SD9VE slide does not lock open after last round

[Steve_J]

Sorry for the length of my first post guys/gals, but here goes...

Just bought a new SD9VE four days ago. Hasn't even had 200 rounds through it yet. Problem is as "Title" states...after I fire last round from magazine, the slider doesn't lock open. If I place an empty mag into chamber and pull back on slide, it doesn't lock open. So, just for kicks and giggles, I did some research online and found this to be an inherent problem with this weapon. Several fixes available, but just wanted to post here. Apologies if it has been covered before. I'm not one to search before I post. Anyhow...I've noticed that when the mag is inserted, it doesn't fit as snug as one may expect. I rested the bottom of the mag on my thigh...applying a little pressure to the bottom of the mag. Low and behold, the slide stayed open...as long as there was upward pressure on the bottom of the mag. Haven't contacted Customer Service, but will...first thing Monday morning. I know there may/may not be underlying issues, but can't see sending the weapon to S&W if it's just a magazine issue. This problem occurs with both mags that came with this pistol. Guess I'll wait and see what they say on Monday morning. Have to say though...as a first purchase...not really happy. Guess I expected a little more use before having issues.

 

[msjdgman]

One thing that you can try is to slightly bend the tab that makes contact with the mag follower down just a bit. Remove the slide, and insert an empty mag to see how much the mag follower engages the slide stop tab. Mine don’t engage a lot, but they do engage. I had actually planned to try this myself when I had things apart installing the apex spring kit...but low and behold I had the gun reassembled before I remembered.

 

[RGVshooter]

take it step by step before bending or grinding on something... First, has the pistol been field stripped & cleaned/lubed since purchased?

 

[sgtsandman]

How do you hold your thumbs along the side of the pistol? Some people have problems with their thumb riding the slide release, which prevents the slide from locking open on empty. Just something else to look at. I have noted that mine fails to lock open from time to time and I think that may be the issue.

 

[NevadaBob]

+1 sgtsandman

 

[Steve912]

Just bought a new SD9VE four days ago. Hasn't even had 200 rounds through it yet. Problem is as "Title" states...after I fire last round from magazine, the slider doesn't lock open. If I place an empty mag into chamber and pull back on slide, it doesn't lock open.

Don't put the mag in the chamber...done!

J/k...aside from watching where you thumb is,
in relation to slide lock, you have a new pistol that
will break in and function more smoothly over time.
As an "entry level" priced pistol, a lot of new shooters
buy SDs, and bring operator-induced problems to the
table. There isn't any "inherent" slide lock problem.

Your description sounds like the followers are not
rising high enough in mag tubes, to lift slide lock.

Before you go bending on the slide lock, take down
the magazines and check followers for molding flash,
and wipe out the tube interiors.

 

[3hounds]

How can he be riding the slide if it does it with empty mag. while working slide back in his lap ?

If it only happened while he was actually shooting the gun then yes.

I'd say msjdgman is dead on about bending the tab on the slide stop.

It's a common problem with this gun as you stated.

3 out

 

[sgtsandman]

How can he be riding the slide if it does it with empty mag. while working slide back in his lap ?

If it only happened while he was actually shooting the gun then yes.

I'd say msjdgman is dead on about bending the tab on the slide stop.

It's a common problem with this gun as you stated.

3 out

Not the slide but the slide release and it was only mentioned as a possibility. If one has their thumb resting on the slide lock, it can prevent it from rising up to lock the slide.

 

[sd9boi]

I've been having this issue, or a variation of it, since I bought my SD9VE new in 2014. First it was my RH thumb resting right next to the slide lock lever. Put that thumb OVER my support (LH) thumb and the problem disappeared FOR A WHILE !!!

Next, I had the issue of my slide LOCKING OPEN on a partially filled magazine. Swapped AMMO and THIS issue disappeared, not to return.

Then, I started having intermittent failure of the slide to lock open on an EMPTY magazine. This happens apx. 10% to 30% of the time, at each shooting session. Ammo doesn't matter ! Where I grip the gun doesn't matter. WHO shoots the gun doesn't matter.

I've been noticing a recent spate of these failures on various You Tube videos. Sometimes it happens w/ NEW guns (probably a grip issue) !! Some times it happens with used but not abused guns. Sometimes, it apparently doesn't happen at all. I HAVE noticed the slide lock lever NOT moving fully UP on occasion. It could be a mag spring issue, a follower issue OR perhaps an issue of WHERE the MAG RELEASE cut-out is on the mag itself !! I also have pressed an empty mag into the gun as hard as I can and had ZERO failures to lock open. I simply DON'T know how to solve the problem. It may need NEW mags, new followers and/or springs, OR it may need some re-engineering from S&W itself. Considering the COST of new SD mags and the recent issues regarding them, one would think S&W might address the issue. This is my ONLY self-defense gun and buying something else won't happen.

Gonna try some "fixes" and see what happens. I'll try to report any ANSWERS I may run across !!

 

[Rule3]

If ir occurs with BOTH magazines I would guess it is the slide lock lever SPRING is not correctly positioned.

As both mags do it I doubt it is mag related (but could be)

NEW gun, send it back to Glock (pretty much a copy)

I mean call SW and send back to them, no reason to fiddle with a NEW gun IMO.

 

[sd9boi]

Tried my first 'fix" on my mags this evening. I stripped the pistol, inserted an empty mag and observed the degree of "slop" !! Then, I stripped that specific mag (#2) and stretched the mag spring. I reassembled the pistol & mag and did 10 lock open tests (per S&W) with ZERO failures. This is the mag that would NOT hold the slide back when operating it MANUALLY !!! I reloaded the mag (15 rnds) and will try it at my next shooting session. I report then !!!

 

[panther]

I just bought another new SD9VE today and have 2 mags, as always. One always locks back the slide. One will if you press the mag up into the gun. If not, it generally won't lock.
For those of you having this issue, when you use the mag that won't lock, is it still feeding rounds correctly? Is it causing any jams?
My gun just came home with me at 2pm today. It hasn't had a single round through it yet. I am hoping to take it out tomorrow. A local gun shop had a sale on SD's awhile back and they still have some extra mags that are marked down to $15. I was planning to get a few anyway, I just hope the new ones work right.
edit: I bought 2 new mags today, $14.99 each, and one locks the slide, the other one doesn't. That seems odd to me, never had this issue with any older SD's. This shop has a gunsmith, I may have them look at it.