Rack the Slide Question

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I bought a new M&P 2.0 with 15 round mag and 3.6" barrel. When I rack the slide with the magazine in place (and loaded) it doesn't feel smooth, almost like the round "catches" just a little on something as it enters the chamber. I haven't had a gun like this before and this could be perfectly normal - just the feel of the round being "pushed" into the chamber. On the other hand, leave it to me to buy the one defective gun in a million. So, normal or not? Any opinions?
 
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Sometimes people are a little too delicate when dealing with firearms, especially when it comes to racking the slide...they're meant to be used forcefully and with authority! Rack that thing like you mean it, she likes it rough...

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It's normal. Just shoot it. I've had plenty of Semi Autos that felt like that and none had any malfunctions.




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Sounds like you may be "following" the slide. Just pull it back and let it go - that is the way it is designed to operate. Remember, the slide strips a round off the top of the mag and the slide weight and spring pressure are designed to operate without assistance or resistance.
 
During rifle and shotgun qualifications for new officers, the R.O. would say "treat a rifle like a lady, and a shotgun (870) like a *****". Sounds like you're riding the slide, and sometimes that will cause a Fail to Feed. Just pull the slide back and let it go. As mentioned above, the slide operates by force. You're going to like your new 2.0; I have a new 4" 2.0 Compact and no complaints. :-)
 
Without a mag in the gun, do you have completely smooth slide action, including right at lockup?

Run the slide a few hundred times without ammo or a mag. Be sure the mating surfaces are lubricated. This will wear down the microscopic machine marks on the steel and make the slide travel smoother. Your perceived problem (likely very real) will go away. This is accelerated break-in.
 
hi folks, thats why they have a slide release, whats this pull back the slide stuff? be safe...dan
Always highly debated but the lever is actually a slide lock to keep the action open when you want it that way. I don't know of any manufactgurer that doesn't reccommend the "slingshot" method of pulling the slide back to full back and release to close the chamber.
 
The round has a little trip to make ... it is stripped from between spring steel feed lips trying to hold it in place , hits a feed ramp and is directed up the ramp where it hits the top of the chamber before the slide finishes shoving it into the chamber .
It is anything but a smooth ride ... what you feel is perfectly normal , as long as they feed fire and eject ...you can obsess about something else .
Don't ride the slide on it's forward travel ... use the slide release to drop the slide on a loaded magazine or pull the slide all the way to the rear and Let It Go to free travel forward ...
The feel of a round feeding and chambering is normal and happens (should happen) quite fast . You can tell the difference when a slide closes on an empty chamber and when it picks up a round and chambers it ...that's perfectly normal .

On my 1911 I use the slide release lever to drop the slide .
D.I. Fort Polk , Louisiana 1968 , he didn't have a problem with loading it this way and therefore you did it his way .
Gary
 
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Always highly debated but the lever is actually a slide lock to keep the action open when you want it that way. I don't know of any manufactgurer that doesn't reccommend the "slingshot" method of pulling the slide back to full back and release to close the chamber.

Possibly one of the most ignorant and opinionated statements I've read on this forum in a long time.

Took me a grand total of 4 minutes to find the Springfield XD manual which clearly states use the slide stop leave to release the slide to go forward and load the weapon.

https://d7g7q7y3.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/XD-Manual.pdf

Getting back to the Ops post, yes your obsessing over nothing. Your hand should NOT be in contact with the slide when it's going forward. Most weapon malfunctions are shooter induced.

Over on the 1911 Forum sometimes a rep from Wilson Combat will post some nuggets of wisdom. One time he posted that 85% of all guns returned to them for reliability issues just need a good cleaning and lube, shooter error.
 
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From the Kahr pistol manual:

" Insert the magazine into the magazine well at the base of the grip until the magazine catch engages fully.

Pull the slide fully to the rear and lock it back using the Slide Stop. Next push down on the Slide Stop to chamber the first round into the barrel. Do not chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and letting go of the slide. This may cause the slide to not go fully into battery." P. 16

As well, the Keltec manual says if the slide is already locked back when a loaded mag is inserted, "Press down on the slide stop and allow slide to carry fully forward."

I have RDS on many of my pistols. The optic interferes with an overhand grip.Using the slide stop as a release is the preferred method for chambering a round.

Most competitors and many martial pistol artists use the slide stop as a faster way of chambering a round. Then there is auto-forwarding. Faster still.

Only one way? Not.
 
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Possibly one of the most ignorant and opinionated statements I've read on this forum in a long time.

Took me a grand total of 4 minutes to find the Springfield XD manual which clearly states use the slide stop leave to release the slide to go forward and load the weapon.

https://d7g7q7y3.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/XD-Manual.pdf

Please excuse me for being ignorant and opinionated for stating something is controversial and all of the manufactures I know reccommend something.
I respect this forum too much to get into name calling.
 
Why is the OP riding the slide down is the first question.

Yes, I'm new but agree.

OP should slingshot or use slide release lever instead of 'riding the slide' which means holding onto slide as it moves from fully pulled back position to its forward or battery position. Correct?
 
The slide on my empty Sig P320 Compact will stop just short of being fully forward when I ease it forward. I only notice this after cleaning and reassembly. I can shake the pistol and the slide will fully seat. When either slingshotting the slide or hitting the slide release to send the slide home on a full magazine, the slide has never stopped short. As has been suggested, don't worry about it unless the slide stops short when you are using an accepted technique to send the slide home on a cartridge.
 
Possibly one of the most ignorant and opinionated statements I've read on this forum in a long time.

Took me a grand total of 4 minutes to find the Springfield XD manual which clearly states use the slide stop leave to release the slide to go forward and load the weapon.

https://d7g7q7y3.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/XD-Manual.pdf

Please excuse me for being ignorant and opinionated for stating something is controversial and all of the manufactures I know reccommend something.
I respect this forum too much to get into name calling.

The issue with your original statement is your confusing OPINION with FACT.
 
I tend to use the Les Baer method for running the slide. You beat it shut with a non marring hammer. Plastic pistols are like plastic anything else, you use them up and you throw them out.
 
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