New M&P9c has three mags and a slide that won't release easily

[Lost Lake]

SoCal I had to 'like' your post just because the gas pedal / squirrel analogy made me laugh out loud.... Witty and TRUE!!!

So based on SoCal's excellent post I'm going to buck the politically correct and be a rebel and call the dang thing a slide RELEASE because that's what it is!

Feels good to be rebellious!!!

 

[Deadeye Dick]

My thinking is if the "slide stop" was not designed to be used as a release also, then why have an exposed "slide stop" lever at all and why are extended "slide stop" levers offered for so many pistols?

The slide stop is exposed so that you can drop the magazine, then open and lock the action open to show that your gun is unloaded and safe as is required at all shooting events. Duh!

You can call your gas peddle a squirrel if you want but it still will not climb a tree nor collect acorns.

The M&P is equipped with a manual slide stop pure and simple. If you insist on using it for something that it was not designed for don't whine about the consequences.

 

[Lost Lake]

The M&P is equipped with a manual slide stop pure and simple. If you insist on using it for something that it was not designed for don't whine about the consequences.

What consequences?

 

[WGSNewnan19]

What consequences?

the slide not staying open when empty.
even my colt 1911 manual refers to it as a slide stop.

 

[LeMans]

With regards to 2 or 3 mags just check the SKU on the box. Regular M&P9c SKU # 209304 (two mags), LE M&P9c SKU # 309304 and you already guessed it, 3 mags...

 

[Lost Lake]

the slide not staying open when empty.
even my colt 1911 manual refers to it as a slide stop.

Okay, let's think about this.

The slide stop will definitely keep the slide open when an empty mag is in the gun, because you have the mag spring pushing up on the slide stop. It isn't going anywhere.

Are you saying the slide stop may fail when the mag is removed?

 

[NCW Ray]

And just because the "Slide Stop" is "Conveniently" located so as your thumb(s) can "Easily" manipulate it, and it "Conveniently" has "Nice Slip Resistant Serrations" on it doesn't mean it's supposed to be used as a "Slide Release".

 

[Lost Lake]

And just because the "Slide Stop" is "Conveniently" located so as your thumb(s) can "Easily" manipulate it, and it "Conveniently" has "Nice Slip Resistant Serrations" on it doesn't mean it's supposed to be used as a "Slide Release".

Hey.... Good point!!! They could have moved it WAY forward so it couldn't be used as a release....

 

[SoCalDep]

Hey.... Good point!!! They could have moved it WAY forward so it couldn't be used as a release....

And they could have put the checkering and or serrations on the bottom where they would be useful to push up rather than on the top where they are useful to push down. Why would they put serrations in a position to assist with pushing it down? To release the slide.

I'm not saying it's the only, or the best way to work a gun, but there is simply no way the S&W was designed in such a way a lever designed to release the slide is not to be used to release the slide. If that's what they are saying they're making lemonade out of lemons.

 

[WGSNewnan19]

using the slide stop to release the slide can be problematic on some guns with soft metals causing excessive wear and tear and potential failure of the slide stop due to rounding and wear of the notch. not seen to much on newer weapons but i have seen it on many other weapons of various origins. therefore i recommend the slingshot method.

 

[Lost Lake]

can and will. wear on the slide stop or slide notch can make it very easy to release. seen it many many times. even a slight bump can make it release. take out your mag - lock your slide back - take the palm of your other hand and bump the mag well hard and see if the slide will release. happens all the time when people insert mags and bump them. problem becomes even more so when the slide stop and notch become worn.that wear is increased by using the slide stop to release the slide.

You're kind of new here, but we refer to that as 'autoloading' and there are several threads about it.
Lots of guy s like it, and a bunch complain if their gun doesn't 'autoload' every time!