M&P Shield 1.0 Slide Lock Won't Release

[kbm6893]

I've had two Shield 1.0's that worked flawlessly. Have a Shield Plus that is flawless so far as well. I bought a New Old Stock Shield 1.0 NYPD gun. I collect PD guns and I served on that department. When I went to clean it, with the slide locked back to rotate the take down lever, I pull the slide back to release it. It wouldn't drop the lock. I tried it a bunch of times and it finally did it. I cleaned it and lubed it and it seemed to work fine. I chalked it up to just being in storage too long and it needing a cleaning.

But yesterday, I took it out of the safe and locked the slide back. Pulled the slide to the rear to release and it's not releasing. Multiple tries and it finally does. Should I send it in or is there something I can do?

 

[kev74]

Maybe take the slide off and try to see what's hanging up. It's probably something simple.

When jammed up, will it drop the slide by only pressing the slide release?

 

[kbm6893]

Maybe take the slide off and try to see what's hanging up. It's probably something simple.

When jammed up, will it drop the slide by only pressing the slide release?

That’s another thing, releasing the slide lock only works a certain way, and this happens every time with my Plus. I don’t recall it happening on my other 1.0 Shields, but it’s been years so maybe it did. If either spent brass or a live round or snap cap, is ejected and the slide locks back on an empty mag, reinserting a new mag and pressing the slide lock will easily release it.

BUT, if nothing is ejected and then the slide locks back on the empty mag, Reinserting a loaded mag and then pressing the slide lock, the slide lock won’t drop. It happens every single time with the Plus. If you watch the Justinopinion video on YouTube on the Shield Plus, he complains about the slide lock not dropping with the thumb to chamber a new round in the beginning, but then at the end he reloads and it drops effortlessly. I figured it was designed that way and I was fine with it because on a reload, the slide lock would drop easily. I know S&W calls it a slide lock and not a release, and I have no issue slingshotting the slide anyway. I prefer it, actually. The 1.0 is the same. Eject a case or a round and it locks back on an empty mag, when a loaded mag is inserted, the slide lock drops easily.

But with the 1.0, pulling the slide to the rear to release the slide when field stripping gives me an issue. It doesn’t happen every time. That doesn’t happen with the Plus, and it for sure didn’t happen with the other 1.0’s I owned. I would have remembered that. And by the way, pressing the little tab down to release the slide to field strip will not release the slide either. It takes several attempts before it will drop the slide. The only way to drop the slide is to either keep pulling and it will eventually release, or manually press down on the slide lock and the pull the slide to the rear.

By the way, I googled my problem and found another post from the other S&W forum with the exact same issue. It was from 2020 I think. A guy responded by saying he had sent both of his Performance Center Shields back twice and they couldn’t fix it. I’m hoping they have come up with a solution by now.

 

[kbm6893]

Just took the slide off and played with the slide lock. When I push the slide lock up with the slide off it frequently sticks in the up position.

 

[swsig]

Sounds like your slide lock spring is worn out. I've never had to replace mine, so I don't know how easy it is to do. There must be some Forum members who have made this repair who will come along soon to advise you. You can also search for how-to-do-it videos. And S&W should do it for free under their lifetime service policy, if you can afford to be with your Shield for a while.

 

[kbm6893]

Sounds like your slide lock spring is worn out. I've never had to replace mine, so I don't know how easy it is to do. There must be some Forum members who have made this repair who will come along soon to advise you. You can also search for how-to-do-it videos. And S&W should do it for free under their lifetime service policy, if you can afford to be with your Shield for a while.

Gun has never been fired. Don't see how it could be worn out.

 

[ken158]

Well, S&W call it a slide lock and not a slide release… Of course, there are many that insist otherwise and they want it to release like a 1911 or similar but that is not how it is designed… I wonder if you “slingshot” it, will it release as intended? This is in the instruction manual page 18 of the 2016 version.

 

[kbm6893]

Well, S&W call it a slide lock and not a slide release… Of course, there are many that insist otherwise and they want it to release like a 1911 or similar but that is not how it is designed… I wonder if you “slingshot” it, will it release as intended? This is in the instruction manual page 18 of the 2016 version.

You misunderstood me. When the slide is locked back with the magazine out, it will often not allow me to slingshot it to close the slide, as I would have to do to field strip it or load another mag. If I lock the slide back without an empty mag in, it will frequently give me the same trouble and not allow the slide to go forward when I slingshot it. Only way to close the slide is to either keep trying until the lock drops, or manually press down on the lock and then slingshot it.

As it is, the only time I can ever use the slide lock as a slide release(which I rarely do. I prefer to slingshot it), is if the slide locked back as a case or live round was ejected and then the mag was empty. Then, when I reload another magazine, I can easily depress the slide lock and it will close the slide. If nothing is ejected before it locks back on an empty mag, I cannot use the slide lock as a release. And it does the same thing with my Shield Plus as far as using the slide lock as a release. Will only do it after something is ejected before dropping the empty mag and reinserting a new one. That never bothered me because I would only do that if I fired the gun empty anyway.

The slide lock lever often stays stuck up and does not drop when the slide is slingshot to close the slide.

 

[Tannhauser]

My first thought would be to partially disassemble and verify the slide stop assembly was all in working order, particularly the slide stop spring.

 

[Saudade]

Just took the slide off and played with the slide lock. When I push the slide lock up with the slide off it frequently sticks in the up position.

Sounds like either the lever or the spring is bent. Since it's a new gun, I'd suggest sending it in for warranty repair.

 

[kbm6893]

Sounds like either the lever or the spring is bent. Since it's a new gun, I'd suggest sending it in for warranty repair.

That’s the plan. I emailed them and no response. Will call tomorrow.