Dissappointing day with M&P 45

[Triton225]

Well, I got to go out for the first time with my new M&P .45 today. Had troubles, so I guess i'll call S&W tomorrow and see what they say.
Problems were: Slide not going into battery completely(hard to extract round afterwards), rounds hanging up just outside chamber, Trigger long and heavy then releasing fairly easily a few times.
I'm sure S&W will make it right, but just disappointing for first out with it. This is my second M&P, and my first is the shield I just got a couple weeks ago, very happy with it.

 

[TxM&P9]

Hm, I wouldn't count out the rounds you were using.

 

[Houdini1953]

I know this might sound uncouth but did you disassemble and then clean you new gun before taking it to the range? The reason I ask is because all my guns most of which I buy brand new but I do own a couple that were pre-owned, and I like to break them down and inspect them internally and give them a cleaning and lubricate where S&W indicates with one drop of oil in the seven points of these weapons!

Yes from your post it seems a call and possibly a return to the factory might be in order, if for nothing else than peace of mind but I would try looking at other possibilities that I could remedy myself such as cleaning and lubricating and then checking the action like racking the slide without a magazine inserted a couple of dozen times to see that that is not the problem!

 

[Fercho64]

For kicks disassembled the gun and remove the barrell, slide an empty cardtridge or cardtridge on the end of the barrell and see if it comes out easy.

 

[JJEH]

...to break them down and inspect them internally and give them a cleaning and lubricate...

You should do this ALWAYS before shooting!

 

[joes4570]

You didn't say what you were using for ammunition but its worth taking a look at. As someone suggested pull the barrel and drop a few of those rounds in and see if they enter all the way easily. Essentially using the barrel as a check gauge.
If the rounds are out of spec you have your answer. If not, then its probably going back. Not to worry Smith will make it right.

 

[writerinmo]

Always, always, ALWAYS clean, inspect and lube a "new" gun before using. The same goes for ammo, if you have problems with one then definitely try at least one or two other manufacturers.

 

[JJEH]

Always, always, ALWAYS clean, inspect and lube a "new" gun before using. The same goes for ammo, if you have problems with one then definitely try at least one or two other manufacturers.

+1 on that!

Never use cheap ammo!!! But that's just my opinion...

 

[DustyDawg48]

I had a similar experience with my M&P45. It would choke on nearly every round and I checked everything! From case length to magazine openings to feed ramps. In the end I found a very sharp bur on the underside of the extractor. It would actually bite into the case rim and not allow the round to fully slide underneath and jam the gun up. I took a small length of narrow 400 grit sandpaper and when I had the slide off the gun and barrel out I ran the sandpaper along the bottom of the extractor to work it smooth. It went from not being able to cycle through a 10-round mag without having 9 jams to being almost 800 rounds since then trouble-free. Check out that extractor before sending it to Smith, that may be your problem right there.

If you can, find a round and instead of allowing the slide to release naturally, ride the slide home while watching the round feed. You may catch it binding on that and that would be your fix. If not, check the breech-face and striker channel to insure no bur is there. I ran the sandpaper across there a time or to just to make sure.

Good luck and let us know how it works out! That gun went from nearly making me sick from trading for it to my favorite pistol and one I use in monthly pistol matches. Don't give up on that big Smith just yet!

 

[m&p9mmAG3NT]

You should do this ALWAYS before shooting!

my full size 9-first gun went straight from shop to range put 200 rounds through no problems winchestor white box- wish i knew to oil it first but i had no problems

 

[TSQUARED]

I would look at the ammo you are using. I do not believe the problem is with the M&P45. The trigger is another matter and if you want improvement you will have to go the Apex route.
My full size M&P45 digest every bulet shape and size including LSWC and HP both plated and jacketed.

 

[Triton225]

You should do this ALWAYS before shooting!

Meant to quote Houdini's

Did that same as I did with my shield.
Used two different brands ammo, both were doing this. Smith said send it, so it's going.
I was already planning on a apex, but the trigger seemed heavy(my first M&P aside from the shield, so maybe it isn't), but a couple times it seemed much lighter. After the heavy pulls the first time it went easy surprised me and I thought I jerked or something, but it did it a couple more times. Since it's going back, I figured I'd mention that too.
We'll see I guess.

 

[mlapaglia]

Meant to quote Houdini's

Did that same as I did with my shield.
Used two different brands ammo, both were doing this. Smith said send it, so it's going.....[snip]

What kinds of Ammo were you using?

 

[Triton225]

Federal A.E. 230 and target master 185.

 

[Smith357]

My full size M&P45 digest every bulet shape and size including LSWC and HP both plated and jacketed.

My .M&P45 has a perfect reliability record since I bought it. So far it's the first semi-auto that I have shot that has not had a jam, but I've only got about 500 rounds down the tube. I have not used any factory ammo shooting nothing but my hand loads, including 180 gr. SWCs, 200 gr SWCs both plated and cast, 230 LRN, and 230 XTPs.

 

[Fordtough25]

I feel your pain man, I traded for mine last week, brought it home loaded up all 3 mags with Federal champion 230gr hardball. Took it out and shot great, very accurate and no problems at all! Next day loaded up 3 mags with PMC 230gr hardball and on all 3 mags the slide stopped short of hitting full closed on a full mag. I just smacked the back of the slide and it slid home, then I fired all 10 rounds without a problem. But like I said the first round on all three mags stopped the slide short of being closed, didn't take a hard whack but I had to do it. I will try some WWB tomorrow and see, and I will check parts for any burrs. I really like the pistol and it's super accurate, I'm determined to figure it out!

 

[Triton225]

Well, got my M&P back monday, but haven't got to take it out yet. S&W said they adjusted slide stop to gauge, barrel modification, replace extractor, and adjust trigger pull. Hope to go out this weekend and play, without any hiccups.

 

[Triton225]

Well, Got it yesterday and all is good. Thanks S&W...

 

[Maximumbob54]

So does it go boom in a good way now???

 

[Triton225]

Oh yeah, does nicely. Now I just need the apex kit.