M&P Shield: Removing the Slide.

[rusty4269]

The reason it won't lock is the slide isn't going back far enough. Mine does the same thing. I don't think the spring is the cause of it contrary to popular belief. It feels like the slide stops against something. The spring is stiff but this doesn't feel like spring tension. If you work with it enough it'll eventually side back far enough to lock open. This does get better with use. Once you get it apart make sure the spring is lined up. That helps a little.


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[rusty4269]

Also if you don't want to push the sear pin down, you can, after you rotate the slide release down, unlock the side then pull the trigger and the slide will come right off.


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[bmb96mus]

The reason it won't lock is the slide isn't going back far enough. Mine does the same thing. I don't think the spring is the cause of it contrary to popular belief. It feels like the slide stops against something. The spring is stiff but this doesn't feel like spring tension. If you work with it enough it'll eventually side back far enough to lock open. This does get better with use. Once you get it apart make sure the spring is lined up. That helps a little.


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I thought the same thing. But with it getting better and easier it has to be the spring. Can't think of any other cause if it does improve over time

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[alanbmx]

The reason it won't lock is the slide isn't going back far enough. Mine does the same thing. I don't think the spring is the cause of it contrary to popular belief. It feels like the slide stops against something. The spring is stiff but this doesn't feel like spring tension. If you work with it enough it'll eventually side back far enough to lock open. This does get better with use. Once you get it apart make sure the spring is lined up. That helps a little.


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^^^ exactly what he said, mine is very finicky on the spring being lined up perfect. The design of the spring is different from my FS45 and 9mm. The spring to barrel does not have a distinct home, make sure it is centered. After my first 400 rounds without a hiccup I cleaned it and after reassembly I could not get the slide to lock and could not remove the slide. Finally after about 15 minutes of frustration I got the slide removed! I removed the spring and barrel, put it back together and now it works fine.
On mine the slide lock physically would not move up no matter how far back the slide was. I have no idea what the problem was, but after ensuring the spring was centered it works



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[speedyquad]

both of mine are harder than hades to get to lock open...like said before you need to really force the slide all the way back to get it to lock open...it is getting easier though...

 

[sarasdad]

Hello, all:

After receiving great advice advice here, I purchased an M&P Shield today. I wanted to clean it tonight, but I cannot remove the slide. I am pulling back on the slide and simultaneously attempting to push up the slide lever on the left side of the gun. The slide lever will not move upward.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you.

I have been following this thread and it got me to thinking. I don't think it is mentioned in the manual, but if I try to rack the slide with the safety OFF (down position) the slide won't go back far enough to use the slide lock. With the safety ON (up position), no problem. I was frustrated, when I got my Shield, and by process of elimination figured it out. Just my opinion.

 

[OldCat]

The position of the safety has no bearing on the slide's motion. Up or down it doesn't interfere. Which is why you don't see it mentioned in the manual.

 

[jehu1290]

Empty mag in or out-won't lock. I'm going to go back to my dealer tomorrow.

I wonder if it's too late to return it and go with the Walther PPS.

Sigh...

The shield is a very good gun, but there is nothing wrong with owning one of a different brand. My wife returned hers because we (rightly) believe no one should have to wrestle with their weapon in order to get it to work properly. Come to find out it was defective. She went with a Springfield DXS and is very happy she did. We have been to the range twice with it now and it is every bit as accurate as the shield. We are still S&W fans, but like her, you have to go with what works best for you.

 

[dkleiner]

I am the OP, and I am a smacked ***. I took the gun back to my dealer this afternoon. On his first try, he racked it and locked the slide in place.

All you have to do is hold the gun sideways with your right hand. Grip the slide with your left hand and push it back. Push it all the way back, lift the slide just a bit, and push the slide lever up with your right thumb. Easy.

I brought it home, racked it, slid the slide off and went about cleaning and lubing it. Now that I'm keeping it, I'll register it.

I feel like the boy who cried wolf!

 

[OldCat]

I am the OP, and I am a smacked ***. I took the gun back to my dealer this afternoon. On his first try, he racked it and locked the slide in place.

All you have to do is hold the gun sideways with your right hand. Grip the slide with your left hand and push it back. Push it all the way back, lift the slide just a bit, and push the slide lever up with your right thumb. Easy.

I brought it home, racked it, slid the slide off and went about cleaning and lubing it. Now that I'm keeping it, I'll register it.

I feel like the boy who cried wolf!

Don't feel too bad, you have a lot of company. I just happen to have been around firearms since the 1960s so I've learned to stay calm and reread the manual. Then read it again.

Glad to see that you solved the problem (as I figured you would). Now get that puppy to the range and make some noise. BTW you will need to learn how to squeeze the trigger properly to get a tight group. The gun can do it so the rest is all up to you.

 

[greg_r]

My 40 Shield was the same way when I first bought it. Hard to take down and reassemble. Slide felt like it was hitting a hard stop. It gets better with use, no problems now. Just a break in issue, I believe.

 

[Donn]

The recoil spring's very stiff, so are the ones in the Shield mags. If you still can't disassemble the weapon after watching the vid, there may be a problem with it. I do know if you don't operate the decocking lever in the mag well, the slide won't come off any size/model M&P.

 

[oldIrish]

First was my M&P FS40. Read the manual, followed the instructions, everything went smoothly. Next, the Shield40.
Same process, same results. Next, the M&P22. But, I apparently became an "expert" and didn't read about the differences before I tried to disassemble and clean it.
After inventing a few new words and thinking my manual
dexterity had completely abandoned me, I watched a few YouTube videos and "Read the Book". Once in awhile I don't know it all.

Keep the Shield, learn it and you'll appreciate it more and more.

 

[mailman390]

You can still email S&W with your mailing address and model w/serial # and ask for a new recoil spring. You can use it as a backup. They will send it FREE of charge......just be prepared to wait close to a month to get it.

 

[Stratajema]

You can still email S&W with your mailing address and model w/serial # and ask for a new recoil spring. You can use it as a backup. They will send it FREE of charge......just be prepared to wait close to a month to get it.

Yeah, but call every week to verify it will be sent. S&W has been known to tell people that their request for the replacement recoil spring is being processed but then they never ever send it.

S&W could eliminate a lot of this B.S. by firing the mindless person in charge of quality control on the Shield's recoil spring assembly. The problems with it are like a bad rash.