New m&p 9 full ftf with magazine release for lefty

[ratchetjaw]

So picked it up yesterday and put two hundred rounds through right out the box not one issue.

Brought it home cleaned it and reversed the magazine release and now all kinds of ftf fte rounds nose diving. This is with 4 different magazines.

Switched it back for a righty and 50 rounds no issues? Anyone else run into this? Do I just need to leave it for a righty. One of the reasons I bought was cause it was full ambi? Oh and you can visually see the feeder hang on the 7th witness hole

 

[southchatham]

Call S&W. It should work the way you want.

 

[ratchetjaw]

Call S&W. It should work the way you want.

Yes i will, but was wondering if it was an isolated case. I just tried again loaded up with snap caps and same results. Switch it back to righty and it works smooth as silk

 

[ottawadriver]

Having same issue. Ran perfect then switched over the mag release and the follower would jam on the window.
I am righty, but changed the release because I can hit it faster with my middle finger of my right hand.

 

[ratchetjaw]

Having same issue. Ran perfect then switched over the mag release and the follower would jam on the window.
I am righty, but changed the release because I can hit it faster with my middle finger of my right hand.

That's interesting. Wonder why this happens. I called smith and Wesson. Thy said never heard of the issue. Sending me a label and going to send it in. Will update as I find out

 

[ottawadriver]

Field stripped it and found the problem. When moving the release from the left side to the right, it moves the actual tab that grabs the magazine window. The first round loaded into the magazine pushes the follower to the left side of the magazine when there is rounds loaded above it. When the release tab is on the stock side there is no clearance issue. When the release is reversed, the follower is being pushed into the release tab. It barely catches the follower but enough to stop it from feeding the rest of the rounds. It looks like taking just a small amount of plastic off the follower with a sanding block will remedy the issue. Will update when I do this.

 

[ratchetjaw]

Field stripped it and found the problem. When moving the release from the left side to the right, it moves the actual tab that grabs the magazine window. The first round loaded into the magazine pushes the follower to the left side of the magazine when there is rounds loaded above it. When the release tab is on the stock side there is no clearance issue. When the release is reversed, the follower is being pushed into the release tab. It barely catches the follower but enough to stop it from feeding the rest of the rounds. It looks like taking just a small amount of plastic off the follower with a sanding block will remedy the issue. Will update when I do this.

Okay great info. Let us know how it works. I also was able to look at a vtack model today. Switched it and it works ok with Mags with push pole in the center of the magazine tab ( thing that relieves spring tension to take mag apart). Mine has new mags I guess with lever on the bottom. Tried swapping and no matter which mag is in mine it hangs. In the v tac mine hung. The ones it came with didn't. How that made some sense

 

[ottawadriver]

Here is the pics. With an empty mag shell inserted into the gun you can see the offending tab protruding into the magazine. In the other pic is the side of the follower that gets forced right into the tab. I am going to try and remove about 1/32 of an inch of plastic from that corner of the follower and see if that allows it to pass by the tab.

 

[blp965]

Been using mine left handed for several months now without a problem on any of my magazines. Sorry you guys are having trouble but it seems that you're on hunt to the solution. Will look back to see if ottawadriver has it solved.

 

[Coastie762]

I have two M&P FS pistols, a 9mm and a .40 with the mag catches swapped for left handed use. I have had no issues with either one. I purchased a 9C a month or so ago, reversed the mag catch and last weekend experienced the stoppages as described above. The followers on two different mags jammed on the mag catch window. The attached photo shows the stoppage experienced by myself and described by others above.

I emailed S&W, described the problem and included photos. S&W issued a shipping tag to inspect the magazines. They went out today. We'll see what they have to say. In the meantime I swapped the catch back to the original right hand configuration. Good thing I have extra mags...

 

[ottawadriver]

I also called them a few days ago and have a shipping label on the way. I also thought it was the magazine. Just did some testing with some live rounds just to see if the sanding fix works. It does. Just cycled 3 full mags worth trough with no jams at all. Emailed Smith to alert them of what I found. Waiting for a reply to see what they have to say. I don't think them replacing the mags is the answer. A slight and I mean very slight redesign of the follower is in order. Now, do I modify the rest of the followers or wait for an answer from Smith??

 

[ratchetjaw]

Here is the pics. With an empty mag shell inserted into the gun you can see the offending tab protruding into the magazine. In the other pic is the side of the follower that gets forced right into the tab. I am going to try and remove about 1/32 of an inch of plastic from that corner of the follower and see if that allows it to pass by the tab.

Thanks for the pics. I will try the same tomorrow. Not at home right now

 

[ratchetjaw]

I have two M&P FS pistols, a 9mm and a .40 with the mag catches swapped for left handed use. I have had no issues with either one. I purchased a 9C a month or so ago, reversed the mag catch and last weekend experienced the stoppages as described above. The followers on two different mags jammed on the mag catch window. The attached photo shows the stoppage experienced by myself and described by others above.

I emailed S&W, described the problem and included photos. S&W issued a shipping tag to inspect the magazines. They went out today. We'll see what they have to say. In the meantime I swapped the catch back to the original right hand configuration. Good thing I have extra mags...

Exactly where mine are hanging

 

[ratchetjaw]

I also called them a few days ago and have a shipping label on the way. I also thought it was the magazine. Just did some testing with some live rounds just to see if the sanding fix works. It does. Just cycled 3 full mags worth trough with no jams at all. Emailed Smith to alert them of what I found. Waiting for a reply to see what they have to say. I don't think them replacing the mags is the answer. A slight and I mean very slight redesign of the follower is in order. Now, do I modify the rest of the followers or wait for an answer from Smith??

Good to hear. I wonder if modding the catch would be better so mags wouldn't matter. Don't have mine with me to look at it right now

 

[PCnotPC]

Just my opinion, apparently, but if you have to switch the magazine release for right or left handed use then that system is not ambidextrous, it is swapable/reversible. It is only ambidextrous if there are the same controls on both sides for use at any time by either hand, such as the M&P Series' slide stop lever and optional thumb safety.

 

[ratchetjaw]

Just my opinion, apparently, but if you have to switch the magazine release for right or left handed use then that system is not ambidextrous, it is swapable/reversible. It is only ambidextrous if there are the same controls on both sides for use at any time by either hand, such as the M&P Series' slide stop lever and optional thumb safety.

That helped

 

[Coastie762]

In my case, it is strange that of my three M&Ps, only one has the problem. I put another 100 rounds through my 9FS yesterday through five different mags without an issue. Five different brands of ammunition were also used. The catch was reversed for left hand use. I inspected the followers of each magazine afterwards, no damage or displaced plastic was noted.

The mags do fit more snugly into the well on the FS; an empty mag will not always drop free. The fit on the 9C is a bit looser. Not sloppy by any means, but the compact's mags will drop free.

I wonder if there is some kind of tolerance stacking going on here. Once I get my mags (and answer) back from S&W, I may have to order a replacement magazine catch and experiment a bit.

 

[ottawadriver]

Well I modified all the followers in my mags and all work perfectly now. I did not want to modify the catch because if I decide to switch it back into the stock format, it may not function properly. The amount of plastic that needed to be removed from the follower ended up being less than a 1/16 of an inch.

 

[ratchetjaw]

Well I modified all the followers in my mags and all work perfectly now. I did not want to modify the catch because if I decide to switch it back into the stock format, it may not function properly. The amount of plastic that needed to be removed from the follower ended up being less than a 1/16 of an inch.

Thank you for the update. Back
Home and going to try to do mine before sending maybe won't have to to send it. What did you end up using to remove it ?

 

[ottawadriver]

I used one of the foam sanding blocks for drywall. Im sure just sandpaper would work fine.