right hand slide lock/slide release fix?

[SoCalDep]

Just read first few posts.
There's an answer for the OP question.

With my last posts I've been trying understand YOUR arguments about M&P M2 not being a functional property without easily pressed lever to make the slide release.

I'm done with you.

 

[LVSteve]

S&W never intended their slide lock (as described in the parts list)to be used as a release. IMHO S&W put the serrations on the top of the lever because the market expects, not because they intend it to be used as a slide release. They are a styling affectation, like fake hood vents on a car.

That S&W describe the part as a slide lock, and that not being able to release the slide with that lever is not a fault in the eyes of S&W, has been discussed many times before. It comes under the heading of like it, lump it, or modify it.

 

[SoCalDep]

S&W never intended their slide lock (as described in the parts list)to be used as a release. IMHO S&W put the serrations on the top of the lever because the market expects, not because they intend it to be used as a slide release. They are a styling affectation, like fake hood vents on a car.

That S&W describe the part as a slide lock, and that not being able to release the slide with that lever is not a fault in the eyes of S&W, has been discussed many times before. It comes under the heading of like it, lump it, or modify it.

Who do you know at S&W to know what they intended? I ask because I do know people at S&W and you are wrong.

This is one reason I rarely post here. There are a lot of people with big opinions and little knowledge, and it often goes unchecked.

Do you actually expect me to believe that the thing that has been used as the thing for a hundred years and is used as the thing by the top competitors, law enforcement, and military shooters and is designed based clearly on it's construction to be the thing is not the thing and S&W… in spite of all this purposely didn't want the thing to be the thing but made it just like the thing working the same way… and we know this because of a word in the manual written by a lawyer?

It is seriously one of the most ignorant and ridiculous beliefs in the gun world. It's been discussed here a lot… by some very ignorant people… but hey.. what do I know? I'm probably just done 13 year old kid posting from mom's basement.

 

[tjkoko]

PLEASE let's cease all of this bickering. PLEASE. Let''s move on to the next topic as this here topic has become a dead horse. PLEASE.

@SoCalDep I'm from RC originally.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Although I appreciate most of the responses, it is apparent that many of you totally missed the point. Regardless of whether you think that it is a slide stop vs. a slide release, it works properly as a release for a right handed shooter but not for a left handed shooter. In my mind, there should be no difference. My Gen 5 Glock 45 functions just fine on either side. I would expect the M&P to do the same.
We instructors generally teach the over the top or slingshot method to our students because it works on every firearm and some say that under stress, it is a more functional/reliable method because of the fine motor skills argument. I personally think that argument is somewhat invalid.Regardless, it is faster if only by a slight margin, to release the slide with either the strong or weak hand thumb when doing a speed reload and most of the faster shooters utilize the slide stop/slide release rather than the slingshot method for that reason.

 

[jurek]

Regardless of whether you think that it is a slide stop vs. a slide release, it works properly as a release for a right handed shooter but not for a left handed shooter. In my mind, there should be no difference. My Gen 5 Glock 45 functions just fine on either side. I would expect the M&P to do the same.

You are right about expectations.
Unfortunately the slide stop lever design made the release option hard to be executed. For left handed shooters, like you and me, the lever is not practical at all without additional shooter's action.
When you disassemble the whole slide stop assembly you will see that the shape of it and single point of contact with the slide at opposite side makes it so difficult for us.

Please disregard all my post but the first one, where I actually gave the description what had been done with my M&P9 M2.0 pistols.
With those adjustments you will be able to use slide release as left handed. If you remove the bar in front of the slide stop on the left side, you will be very close to Glock, but as I mentioned, I do not recommend it if this is gonna be your carry pistol.
If you are patient enough you may just dry fire it (without magazine) frequently locking the slide and releasing it... but you will have to do this at least 1000 times and probably never get the same result as doing some filing and polishing job.

 

[LVSteve]

Who do you know at S&W to know what they intended? I ask because I do know people at S&W and you are wrong.

This is one reason I rarely post here. There are a lot of people with big opinions and little knowledge, and it often goes unchecked.

On the first point, I'm only quoting the manual. It is possible I have my guns/forums mixed up. but I'm darned sure I've read that somebody complained to the manufacturer about being unable to release the slide with the lock and was told by the factory it wasn't a release. You and many others believe the manual of arms for the 1911 to be the ne plus ultra in pistol operation, but owning multiple guns of various designs, it is clear to me that this view is not shared by everyone who builds guns.

As for your second point, it's duly noted. (with thanks to Muss Muggins)

 

[WR Moore]

S&W never intended their slide lock (as described in the parts list)to be used as a release. IMHO S&W put the serrations on the top of the lever because the market expects, not because they intend it to be used as a slide release. They are a styling affectation, like fake hood vents on a car.

Back in 2005/2006 we received 2 very early M&P40s for T&E. I believe these were prototypes, but have no idea what the serial numbers were. There was one very slight difference between the two and that was the slide stop. One had what S&W expected to be the standard production version and it was flat. Release of the slide from the locked back position had to be by slingshot. The other was an "extended" version intended for law enforcement special order and allowed use as a slide release. It should also be noted that in the event of a double feed the original design was absolutely useless so far as manually locking the slide back was concerned.

NO ONE WANTED THE FLAT VERSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can find a gun with one, grab it as it's virtually a hens tooth. I expect that S&W didn't bother changing their parts lists to sooth the minds(?) of Nomenclature Nazis.

BTW, Marshall Tom, have you ever considered reaching up for the slide widget with a finger of the hand that just inserted the magazine? Just like there's no mandate that the gun hand thumb should operate the magazine catch, there's no reason a digit from the other hand can't operate the slide release.

 

[Eric300]

 

[LVSteve]

Back in 2005/2006 we received 2 very early M&P40s for T&E. I believe these were prototypes, but have no idea what the serial numbers were. There was one very slight difference between the two and that was the slide stop. One had what S&W expected to be the standard production version and it was flat. Release of the slide from the locked back position had to be by slingshot. The other was an "extended" version intended for law enforcement special order and allowed use as a slide release. It should also be noted that in the event of a double feed the original design was absolutely useless so far as manually locking the slide back was concerned.

NO ONE WANTED THE FLAT VERSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can find a gun with one, grab it as it's virtually a hens tooth. I expect that S&W didn't bother changing their parts lists to sooth the minds(?) of Nomenclature Nazis.

BTW, Marshall Tom, have you ever considered reaching up for the slide widget with a finger of the hand that just inserted the magazine? Just like there's no mandate that the gun hand thumb should operate the magazine catch, there's no reason a digit from the other hand can't operate the slide release.

That makes a lot of sense. If S&W simply added an extension to get your thumb on the lever, they may have missed that they needed some more engineering to make the release easier.

"Nomenclature Nazis" ROFLMAO!!! Consider that stolen.

I cannot recall the pistol (maybe the M&P), but there was one with a right side lever that nobody could use as a release because there was so much flex in the lever and the bar across the frame to the left side.

 

[Old cop]

I've shot my neighbor's Gen 5 G19 & like the left handed slide release, but not enough to swap out my 2.0 S&W M&P Compact.

 

[WR Moore]

That makes a lot of sense. If S&W simply added an extension to get your thumb on the lever, they may have missed that they needed some more engineering to make the release easier.

FWIW, for the left handed, operation of the right side slide stop lever on the full size M&P (1.0) isn't a problem with the thumb of the right hand that just inserted a magazine. However, as barrel/slide length goes down, spring ratings have to go up. If the thumb doesn't work, checking out the redesigned improved part looks like a good idea.

Ambi controls frequently cause problems of some type. Poorly designed/extended controls sometimes get operated unintentionally. Too bad no one spends any time making safeties and slide stops reversible.

 

[jurek]

FWIW, for the left handed, operation of the right side slide stop lever on the full size M&P (1.0) isn't a problem with the thumb of the right hand that just inserted a magazine.

It never was a problem in Gen1 M&Ps.
Slide release was working fine on both sides... but unfortunately also created issues with "auto load".
M2.0 lever was redesigned to avoid that issues. However this brought other problem which we are discussing here.

 

[WR Moore]

It never was a problem in Gen1 M&Ps.
Slide release was working fine on both sides... but unfortunately also created issues with "auto load".
M2.0 lever was redesigned to avoid that issues. However this brought other problem which we are discussing here.

First, can the magazine hand thumb release the slide stop on the 2.0? I can recall a couple of threads here (dimly think all were compacts, but memory, and much else, ain't what is once was) where a return to S&W fixed the issue.

What we saw in training was that those who experienced "auto load" with the 1.0 were overly enthusiastic about the force needed to seat a magazine. While there might be a mechanical component here that might require some slight remedial attention, the operator is inserting a magazine, not driving fence posts. ie, software issue.

It's not at all uncommon for folks who like do this to insert AR magazines hard enough to unseat the top round if the bolt is locked back and then cause a double feed when the bolt release is tripped.

 

[CA Escapee]

The slide lock on the 2.0 optics ready has much more purchase than my older 2.0. Larger lever helps with slide release. I haven't checked, but it may be possible to get the lock assembly from S&W.

Here's the difference, M2.0 Compact top, M2.0 Compact OR bottom.



Something I never noticed, when looking down at the slide stop levers from above, the one on the right side is about .25" more forward than the left side. Do lefties have longer thumbs?

 

[jurek]

First, can the magazine hand thumb release the slide stop on the 2.0? I can recall a couple of threads here (dimly think all were compacts, but memory, and much else, ain't what is once was) where a return to S&W fixed the issue.

What we saw in training was that those who experienced "auto load" with the 1.0 were overly enthusiastic about the force needed to seat a magazine. While there might be a mechanical component here that might require some slight remedial attention, the operator is inserting a magazine, not driving fence posts. ie, software issue.

It's not at all uncommon for folks who like do this to insert AR magazines hard enough to unseat the top round if the bolt is locked back and then cause a double feed when the bolt release is tripped.

I'm one of users who actually love "auto load" option with simple slamming the mag into the grip. It works great in M&P Gen1 and CZ75.
It will never happen in M2.0 within factory setup. I wasn't able to do this even after 1k rounds. But it worked fine once I did some filing and polishing job on slide stop lever and plunger (I finally found the name of that part).

 

[jurek]

Here's the difference, M2.0 Compact top, M2.0 Compact OR bottom.

Something I never noticed, when looking down at the slide stop levers from above, the one on the right side is about .25" more forward than the left side. Do lefties have longer thumbs?

Looks like....
Perhaps S&W designers found out that longer lever will be too easy to release the slide by left handed shooters?
But seriously it's about the trigger bar construction.

 

[CA Escapee]

S&W never intended their slide lock (as described in the parts list)to be used as a release. IMHO S&W put the serrations on the top of the lever because the market expects, not because they intend it to be used as a slide release. They are a styling affectation, like fake hood vents on a car.

That S&W describe the part as a slide lock, and that not being able to release the slide with that lever is not a fault in the eyes of S&W, has been discussed many times before. It comes under the heading of like it, lump it, or modify it.

M&P M2.0 Pistol owners manual, rev: M&P_M2.0_PISTOL_120519, page 18, under the chapter "Loading."

"Pull the slide to the rear and release it, allowing it to carry fully forward. This strips a cartridge from the magazine and seats it in the chamber of the barrel."

I haven't found anywhere in this owner's manual where S&W advises one to use the slide stop lever to chamber a round. There are plenty of other references to pressing the slide lock lever up to lock the slide open, when needed. That's really the only reference to using the slide lock lever.

 

[Dahak]

M&P shield slide lock/slide release fix (response video) - YouTube

Start about 2:30 for where to polish. I recommend ignoring the dremel tool head and using a nail/emery file. Go lightly. As the old saying goes, you can take it off, but you can't but it back.
I stopped polishing (that word helps me keep in mind not going too far) when hulk level strength became firm, deliberate pressure and then regular use smoothed it out to a normal amount of pressure.

I hope this helps.

 

[WR Moore]

From the looks of the picture in post #35, the "sling shot mafia" who lost out in the introduction of the M&P 1.0 came out on top for the 2.0 and the manual reflects this. BUT, given the picture of the slide stop on the Optics Ready version, the customer base seems to have demanded a better product as we did for the 1.0, but we got in while it was still in the prototype stage. Also, demanding the sling shot as the slide release on a pistol (and compact to boot!) with an optic taking up considerable space on a smaller slide, isn't/wasn't one of their more intelligent moves.

Deep down I have to wonder at those who insist on a compact pistol and then bolt something on it that greatly increases the size. Yes, that's another issue and yes,I've got an optic equipped slide for a full size.

I also have to wonder if many of those who point the manual section out pay similar detailed attention to the manuals for the other stuff they own-and only do it per the manual. Remember lawyers help write the manuals.