OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
My thumb just barely touches it, but there is so little room for it to be anywhere else. I am going to try one-handed lefty next time to eliminate the possibility.
Any fix for slide failing to lock back on last round?
- Thread starter bigwheelzip
- Start date
If the size of your Shield and it's ergonomics actually appear to be the problem because of how you HAVE to grip it, may I make a suggestion?
I believe that the Mauser HSC is about the size of your Shield, and I realize that it is a 380. However, the frame and slide are clean, no levers. The slide release is completely internal ... it goes into battery as a clip is inserted into the grip. I carry mine (when I carry it) with Hornady Critical Defense ammo.
I believe that the Mauser HSC is about the size of your Shield, and I realize that it is a 380. However, the frame and slide are clean, no levers. The slide release is completely internal ... it goes into battery as a clip is inserted into the grip. I carry mine (when I carry it) with Hornady Critical Defense ammo.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Thanks for suggesting an alternate. Reminds me of the Walther PPK which I always liked. It's sacrilege to say on a forum skewed to the classics, but I'm not comfortable buying used or or out-of-production firearms without warranty, due to my limited gun knowledge.
I do have a Sig P238 in my carry rotation, that I also shot yesterday. It predates my Shield, but has never had a problem, and seems to get better with each outing. So, .380 is covered.
Except for the slide locking back, The Shield has been dependable since installing the replacement RSA. I've been resigned to manually racking on reload, which is not the end of the world, just made a bit more annoying since my husband's Shield is fine, and I bought him that Shield too.
The slide stop spring is designed to keep the slide stop in the down position, so even if the slide stop spring was missing, an empty mag would lift it into the hold-open position. The spring is there to drop the slide stop it when a loaded mag is installed.
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F75gunslinger
Member
With the pistol empty, slide closed ,no magazine , see if the slide stop lever is held down . It should have spring pressure down, but very light , just enough to keep it down. If that's the case then that isn't the issue. Are the magazines in those guns able to be disassembled ? I don't have one, so don't know , but if they can be taken apart , do so and give all parts and the body itself a good cleaning. Make sure the follower ( the follower is the part inside generally plastic in newer guns, that the bullets sit against )is coming all the way up to where it would contact the slide release lever and push it up.
Here is a video that shows an M&P magazine being taken apart to give you some idea. Not a complicated process, and one that is a good idea from time to time.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXDgEh-PTK4[/ame]
Here is a video that shows an M&P magazine being taken apart to give you some idea. Not a complicated process, and one that is a good idea from time to time.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXDgEh-PTK4[/ame]
Why talk about it? Call SW. They will fix it.
"Thank you for calling the SW customer support center."
By Telephone:
1-800-331-0852 (USA)
Mon-Fri 8:00AM-8:00PM Eastern Time
Contact Us - Smith & Wesson
"Thank you for calling the SW customer support center."
By Telephone:
1-800-331-0852 (USA)
Mon-Fri 8:00AM-8:00PM Eastern Time
Contact Us - Smith & Wesson
F75gunslinger
Member
Doesn't sound like that is really an option for her. And I don't blame her.
I read that, eager vs have to to.
"I'm not eager to send another gun back to them unless I have to."
One of life's Major decisions
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F75gunslinger
Member
If it's me I'd exhaust every option open to me before sending a gun back to S&W. My personal preference is to work on my own stuff though.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Thank you for the detailed troubleshoot procedure. It's as you describe, Slide Stop being held down by light spring pressure. The Follower in an empty Mag is pushing the slide release lever up some distance. I disassemble and wipe the Mags, Follower, Spring, and Base Plate with Hoppe's 9 and then a dry wipe, every time I shoot.
Great lesson, taught me a bunch, and thanks again. Didn't discover anything obvious. Maybe I just need to work on a different grip, like planting my thumb near the Mag release.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
If it did not shoot, I would. I'd categorize this as an annoyance I'd rather live with than send it back.
I sent back a new 686+ that I'd searched for a year to find. It was returned in far worse condition than it was sent. After a second trip back, it was fixed, but it took months for both repair trips and was very exasperating. I will not do that again unless I have to.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
WA101
Member
I had the exact same problem when my Shield was new, and the problem was me. The thumb on my strong hand naturally rests in the Shield slide lock when using the the standard grip from my full size M&P. It takes very little pressure on the slide lock to keep the slide from locking back after the last round. The fix is simple! Keep your thumb off the slide lock!!
Alk8944
US Veteran
I didn't see any mention about the magazines except the one that posted the link to magazine cleaning. Have you tried your Husband's magazine(s) in your gun? How many magazines do you have, and do you have the same issue with all magazines? Magazine springs have a front and a back, and some a top and bottom too! It the magazine spring is installed incorrectly it will often not lock the slide open because the spring binds or doesn't have enough pressure to push the slide stop up. Finally, does the slide lock with an empty magazine when you pull the slide to the rear manually? If not it is most likely the spring is incorrectly installed!
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Beginning to think that it might be my thumb. I guess my husbands lock is a bit stronger.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
So far, I've only used the two that came with mine. Planning to try a swap as part of the troubleshoot. I'm sure about the re-assembly of the mag. It does lock back manually on an empty mag.
MichiganScott
Member
Although possible, it's improbable that both of your mags have the same defect. After reading all the posts and the OP's answers, I was beginning to think it's operator error. However, one of the major complaints about the M&P series is that the slide lock is too stiff to use as a slide release. I also find it difficult to believe you and your husband hold your Shield differently than you both hold his.
If the problem continues with his mags, I'd send it back to S&W whether I wanted to or not. If the problem goes away with his mags, problem solved. Contact S&W and see about trading mags.
If the problem continues with his mags, I'd send it back to S&W whether I wanted to or not. If the problem goes away with his mags, problem solved. Contact S&W and see about trading mags.
texmex
Member
Simple fix. Trade it for a revolver. Semi-Autos are a passing fad.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I've read that same comment many times, but mine is very easy to release, and my husband's is fairly similar.
OP
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I'm with ya Texmex, I never wanted a bottom feeder, but my husband convinced me to buy a few. The only one I like is my CZ-75B. My revolvers are the ones that "speak" to me, if ya know what I mean.
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