M&P 40 Shield slide question

[hogwylde]

Let me preface by saying I bought my .40 two days ago and I haven't had time to "play" with it nor have I read the manual as it was a busy weekend. But I will be reading the manual today and familiarizing myself with the gun.

My question is not about locking the slide but having it release and go forward. The only way I can release the slide is if I pull back on the slide while pressing the slide stop. Now either I am simply not strong enough to just press the slide stop or I am doing it wrong or it will only release by pulling on the slide with a loaded magazine?

 

[Sharks06lly]

just probably stiff since its a new gun. i can release my slide by pulling it down on both my m&p loaded or unloaded

 

[ezveedub]

The slide stop on the Shield can be hard to release by pressing down on it only. If it is, use a small micro/hobby file and take the sharp edge off the bottom rear corner of the slide stop. You most likely have a sharp edge in that area and it really bites into the slide cutout. I used a honing stone on mine when it was apart. Mine was stiff to release and my friends was the same. I use a small file on his with it still installed in the frame, so it can be done without take out the stop lever if you have small enough files.

 

[2K7]

Two schools of thought….

One school, the purists are adamant that the Slide Stop is just that, a Slide STOP. Using it as a slide release will ultimately and prematurely wear the stop to a point of failure.

School two says use it as a slide release, most people don't shoot the guns enough to result in that much wear.

I am with school one. My reason does not revolve around wear as much as retarding the forward motion of the slide back into battery. I prefer to "rack" the slide for full and forceful release.

 

[Ransom]

My Shield 9 will release the slide with no magazine by just pulling back on the slide and letting go. No need to touch the slide stop. I did not try it with an empty mag, but I would expect it to stay open because that's what it's supposed to do with an empty mag. To release it with an empty mag, push down the slide stop while pulling back the slide (like you are doing). I can make the slide release simply by pushing down the slide stop, but it is stiff and I know it is not designed to be used that way. My Shield is well broken-in, but I seem to recall when it was new it was very hard to release the slide with the slide stop button alone.

 

[Rastoff]

The only way I can release the slide is if I pull back on the slide while pressing the slide stop.

Are you doing this with an empty magazine inserted?

 

[hogwylde]

One school, the purists are adamant that the Slide Stop is just that, a Slide STOP. Using it as a slide release will ultimately and prematurely wear the stop to a point of failure.

School two says use it as a slide release, most people don't shoot the guns enough to result in that much wear.

I am with school one. My reason does not revolve around wear as much as retarding the forward motion of the slide back into battery. I prefer to "rack" the slide for full and forceful release.

I am with you 110%, but was merely wondering why it was so difficult to release the slide. It wouldn't release by pulling on the slide nor by the slide lock. I tried the lock just trying to find an easier way as it is difficult.

It probably just needs to be broken in. I'm not to concerned about it.

 

[tpham32]

I agree with 2K7, it was never intended to be a slide release. I just bought a .40 too. Did you have a chance to clean it? If not, clean it, lube it, and rack it back and forth a few times to make sure everything works smoothly. What I have learned is that everything is new and stiff, so breaking it in helps. I have used the slide stop as a release a few times but it required a good amount of force. I am now able to use the stop as a release, which I do not intend on doing frequently.

 

[hogwylde]

I agree with 2K7, it was never intended to be a slide release. I just bought a .40 too. Did you have a chance to clean it? If not, clean it, lube it, and rack it back and forth a few times to make sure everything works smoothly.

I haven't had time to do anything with it yet, so to answer your question, I have not cleaned or lubed it yet. Just fondled it a bit

But that does bring me to another question. Is lube the same as Hoppes gun oil or are they 2 different products? My LC9's manual says lube is not needed so all I did was keep it clean.

 

[hogwylde]

Update (for those who care):

I figured it out. One thing I failed to say is the gun MA COMPLAINT and although I have never seen a list of what makes one MA compliant, it must have a magazine safety and I am assuming two conditions must be met in order for the magazine to go forward.

1. Magazine has to be out
2. Magazine has to be loaded.

I should have known better before posting as my Ruger LC9 is the same way. DOH!

 

[Rastoff]

Update (for those who care):

I figured it out. One thing I failed to say is the gun MA COMPLAINT and although I have never seen a list of what makes one MA compliant, it must have a magazine safety and I am assuming two conditions must be met in order for the magazine to go forward.

1. Magazine has to be out
2. Magazine has to be loaded.

I should have known better before posting as my Ruger LC9 is the same way. DOH!

That's why I asked if the mag was out. It has nothing to do with being MA compliant. All semi-auto pistols work this way.

When the magazine is empty, the follower pushes up on the slide stop. You can over come the pressure from the slide stop, but it's really hard. Drop the mag and the slide stop is not so hard to press.

 

[ezveedub]

Not sure what tangent you guys are on with a magazine lock or disconnect. That has nothing to do with the slide stop or releasing the slide. The mag lockout is so the gun cannot fire with the magazine removed.

 

[Rastoff]

ezveedub,
Well, this thread is a few months old and already answered. However, what you're talking about has nothing to do with what the OP was asking. You are right about the magazine disconnect though.