M&P 9 Shield Performance center Take down problem!

[leadtag]

Went to take down and clean my new gun before shooting and Slide would not remove,Did EVERYTHING to the T JUST bought shield 9 Performance center on friday the 15 of April Pisses me the heck off, took it back to dealer ,would not exchange for another ,said he can send it back to S&W He and another guy With ALOT of slow force got it off finally, cleaned it .it was dirty. told me to go and put a few hundred rounds through it and assured me it would probably resolve itself. Goes back on the way it came off extreemly stiff and with carefull force, but goes back on, I went to the range put about 130 flawless rounds through it ,but still didnt get a whole lot easier taking the slide off. Sucks
Here is a video link to a guy with the same problem as mine, only my slide doesn't go back and forth like his at all when pulling the trigger. https://youtu.be/Ims36gjU2yI Thanks for any help and suggestions.

 

[Bayoutalker]

He's not releasing the lever inside the ejection port, at least not during the video. It is a pain to see at first but it needs to be flipped down prior to closing the slide and removing. It is returned to is normal position when the mag is installed.

Cliff

 

[skipper49]

Brought my new Shield home a little over 2 weeks ago. Factory has had it for 2 weeks. Never got to fire it. The slide would not even begin to move forward for a field strip. Emailed, then called CS. Got a very helpful rep, who after realizing that the slide REALLY wasn't coming off, emailed a FedX label to me within 10 min.
As a side note, I hope I'm going to be able to operate the thing, as I'm an old guy, and I think the recoil spring came off the front of an El Camino!
Encouraged by reading of others here with same observation who had the spring lighten up considerably with use.
I'll post a report when I get it back from factory. Gonna have to be good to replace my SIG 938's that I love.
Skip

 

[Bowserb]

Brought my new Shield home a little over 2 weeks ago. Factory has had it for 2 weeks. Never got to fire it. The slide would not even begin to move forward for a field strip. Emailed, then called CS. Got a very helpful rep, who after realizing that the slide REALLY wasn't coming off, emailed a FedX label to me within 10 min.
As a side note, I hope I'm going to be able to operate the thing, as I'm an old guy, and I think the recoil spring came off the front of an El Camino!
Encouraged by reading of others here with same observation who had the spring lighten up considerably with use.
I'll post a report when I get it back from factory. Gonna have to be good to replace my SIG 938's that I love.
Skip

Just bought one. Removed the slide in the store first, after reading a couple stories like this. If your slide doesn't get easier (after you get the gun back from S&W), you might look at this: Smith and Wesson Shield Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

Reports are that it works easier and still reliable. I don't think I'd use +P ammo with this spring. Not sure I'd use +P in a Shield in any case, though.

 

[Hamster65]

Just bought one. Removed the slide in the store first, after reading a couple stories like this. If your slide doesn't get easier (after you get the gun back from S&W), you might look at this: Smith and Wesson Shield Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly - Stainless Steel Guide Rods

Reports are that it works easier and still reliable. I don't think I'd use +P ammo with this spring. Not sure I'd use +P in a Shield in any case, though.

In the owners manual, it simply states that using +P ammo may cause faster wear of components but, doesn't say not to use it.
It does however, say that +P+ ammo must NEVER be used.

 

[Hamster65]

Went to take down and clean my new gun before shooting and Slide would not remove,Did EVERYTHING to the T JUST bought shield 9 Performance center on friday the 15 of April Pisses me the heck off, took it back to dealer ,would not exchange for another ,said he can send it back to S&W He and another guy With ALOT of slow force got it off finally, cleaned it .it was dirty. told me to go and put a few hundred rounds through it and assured me it would probably resolve itself. Goes back on the way it came off extreemly stiff and with carefull force, but goes back on, I went to the range put about 130 flawless rounds through it ,but still didnt get a whole lot easier taking the slide off. Sucks
Here is a video link to a guy with the same problem as mine, only my slide doesn't go back and forth like his at all when pulling the trigger. https://youtu.be/Ims36gjU2yI Thanks for any help and suggestions.

As with any mass produced firearm, there's bound to be a lemon in the bunch. I suggest calling S&W. They have excellent customer service and do their best to do right by their customers.

 

[Bowserb]

In the owners manual, it simply states that using +P ammo may cause faster wear of components but, doesn't say not to use it.
It does however, say that +P+ ammo must NEVER be used.

Yes, I saw that. I think most mfrs have the wear and increased maintenance warning for +P, as well as the +P+ caution, since there is no standard for +P+. My comment was just my thinking that +P seems like it might be a handful in a 20 ounce handgun. I use Federal XM9001 (high velocity JHP made for RCMP, but not marked +P) in my G19, and that is quite snappy in the G19. I wouldn't try XM9001, or marked +P ammo, in a Shield with the lighter single-spring included with the SS Guide Rod kit.

 

[leadtag]

Spoke to Smith&Wesson today about my gun, hthe guy I spoke with assured me that beings the gun had no jams when I put 130 rounds through it, that the gun would loosen up and I asked him for a replacement guide rod spring as mine was kinda haggard looking ,so he sending me one. He gave me the choice of sending the gun back though and I declined, my gun had loosened up on take down quite abit, but is still kinda rough pulling slide ff.

 

[swsig]

You said you did everything to a T. Did that include lowering the sear deactivation lever? If you did indeed lower it, and the slide wouldn't come off, that is a problem that S&W should address. A damaged recoil spring assembly could be the culprit. If the new one they're sending you doesn't solve the problem, your Shield may have to go back to S&W.

On the other hand, if all you did is pull the trigger, I strongly suggest that you try lowering the sear deactivation lever instead. There are four reasons to do this: 1) That's what the owner's manual says to do. 2) Pulling the trigger doesn't always work (as the video shows). 3) It is much safer than pulling the trigger. It eliminates the possibility of a negligent discharge. 4) The Shield is not a Glock.

 

[leadtag]

You said you did everything to a T. Did that include lowering the sear deactivation lever? If you did indeed lower it, and the slide wouldn't come off, that is a problem that S&W should address. A damaged recoil spring assembly could be the culprit. If the new one they're sending you doesn't solve the problem, your Shield may have to go back to S&W.

On the other hand, if all you did is pull the trigger, I strongly suggest that you try lowering the sear deactivation lever instead. There are four reasons to do this: 1) That's what the owner's manual says to do. 2) Pulling the trigger doesn't always work (as the video shows). 3) It is much safer than pulling the trigger. It eliminates the possibility of a negligent discharge. 4) The Shield is not a Glock.

Yes Indeed,I did all the above as you suggested and when I took back to the LGS the two guys behind the gun counter who were S&W M&P Armorers did all that as well.

 

[Hamster65]

You said you did everything to a T. Did that include lowering the sear deactivation lever? If you did indeed lower it, and the slide wouldn't come off, that is a problem that S&W should address. A damaged recoil spring assembly could be the culprit. If the new one they're sending you doesn't solve the problem, your Shield may have to go back to S&W.

On the other hand, if all you did is pull the trigger, I strongly suggest that you try lowering the sear deactivation lever instead. There are four reasons to do this: 1) That's what the owner's manual says to do. 2) Pulling the trigger doesn't always work (as the video shows). 3) It is much safer than pulling the trigger. It eliminates the possibility of a negligent discharge. 4) The Shield is not a Glock.

What he said. Using the sear deactivation lever, also prevents you from having to "dry fire" to release the slide.

 

[swsig]

Yes Indeed,I did all the above as you suggested and when I took back to the LGS the two guys behind the gun counter who were S&W M&P Armorers did all that as well.

I'm sorry about your problem, but I'm glad to know that you've tried the takedown the correct way. If your recoil spring assembly's back-end retainer disc is badly bent, (a problem out of the factory with some of them), it could be catching somewhere in the grip assembly, thus hindering the slide removal. A new recoil spring assembly (RSA) will cure this problem. When you get your new RSA, make sure that it's installed straight and level. If it's installed slightly off-kilter, the retainer disc may bend again, because it is fairly flimsy. If the problem persists after installing the new RSA, there may be some rare manufacturing defect that requires factory service to correct. It's been my experience that S&W stands behind their products, and that they will do their best to make your Shield right.

Good Luck!

 

[leadtag]

I'm sorry about your problem, but I'm glad to know that you've tried the takedown the correct way. If your recoil spring assembly's back-end retainer disc is badly bent, (a problem out of the factory with some of them), it could be catching somewhere in the grip assembly, thus hindering the slide removal. A new recoil spring assembly (RSA) will cure this problem. When you get your new RSA, make sure that it's installed straight and level. If it's installed slightly off-kilter, the retainer disc may bend again, because it is fairly flimsy. If the problem persists after installing the new RSA, there may be some rare manufacturing defect that requires factory service to correct. It's been my experience that S&W stands behind their products, and that they will do their best to make your Shield right.

Good Luck!

Thanks for your concern and good advice along with the other people on this great and informative website! The disc looks a little off kilter and about 2 to three of the spring fins look bent back the opposite direction of the disk, I'm really wondering if one of the jack wagons working behind the counter or customer tried dissembling the gun and didn't have the spring seated right or parallel to the barrel when reassembling and jacked the RSA up!?
I always ask if they have another one in the back that has not been racked profusely and jacked around with like the showroom model but they didn't.

 

[leadtag]

So I decided to try to the best of my ability a process of elimination by removing barrel and recoil spring, it went on and of great no hangups, next I added barrel but no recoil spring and using gravity as my friend turned gun upside down so that barrel without spring wouldn't snag anything and sure enough gets hung up at same point as when spring was in gun, sooo either barrel is out of spec or the block assembly that has takedown lever in it is out of spec because that is the area that the hangup occurs and then alot of pressure is needed to get over that hump,once over it though the gun slide locks fine and moves freely while racking gun. I mean I did manage to put 130 rounds without a single fte or ftf,
It's just removing slide and putting back on that is a pain, which leads me to wonder HOW THE HELL DID THIS THING GET THROUGH Q.C.(Someone's last day and clearly disgruntled? ) And a Performance Center product non the less. because they would have experienced the same trouble putting the slide on!? Owell.
Out of spec barrel ever occur? Or block with takedown lever out of spec? Thanks

 

[Heyman]

You said you did everything to a T. Did that include lowering the sear deactivation lever? If you did indeed lower it, and the slide wouldn't come off, that is a problem that S&W should address. A damaged recoil spring assembly could be the culprit. If the new one they're sending you doesn't solve the problem, your Shield may have to go back to S&W.

On the other hand, if all you did is pull the trigger, I strongly suggest that you try lowering the sear deactivation lever instead. There are four reasons to do this: 1) That's what the owner's manual says to do. 2) Pulling the trigger doesn't always work (as the video shows). 3) It is much safer than pulling the trigger. It eliminates the possibility of a negligent discharge. 4) The Shield is not a Glock.

Sorry, but this is nonsense. Pulling the trigger always works unless you have a faulty gun or one with a mag disconnect. If you fire a round while trying to field strip your gun, you shouldn't own a gun. Basic common sense will eliminate the chance of a negligent discharge.

 

[Hamster65]

Sorry, but this is nonsense. Pulling the trigger always works unless you have a faulty gun or one with a mag disconnect. If you fire a round while trying to field strip your gun, you shouldn't own a gun. Basic common sense will eliminate the chance of a negligent discharge.

Oops........I didn't see the part about the negligent discharge. I was just referring to dry firing the gun.
I know it probably won't harm the gun to do so but, I still don't like doing it.

 

[leadtag]

Well don't know what made me do it but I did, I ended up getting around gun counter workers and manager and went to the top ,miraculously I was able to get ahold of the main guy in charge of ALL of the particular gun stores in my state and explain my frustration about my defective gun.
Long story short I've got a replacement tomorrow or gift card OR A cash refund!! My choice!! Another performance center shield was available but only if the guy didn't pick it up 24 hours after he went on a list.As luck would have it he wasn't able to pick up till Friday so it goes to me if I wanted it! Squeeky wheel gets the Grease I guess!!
Getting a refund or a replacement on a defective fire arm when typically store policies are all sales on firearms and ammunition are FINAL is as rare as getting a refund on a pair of used underwear. This store has definitely earned my loyalty as a customer!!
The fact that I didn't have to wait for a 5 week turn around with Smith&Wessons CS is delightful.

 

[hstrawn]

Well don't know what made me do it but I did, I ended up getting around gun counter workers and manager and went to the top ,miraculously I was able to get ahold of the main guy in charge of ALL of the particular gun stores in my state and explain my frustration about my defective gun......

This store has definitely earned my loyalty as a customer!!
The fact that I didn't have to wait for a 5 week turn around with Smith&Wessons CS is delightful.

Sorry, I may have missed it earlier but: that store is ????

Like to be able to support them if they are in my area.

 

[leadtag]

The guy assured me in rare instances does this happen, just picked up my new shield performance center 9 this morning, .Murdochs Ranch and home stores Montana Rock!