Shield Field Strip Question...

[timn8er]

Hello,

I don't know whats up with my 40 shield, but I cannot get it to lock in the open position, no matter how hard I try. I've tried it with & without a magazine, but no dice. I can push the slide stop lever & see(from the side)the arm coming up, but it will not lock. Its brand new & I've only had it to the range once. It locked open after the last round without any problem. I have no problems with my 40c. Has anyone run into this? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Duck of Death]

I had the same problem, push the slide back REALLY hard. The slide locks back on a small lever located aft of the slide release NOT on the slide release.

 

[robkarrob]

If the slide lock lever is moving, it can be only a couple of reasons. First is something is preventing the slide from going fully back and the lever won't fit up into the lock slot in the slide. Second is the lever is damaged and will not hold in the slot.

You should be able to remove the slide. You likely can rotate the disassemble/takedown lever while holding the slide back. As long as the chamber is empty, the slide will pop off by allowing the slide to go forward and pulling the trigger, to release the striker. Check to make sure the recoil springs look ok, not broken or something wedged into the coils. Sometimes the springs do not get seated properly and can cause that problem. Check for any debris in other areas which may not allow the slide to fully retract. Look at the slide lock lever and slot in the slide. Is it rounded off or bent? Does the lever move high enough so that it will catch in the slide lock slot? With the slide off you should be able to see what the problem is.

Bob

 

[timn8er]

Nope, no luck. I tried holding the slide open & then pressing the take down lever, but the lever will not go all the way down. I'm holding the slide back as far as it will go. I guess I'll take it buy the LGS in the morning & see if the problem is me or the gun. Thanks for your help!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I had the same problem, push the slide back REALLY hard. The slide locks back on a small lever located aft of the slide release NOT on the slide release.

HUH?

We probably have a terminology problem here. Using the owner's manual terminology:

The slide locks back on the "slide stop" (this part is sometimes called a "slide release"), which is aft of the "take down lever."

The only "small lever located aft of the slide release" is the manual or thumb safety.

As to a possible reason for failure to lock the slide back, remember that the slide will not lock back if completely in its rearward position. You have to hold the slide stop UP and let the slide go forward just a fraction from its rearmost position, as described in the owner's manual on page 22.

It will not lock back if you let go of the slide stop allowing it to return to its rest position while the slide is all the way back. Try holding upward pressure against the slide stop while you run the slide all the way back and then let it go as if to chamber a round - making absolutely sure you hold the slide stop UP the entire time.

 

[RobzGuns]

But the OP states that the slide won't even lock back with the mag IN.
With an empty mag in place, the Mag Follower should activate the slide stop.

 

[timn8er]

HUH?

We probably have a terminology problem here. Using the owner's manual terminology:

The slide locks back on the "slide stop" (this part is sometimes called a "slide release"), which is aft of the "take down lever."

The only "small lever located aft of the slide release" is the manual or thumb safety.

As to a possible reason for failure to lock the slide back, remember that the slide will not lock back if completely in its rearward position. You have to hold the slide stop UP and let the slide go forward just a fraction from its rearmost position, as described in the owner's manual on page 22.

It will not lock back if you let go of the slide stop allowing it to return to its rest position while the slide is all the way back. Try holding upward pressure against the slide stop while you run the slide all the way back and then let it go as if to chamber a round - making absolutely sure you hold the slide stop UP the entire time.

Yes, I can read the manual too, I'm able to take down my M&P40c without any problems, I know you are supposed to let the slide move forward to catch on the slide stop. It is not latching, or holding the slide!

 

[t1.8matt]

I had the same issue on my 9mm shield, just took some working and kept repeating the process and it loosened up. I also sanded the back of the slide stop lever ever so slightly because it was so hard to push down to release the slide, now it works perfectly. Got to shoot it yesterday finally and it's a beauty. No problems with the slide locking back or dropping the slide with the release. Maybe it just needs broken in.

 

[Maddmax]

Hello,

I don't know whats up with my 40 shield, but I cannot get it to lock in the open position, no matter how hard I try. I've tried it with & without a magazine, but no dice. I can push the slide stop lever & see(from the side)the arm coming up, but it will not lock. Its brand new & I've only had it to the range once. It locked open after the last round without any problem. I have no problems with my 40c. Has anyone run into this? Any help would be appreciated!

Did you break down the weapon and clean off all the factory storage lube and re-lube prior to shooting the handgun ? Did you break the handgun down after your range trip inspect,clean and lube the weapon? Then test function ?

 

[Maddmax]

HUH?

We probably have a terminology problem here.

Just wondering. When I read the title of his thread " Shield Field Strip Question... " I orginally thought he was having problems with the take down lever and was trying to field strip. ???? This is an interesting one

 

[OpsMgr]

Did you break down the weapon and clean off all the factory storage lube and re-lube prior to shooting the handgun ? Did you break the handgun down after your range trip inspect,clean and lube the weapon? Then test function ?

Good point - May be some crud in there that is keeping the slide stop from working properly...

 

[timn8er]

Did you break down the weapon and clean off all the factory storage lube and re-lube prior to shooting the handgun ? Did you break the handgun down after your range trip inspect,clean and lube the weapon? Then test function ?

Yes I did clean it prior to a range trip;it was stiff(of course)but I managed it. I shot 135 rounds through it, brought it home & cleaned it. This time, It would not lock onto the slide stop. I managed to get it apart by holding the slide back, then rotating the take down lever. Function was fine. Now I can't get that to work.

 

[Maddmax]

Yes I did clean it prier to a range trip;it was stiff(of course)but I managed it. I shot 135 rounds through it, brought it home & cleaned it. This time, It would not lock onto the slide stop. I managed to get it apart by holding the slide back, then rotating the take down lever. Function was fine. Now I can't get that to work.

If you are talking about the take down lever,you might have to re-set that with your thumb/finger as you push your slide to the rear. IF that doesn't work,take all back apart and make sure your recoil spring is "snapped" back in behind that ledge like it should be and try again.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Yes, I can read the manual too, I'm able to take down my M&P40c without any problems, I know you are supposed to let the slide move forward to catch on the slide stop. It is not latching, or holding the slide!

I just wanted to make sure I understood the problem. Can you physically push the slide stop up into the notch, or is something preventing that?

Unload, remove the magazine and take the top half off.

Without the top half on the pistol, check that the slide stop has free up and down movement and that its spring causes it to snap smartly down. In other words, if you raise it a little, it should snap down under spring pressure without the slide or a magazine in place.

Then, with the top half still off, insert an unloaded magazine and and you should see very clearly that the follower in the magazine catches the tab of the slide stop located inside the frame and pushes and holds the slide stop in its up position.

Check all of that and get back to us.

Shawn

 

[timn8er]

If you are talking about the take down lever,you might have to re-set that with your thumb/finger as you push your slide to the rear. IF that doesn't work,take all back apart and make sure your recoil spring is "snapped" back in behind that ledge like it should be and try again.

The problem with that is I can't take it apart, that's what I'm posting about! I'm beginning to think that for some reason the slide is not coming back far enough. I believe that the slide is supposed to come back far enough for the small half moon indention(on the left side)to align with the pivot point of the take down lever. As hard as I try, I think its coming back about an 1/8 of an inch short. Does that make any sense at all?

 

[tspan]

Slide not locking

Read this, I just posted it this afternoon...........

"CHECK THE RECOIL SPRING AND ROTATE IT"

I just purchased my new S&W shield 9mm today Sunday 3/17/13.
(Happy St. Patrick's day)

I took the gun home to clean it before I took it to the range and while reassembling it
I couldn't get the slide to go all the way back to latch the lock. After breaking down the
Gun several times, I final found the obstruction.

What I found was the large recoil spring was protruding out at the stop making it wider at that point
Right at the end of the coil on the end that's facing the chamber. It prevented the slide from going into
The lock position. If I rotate the entire spring assembly and place protruding coil facing the barrel
Everything is fine. I rotated it again towards the bottom the same problem occurred, could not rack the
Slide back and latch it. ( see attached Pictures).

It looks like the large spring was wound incorrectly. I have not even fired the gun yet, its only 2 hours old.

 

[tspan]

Recoil spring problem

Everyone,

There is a recoil spring problem..... Look!!!!!!

 

[timn8er]

Read this, I just posted it this afternoon...........

"CHECK THE RECOIL SPRING AND ROTATE IT"

I just purchased my new S&W shield 9mm today Sunday 3/17/13.
(Happy St. Patrick's day)

I took the gun home to clean it before I took it to the range and while reassembling it
I couldn't get the slide to go all the way back to latch the lock. After breaking down the
Gun several times, I final found the obstruction.

What I found was the large recoil spring was protruding out at the stop making it wider at that point
Right at the end of the coil on the end that's facing the chamber. It prevented the slide from going into
The lock position. If I rotate the entire spring assembly and place protruding coil facing the barrel
Everything is fine. I rotated it again towards the bottom the same problem occurred, could not rack the
Slide back and latch it. ( see attached Pictures).

It looks like the large spring was wound incorrectly. I have not even fired the gun yet, its only 2 hours old.




View attachment 106964

So if you can't get the slide back far enough to where it will lock so you can disassemble it, how do you propose rotating the spring?

 

[tspan]

You have to continue to finesse it to get the slide back off, inspect the spring, rotate it, and try again. Mine did the same thing and thats what I had to do. Make sure the sear arm is down.

If you take the slid off and remove the spring and barrel and then put the slide back on you'll see it will go all the way to the back, no obstructions. Are springs are bad?......bad design........or just a bad batch of springs!!!!!!

 

[paintz2007]

Use the take down lever as a guide... to line up when you've pulled it back far enough.. that's what I do.. mine kind of 'clicks' open at that point.. I chalk it up to being new...

140 rounds in 2 range sessions