag would just disconnect and not drop at all. I'm hoping to update you all for the final time tomorrow after a good cleaning. Thanks for the support everyone!

Ah. Never thought about he may safety lever. Mine doesn't have one...

L8R,
Matt

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SD40-VE owner and proud of it!

I have an SD9VE-CA model with the magazine safety lever. It does exert some pressure on the back side of the magazine but it has never been a problem for me. It's smooth and rounded on the underside and it's contact area on the magazines is smooth.

Do you field strip your gun using the alternative method in the manual for those models?

I always do, except for a couple of times when I forgot. S&W said to not worry about it, but they have not, after several inquiries, explained why this second method is important. My observation is that the second method, the one specified for such models, actually RAISES some of the parts that need to be cleared as the slide is removed and replaced.

If your magazine safety lever doesn't move freely maybe it needs to be cleaned and/or lubed at the hinge and spring area. It does interact with at least one other part in the trigger linkage area.

Yeah the CA models are a little diff than most. The mag safety is more of a hindrance than anything else in my opinion. But I'm
Glad to say that after a little bit of cleaning and TLC (tender love and care) it seems to be functioning properly. Both mags loaded and unloaded seem to be dropping fine no loaded and unloaded. I just field stripped and cleaned it real good. I did place a little bit of oil on the mag safety where it contacts the mag. I'm gonna try and get it more into the mag safety linkage for good measure. But overall seems to be better. Never using cheap reloads again. The amount of burnt power was crazy...Thanks everybody and I will try and update later for a week later review. Thanks everybody your awesome!

I don't live in CA any more and special-ordered a CA version. (Bass had to change their rules to order it for me.)

Why would I want a CA model here in Oklahoma?

Consider the following - Maybe your wife can't reliably rack the slide but you want to leave the gun in as safe as possible condition for her, but very easy to make ready for use. You can put a round in the chamber and then just drop the magazine a little bit. All she has to do is seat the magazine and the gun is ready to fire.

Since this gun will not be carried (I could, but won't for now) it will live in a bedside drawer, perhaps not to be seen for long periods of time. I can grab it in low light and immediately know whether there is a round in the chamber just by feeling the "loaded" indicator. That's a plus for me . . . Sometimes I get up in the morning and find that I had turned a computer off the night before but it's printer is still on.

I did buy some 16 round magazines, mostly to be more effective at the range. If I ever move back to California, those magazines would, I understand, be legal since I would have owned them before moving back.

Yeah I like the loaded chamber indicator. It's a good visual to have. Plus it has a certain intimidation factor to see the red part of the indicator. Hopefully that would be enough for someone to realize which side of the business end they are standing on. My SD40VE will be a carry firearm and I'm very happy with the overall style and feel of it. I think I'm in love just don't Tell my wife. 😃

I put a $23.00 laser pointer on my SD9VE and it seems to be stable and will run for many hours on the batteries. It came with an optional pressure switch but I didn't use it.

I would assume that if someone saw that pointing towards them they might not hang around long.

I'm not a big fan of laser pointers. I think it promotes mindless and inaccurate shooting. Just my opinion and don't mean to offend. I would rather perfer to have a flashlight attachment. More functionality for me. But I was however gonna upgrade my trigger with the Apex trigger kit soon. 8 or 9 pound trigger pull is a little much for me. I would be happy with a 5 or 6 pound pull myself.

Not sure what you mean by "mindless and inaccurate shooting". The pointer seems to work on the range so I suppose it will work here in the house.

I did consider the flashlight option, and also the combination option but settled on the laser.

My expectation is that the laser will never be used in a defense situation - it will simply be something to experiment with on the range.

After I smoothed the side of the trigger bar and put grease between it and the frame, the trigger works fine for me. I have no idea what the trigger pull is but with a good two-handed grip it works for me.

I prefer a harder pull compared to possible light strikes, although it seems to me that striker spring replacement is split around 50/50 on these forums.

I just don't feel comfortable fully trusting a laser to tell me where my shots are going. I don't want to have to rely on it. I would rather have strong fundemental skills and aim tried and true than "assume" my laser is dialed in properly. Too much possibility for liability for me. But yeah get what you are saying. No problem with a nice peice of kit on there for sure. Trigger pull seems long to me but breaks clean. I wouldn't go with a comp. trigger of 2 lbs lol. I would like 5 or 6.

And I have heard the trigger loosens up after about 500 rounds. So I might put some more through it first and see if it does.

A Hound Dawg Howdy from SC!

I hope the cleaning and lube does the trick. It's not supposed to hang up.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I think this is a good idea. Why not learn to shoot with basics rather than start out relying on a laser? It's a lot more fun and if you end up with a gun that doesn't have a laser you'll know what to do. Training with firearms is a very worthwhile skill. Use the laser enough to be able to use it in a defense situation but work on those skills.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Is it wrong to do both? Can you aim from the hip in an emergency or in the dark? Can you aim when peaking around a corner? I can.

I'll be 83 years old in June and probably have more active shooting years than you are old. Don't make assumptions about what I may or may not do or be capable of doing.

I got my first rifle before I was old enough to drive. It was a Remington Fieldmaster model 121 pump and I kept it for many years. It had a real wood stock, not plastic as used now. I can show you pictures of me when I was on the NROTC rifle team where we shot with iron sights. The bulls eye was about .25" and we shot from 3 positions at 50'. I can still hit a coke can thrown into the air.

My duty weapon on my ship was a 1911 and I used it on shore patrol in many interesting places.

My point is that I can use iron sights but I have no problem in using new technology when it becomes available. And yes, I can shoot using the basics, and I didn't start out using a laser pointer.

I would be cautious about the idea of trigger work on this gun. I put the Apex performance spring kit in mine several months ago and have begun to experience light strikes. In fact, I am for sure putting the factory striker spring back in the gun today. May leave the blocker spring and trigger spring. In fairness, I have not contacted Apex about the light strikes.

As to the trigger, if you can master the stock trigger, it will only help you when shooting other guns. Dry fire and live fire practice will make the trigger easier over time.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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JR
SD40VE and Shield 9

rwsmith- I left out one item in my gun experience. Although I had a rifle before I could drive, I didn't have access to a pistol until the fall of 1950. I made the rifle team and didn't try out for the pistol team, but one of our perks was the ability to check out a 1911 on weekends. They were chambered for .22 and all ammo was free.

In those days there were lots of canyons and open areas to plink around. One favorite thing to do was shoot mistletoe from trees, lot's around in those days. Now that I've moved back from California I'm actually living in a development that might include some of those fields and canyons where we shot so gleefully.

Guess what- I had a new un-used (16 round) magazine sitting around so I tried it in my SD9VE-CA. There was clearly some drag caused by the magazine safety lever. I think I had said previously that I had no such problem, but the magazines that ejected perfectly were all CA (10 round) versions and had all been used.

I think the drag is twofold:

1. The lever against the rear side of the magazine.
2. The front edge of the magazine against it's housing, pushed by the safety lever.

Also, if I didn't hold the magazine release down until the magazine had dropped an inch or so, the release would also rub on the magazine, holding it from dropping.

So my conclusion is that your original diagnosis was at least partially correct. I believe new magazines may not be as smooth where the lever rubs on it as a used magazine. Just another example of "It will get better as you use it".

I plan to put a little grease on the lever, but nothing on the magazines themselves.