I recently purchased a S&W 9mm M&P Shield. Never shot. While taking a CCW course the instuctor saw that I was haveing difficulty making the slide to release and slide forward. He tried and he could not make it release without great diffficulty. Does anyone have a suggestion? Is this common? Should I take it back to place of purchase?
Hard to release slide stop
- Thread starter n8bbb
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Welcome to the forum.
It's not a slide release, it's slide stop. The manual says
"Pull the slide to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully
forward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine and seats it in
the chamber of the barrel."
It's not a slide release, it's slide stop. The manual says
"Pull the slide to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully
forward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine and seats it in
the chamber of the barrel."
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Thank you for your reply.
When I pull the slide to the rear the slide stop engages automaticaly. When I try to release the slide by pushing downward on the slide stop, that is when it becomes very difficult to do. I have fired many different semi automatic pistols and have always just used my thumb to push down on the slide stop and they have alway released the slide with very little force. This takes both hands and if I had a third I would use it also. Extremely difficult. I have not tried this with a loaded magazine yet. Would this make the task easier?
When I pull the slide to the rear the slide stop engages automaticaly. When I try to release the slide by pushing downward on the slide stop, that is when it becomes very difficult to do. I have fired many different semi automatic pistols and have always just used my thumb to push down on the slide stop and they have alway released the slide with very little force. This takes both hands and if I had a third I would use it also. Extremely difficult. I have not tried this with a loaded magazine yet. Would this make the task easier?
mferruccio
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This is the "tightest" gun I have ever owned. I have about 900 rounds through mine and you still can not (which I don't) release the slide with the slide stop. I use the slingshot method and all is well. Storing it with an empty mag, with the slide locked back, helps a bit. Welcome
It should be much easier to release with a loaded magazine.Try it,just be aware of where you're pointing it and keep your finger off of the trigger.
I think you may have missed the point of the poster you are thanking. The slide stop lever should not be used to make the slide go forward. With the slide locked back, pull the slide to the rear with either no magazine or a loaded magazine. The slide stop will disengage and the slide will move forward. If you perform the same operation with an empty magazine, the follower will keep the slide stop engaged, and you will have to hold it down to make the slide move forward.
The empty mag pushes up the slide lock. If you try to push the lock back down, you are not only trying to overcome the pressure of the slide against the lock, but the spring tension in the mag. New M&P mag springs are very tough to compress. This would be easier with a loaded mag. Try it with some dummy rounds (Snap Caps) first.
The M&P slide lock also isn't very large and "grippy". It will get easier as you use it.
If you want to release the slide with an empty mag I suggest you drop the mag a bit (like 1/4") then try pressing the lock. Or rack the slide to the rear to release. Don't forget to reseat the mag.
Some pistols operate with these as releases. My Sig and Beretta are easily released with a bit of thumb pressure. I prefer to "slingshot" so I'm consistent regardless of the type of pistol.
The M&P slide lock also isn't very large and "grippy". It will get easier as you use it.
If you want to release the slide with an empty mag I suggest you drop the mag a bit (like 1/4") then try pressing the lock. Or rack the slide to the rear to release. Don't forget to reseat the mag.
Some pistols operate with these as releases. My Sig and Beretta are easily released with a bit of thumb pressure. I prefer to "slingshot" so I'm consistent regardless of the type of pistol.
Sticking slide release
Thanks all of you.
The solution was to release the magazine which allowed the slide to go forward after pulling back on the slide. I was trying to do this by keeping the magazine inserted during my CCW course. It helps to ask the right people the questions you need answers to.
Thanks again.
Thanks all of you.
The solution was to release the magazine which allowed the slide to go forward after pulling back on the slide. I was trying to do this by keeping the magazine inserted during my CCW course. It helps to ask the right people the questions you need answers to.
Thanks again.
Rocket-scientist
Member
Glad you figured it out. This makes me really question your "instruction" if you had to go to a forum to solve this issue that occurred during a CCW class. You might want to find a better place for training.
mailman390
Member
Like Saudade said......the manual says it is a slide stop NOT a slide release. Just pull slide back and let her fly.
ginzo
Member
Welcome to the forum.
Keep in mind, that with anything other than NO MAG, you will be loading a round into the chamber for this to work properly.
As you have learned that using an EMPTY MAG will not release the slide.
Handle your firearm appropriately! Always follow the 4 rules!!
(And get a refund from that "instructor").
Keep in mind, that with anything other than NO MAG, you will be loading a round into the chamber for this to work properly.
As you have learned that using an EMPTY MAG will not release the slide.
Handle your firearm appropriately! Always follow the 4 rules!!
(And get a refund from that "instructor").
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DarylLawman
Member
Its a slide stop not a slide release....just pull the slide back and let it go. Sling Shot Mode !!!!
Thank you. I have a knack for ignoring the obvious.
It would have helped greatly if I had read the entire thread before responding..
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Walt Sherrill
Member
I'll repeat what I posted in another discussion on the same topic, a day or two ago, here on this forum:
Whether the device being discussed is a slide stop or a slide release may depend upon how the gun maker chooses to describe it, or how you choose to use it... I've seen it described both ways in different owner's manuals.
The part in question, in addition to STOPPING the slide in the rear-ward position when the mag is empty, can also be used to RELEASE the slide when a fresh magazine is inserted. If the device didn't have dual functionality, there'd be little reason for that little a "push here" tab on the device, but 99% of all semi-autos have that tab. I've only encountered one that FORCED you to pull back the slide because there was no tab to press.
The US military, the last I heard, now trains those using handguns to use that device to RELEASE the slide when reloading. This change in the training method was based on a lot of problems experienced by troops under combat conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most of those troops use Beretta M9s, not Shields, but the military's training (and re-training) tells them to ignore Beretta's guidance (which recommends using the serrations on the rear of the slide to pull the slide back and releasing.)
Some gunmakers, Kahr among them, tell owners that using the "slingshot" method with some of their models simply won't work -- as the round being fed won't go into battery properly. They recommend using the "stop/release" to send the slide forward. The Glock user's manual says to press down on the slide stop lever to release the slide. They call it a stop, but recommend using it as a release. A few other gunmakers do this, too.
One acquaintance, a fellow who has spent a lot of time working with and training the Special Ops troops at Fort Bragg, makes the point that the "slingshot" method recommend in the S&W manual for the Shield FORCES the shooter to move the gun away from the next likely target when doing a routine mag exchange. Using the slide stop/release to let the slide go forward -- if you can use it -- can allow you to keep the gun on or closer to the next target when inserting the mag and closing the slide. It may depend more on the gun or on the conditions in which you shoot, rather than what the device/lever is called.
Use the method that works best (and makes the most sense) for you, but don't be too adamant about what that device is called or how it is best used.
Whether the device being discussed is a slide stop or a slide release may depend upon how the gun maker chooses to describe it, or how you choose to use it... I've seen it described both ways in different owner's manuals.
The part in question, in addition to STOPPING the slide in the rear-ward position when the mag is empty, can also be used to RELEASE the slide when a fresh magazine is inserted. If the device didn't have dual functionality, there'd be little reason for that little a "push here" tab on the device, but 99% of all semi-autos have that tab. I've only encountered one that FORCED you to pull back the slide because there was no tab to press.
The US military, the last I heard, now trains those using handguns to use that device to RELEASE the slide when reloading. This change in the training method was based on a lot of problems experienced by troops under combat conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most of those troops use Beretta M9s, not Shields, but the military's training (and re-training) tells them to ignore Beretta's guidance (which recommends using the serrations on the rear of the slide to pull the slide back and releasing.)
Some gunmakers, Kahr among them, tell owners that using the "slingshot" method with some of their models simply won't work -- as the round being fed won't go into battery properly. They recommend using the "stop/release" to send the slide forward. The Glock user's manual says to press down on the slide stop lever to release the slide. They call it a stop, but recommend using it as a release. A few other gunmakers do this, too.
One acquaintance, a fellow who has spent a lot of time working with and training the Special Ops troops at Fort Bragg, makes the point that the "slingshot" method recommend in the S&W manual for the Shield FORCES the shooter to move the gun away from the next likely target when doing a routine mag exchange. Using the slide stop/release to let the slide go forward -- if you can use it -- can allow you to keep the gun on or closer to the next target when inserting the mag and closing the slide. It may depend more on the gun or on the conditions in which you shoot, rather than what the device/lever is called.
Use the method that works best (and makes the most sense) for you, but don't be too adamant about what that device is called or how it is best used.
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