Field stripping of a M&P 9

[spikedawg]

Hi, everyone. Quick question. I just got a new M&P 9 (full size). I was given a quick field stripping lesson at my gun store, but I wanted to see it again, so I have been watching a few YouTubes showing how to break down this gun.

All safety precautions have been taken before I begin.

My store salesman said to release the slide you first remove the magazine, then lock the slide open with the slide stop. Next, rotate the take down lever clockwise. And finally pull the trigger to release the slide for removal.

The videos AND the manual that came with the gun says to do much the same, except with the slide open/locked, they say to lower (push down) on the sear deactivation lever (shaped like a question mark) into the magazine well. Then remove the slide.

I've done both, and both work. Does it matter which method I use? I don't want to bend anything or be pulling the trigger when the slide is open, etc.

Any answers would be helpful and appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Good shooting,
Spike

 

[R1_Demon]

Personally, I would go with the manual.

I just got a 40c and just field stripped it for the first time today and I don't recall it saying anything about pulling the trigger during breakdown.

Basically you do the following:

1) Clear the firearm & make sure it is not loaded
2) Drop the mag
3) Pull the slide back & lock it back with the slide lock
4) Push the sear lever downward (using the tool under the grip if so inclined)
5) Hold the slide and rotate the takedown lever all the way downward
6) Carefully slide the slide to the rear a bit until it releases and then slide it forward off of the bottom part of the frame.

That was it in a nutshell. Again, I would go with what S&W states to do in their manual verses what someone on Youtube says to do. But that's just what I would do. S&W designed it, so they should know best on what to do.

Hope this helps,
Mat

 

[turbo38gn]

Pulling the trigger only works if you DO NOT HAVE A MAGaZINE SAFETY. If you have the mag safety the trigger does not work unless the magazine is in. When the mag is in, you still would have to remove the mag to remove the slide, it's ackward. In a nut shell, following the manual works every time..

 

[spikedawg]

Thanks, guys. Yes, I agree, go with what the manual says. BTW, the YouTube videos all showed what the manual said, not my sales guy. I just want to be sure I am not doing something wrong both for safety sake and so as not to damage the M&P.
Again, thanks for the quick responses. Much appreciated.
Spike

A couple pics of my new SW:

 

[woodpony34]

m&p 9c

I just got a m&p 9c and have never owned one. I got tfo's on it and shot it today; field stripped it and noticed the trigger spring is visable on the frame when I take the slide off. It looks like if it failed, it would be bad news. Is this normal? I guess I have not seen the trigger spring exposed like that on my glock or xd. ????? Trigger seems kinda spongy as well.??

 

[EugeneNine]

You can pull the trigger to release the slide, it does work but the sear deactivation makes is unnecessary. Thats the whole reason for for the sear deactivation lever to negate the need to pull the trigger.