Help. Slide lock not working when reassemble

[Bigguns76]

I lubed my new shield today and went to lock the slide back to rotate to take down lever and the slide lock does not engage ?

 

[Bigguns76]

That was odd I tried it several times . Then after it did not lock back with the lock I held it back and rotated the take down lever then tried slide lock again with no luck. Then put a empty mag in it and pull slide back and then it finally locked back on empty mag . Then removed empty mag rode slide forward then tried the slide lock again and it finally engaged.

 

[ATF]

A slide lock shouldn't automatically lock when no mag is inserted and it should automatically lock on an empty mag (out of battery). This applies to all semi-autos except on some M&P's when you slam in a full mag the gun will auto-chamber.

 

[Sigsavvy]

This may not be it but I had similar problems and it turned out to be the recoil spring assembly. After reassembly, my RSA would get hung up on something and prevent the slide from traveling all the way back. When that happens the slide lock can't engage. Only after multiple tries was I able to get it to work. Then I would tear down and reassemble and have the same issue (most of the time). I ended up calling customer service at S&W and got a replacement RSA. Hasn't happened since. Just a thought.

 

[marine6680]

The slide lock is activated by the magazine follower, it lifts the lock when there are no rounds left.

When doing the assembly, you must lift the slide lock manually.

The shield is a little stiff, and can be a painnto get back far enough to latch. Also the recoil spring assembly can hang up if not centered properly on the barrel, which can hang up thebslidebfrom moving rearward far enough.

Putting in an empty mag allows you to get a better grip on the pistol, as you are no longer trying to reach the slide stop with your thumb as you are also trying to rack the slide... So it can make it easier to pull fully to the rear.

 

[Kevin58]

My Shield is a little finicky to reassemble too. I sometimes have to take the slide off and readjust the recoil spring assembly before it works smoothly. After a while you will get a feel for it and have no problems. Until then, don't panic if it doesn't go back together at first... just start over and it will fit.

 

[Rdgallo]

The shield RSA is a lousy design in my opinion. Also the trigger on these leaves something to be desired. I sent mine to Smith twice with little improvement on the trigger. I will have to get an Apex kit or get rid of the gun. Can't believe Smith can't come up with a better trigger and a better RSA.

 

[dullh]

I lubed my new shield today and went to lock the slide back to rotate to take down lever and the slide lock does not engage ?

This happens when the back end of the captive guide rod is not correctly seated in the cutout on the front of the barrel locking block.

With gun empty and magazine removed, grip gun with right hand, applying upward pressure to slide stop lever with right-hand thumb. Grip slide overhand with left hand and swiftly rack slide back and forth. After a couple of these the slide will lock to the rear. This action seats the rear of the guide rod assembly in place to allow complete rearward travel of the slide.

 

[Kanagatucko]

I just bought a new 9mm Shield yesterday, and had trouble getting the slide back on properly, so the gun would function. After reading some old posts, I found the problem, but all the posts I've seen are not quite correct. The problem IS indeed the recoil spring, but not so much "centering" it properly, but rotating the spring so that the "bulge" caused by the in the tensioned (reinstalled) spring's bowing out does NOT face the slide (top of gun)--or the spring's "bulge" will prevent the slide from engaging. Only when the spring's "bulge" is rotated to the side away from the slide (toward the trigger) will the spring allow the slide to go back into place.

 

[MichiganScott]

My arthritis has gotten so bad that I just use an empty mag to lock back the slide. Smith's desire to design their polymer guns with slide locks instead of slide releases makes it difficult to use for its designated purpose.