I bought a new M&P9c and noticed that the slide release will not disengage the slide from its locked back position with a simple press of the thumb as in most other semi-autos. I have to press quite hard with two fingers to get it to release. Now this not much of an issue for me because I prefer to use my weak hand to come over the top of the slide to pull and release it. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has had this issue with their M&P's and if there is a fix for it. Incidently, I have already fired about 500 rounds during break in and no resolution.
M&P9c slide release issue
- Thread starter TexasJHP
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This seems to be a common complaint. Keep in mind that that it was not designed as a release, only as a slide lock/stop. M&P manual says to rack as you do to release the slide. Some say that the lock gets easier to disengage over time and use.
Keystone70
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I have the same problem with the 9c. My regular 9 is fine.
stev32k
Member
My 9c has the same problem. However, I have found that if you give the slide a quick pull back and press the slide release at the same time it releases quite easy.
P.S. It took me a few times before I got the hang of it, now it's real easy to close the slide.
P.S. It took me a few times before I got the hang of it, now it's real easy to close the slide.
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Keystone70
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That is the same as racking the slide which I'm sure a lot of us are doing, anyway.
Houdini1953
Member
Some semi autos do have what they refer to as a slide release, but with M&P's what you would think is a slide release is actually referred to as a SLIDE STOP if you will look at your owners manual you will note this fact. The normal method of cocking and chambering a round is to pull back on the slide and let it go, also referred to as racking the slide, this is how you are told to in the manual of the M&P firearms!
Keystone70
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If you are in a real Life and death situation and needed to change mags, the ability to use the Slide Stop/Release as soon as you insert the new mag with the other hand would be faster. That is how I was taught in the NRA PPOTH course just recently.
stev32k
Member
With the slide open if you insert a new mag with rounds the release is easy. The hard release only happens if there is no mag installed or if the mag is empty.
Most will auto-forward if you slap the mag in..
There is no slide release on an M&P......
Keystone70
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Most will auto-forward if you slap the mag in..
There is no slide release on an M&P......
Ocassionally, but not usually in my case. I have found that to happen more with my fs 9 than my 9c.
1bdvet
US Veteran
I also have no problems with my Pro, but with Compact, the fingers aren't strong enough to release the slide. I also have the Shield with no issues.
CrossRifles2008
Member
Its a slide stop and a common mistake among M&P newbies. One I am guilty of myself. Stop trying to do it, all you will possibly do is damage the slide stop.
This issue has nothing to do with pushing against an empty magazine follower, nor will the M&P9c slide bounce forward on it's own when a new mag is seated vigorously. I'm closely familiar with two M&P9c's, both of which have this issue, and taught transition to the M&P9 full size for 50 police officers, all of which dropped the slide easily with a pull on the slide "stop"(release). I don't have a solution yet, but thjis seems to be an inherant issue with the compact.
SoCalDep
Member
There's a lot of cool-aid in this thread.
As I have said in the past...S&W can call the darn thing a squirrel and it is still a slide stop and a slide release. It is even serrated on the top to assist in pushing down. It is located in the same spot, and functions in exactly the same manner as slide releases have since the 1911 and before.
The use of the slide stop/slide release/squirrel button will not wear out any more than any other semi-automatic pistol. I can say this having put well over 50,000 rounds through various M&Ps, working with fellow instructors who have fired similar, if not higher number of rounds, and training hundreds of recruits and in-service personnel. My department is in the process of a conversion of potentially over 9,000 deputies. We were never told not to use the slide-stop/release/squirrel button as a slide release.
Use extreme caution taking advice, let alone Gospel from the internet.
For those M&Ps that have exceptionally hard-to-release slide stop/release/squirrel buttons, we simply tell the deputy to practice with it for a while and it eventually works in...If they want to use it as opposed to the overhand rack/power-stroke.
As I have said in the past...S&W can call the darn thing a squirrel and it is still a slide stop and a slide release. It is even serrated on the top to assist in pushing down. It is located in the same spot, and functions in exactly the same manner as slide releases have since the 1911 and before.
The use of the slide stop/slide release/squirrel button will not wear out any more than any other semi-automatic pistol. I can say this having put well over 50,000 rounds through various M&Ps, working with fellow instructors who have fired similar, if not higher number of rounds, and training hundreds of recruits and in-service personnel. My department is in the process of a conversion of potentially over 9,000 deputies. We were never told not to use the slide-stop/release/squirrel button as a slide release.
Use extreme caution taking advice, let alone Gospel from the internet.
For those M&Ps that have exceptionally hard-to-release slide stop/release/squirrel buttons, we simply tell the deputy to practice with it for a while and it eventually works in...If they want to use it as opposed to the overhand rack/power-stroke.
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Rpg
Member
I suspect that the underlying problem has to do with the tactical use of the pistol.
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide release. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to avoid it and its easy to do.
Of course , you have to count your shots !
E.
E
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide release. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to avoid it and its easy to do.
Of course , you have to count your shots !
E.
E
Rpg
Member
I suspect that the underlying problem has to do with the tactical use of the pistol.
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide brelease. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to void!
E.
E
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide brelease. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to void!
E.
E
Rpg
Member
I suspect that the underlying problem has to do with the tactical use of the pistol.
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide brelease. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to void!
E.
E
I don't ever want to shoot a pistol 'dry' so it is totally empty. I want to change magazinese while there is still a round in the chamber and one in the magazine. The first because an empty gun does you no good. The second because the weight of a cartridge In the magazine helps drop the magazine free for reload.
Once reloaded, there is no fussying about chambering a new round via slide brelease. It's already loaded. I can't remember a time when I used slide release in string of fire.
I think these issues arise from operator error: shooting the gun dry! A big no no.
If you are shooting your gun dry, you aren't handling it properly. Slide release issues arrisre when you make a mistake. And find yourself with an empty. Locked open pistol. bad situation
Like most bad situations , better to void!
E.
E
