Slide Racking Effort on Shield 2.0 9mm

[City Boy]

Is the slide racking effort on the Shield 2.0 9mm lighter than on the original model?

City Boy

 

[RobzGuns]

Nope.
Same Recoil Spring Assembly, so same effort required.

 

[armorer951]

If you are having problems gripping the slide, check out something called the Slide Spider from Arachnigrip. It's a gripping tape cut specifically for the Shield, and allows for much better control of the slide.

Products available for other manufacturers as well.


Link:
Smith & Wesson

 

[S&W Rover]

Underlying the question is the inference, on my part, that the Shield has a pretty stout recoil spring. Which I noticed mine did too.

I tried a Tac Rack (which attaches to the back of the slide) and while it worked, I didn't like the space it took up. It might work for some folks though. See: TacRack™ - S&W 1st Gen Shield Models - TacRack

There is another company - Springer Precision - that makes a similar attachment, which also could be good for some folks. See: Springer Precision Slide Racker for the M&P Shield

I put skater tape (grip tape) on the side of the slide on my Shield, and that helped, but that Arachnigrip tape, cut to fit the slide grooves, looks promising.

The good news is that the recoil spring loosens up with use, so mine got easier to rack over time. But I ended up selling the Shield 1.0 because it was hard on my old hands - old injuries and beginning to suffer some arthritis. This is one of the reasons I got interested in the Springfield Armory XD-E -- but that's another story.

 

[Raisin]

I just put rubber grip tape on the left side of my slide and it made all the difference in the world. No problems racking or locking open now. It's much less expensive than all the end plate thingys and works better, at least for me and my 76 years old hands.

 

[Texas40]

Try the Push method
Strong hand grip on weapon weak over top of slide and push gun forward instead of pull on slide.
Helps my 86 yr old dad to rack my 45 shield.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Raisin]

Try the Push method
Strong hand grip on weapon weak over top of slide and push gun forward instead of pull on slide.
Helps my 86 yr old dad to rack my 45 shield.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's what I do but still needed the grip tape on the side of the slide. Tape for the slide is only $1.99 in 1' x 4" stripes.
TALON Grip 1”x4” Sheets of Loose Material

 

[dla]

Try the Push method
Strong hand grip on weapon weak over top of slide and push gun forward instead of pull on slide.
Helps my 86 yr old dad to rack my 45 shield.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for posting this as this is the real solution. Most folks get their techniques from TV, and often TV is wrong.

 

[gwmac]

The other solution not mentioned so far is changing the recoil spring assembly. SS guiderods offers a complete replacement good for 9mm and .40 the lessens and smooths the racking process. I have one in both my Shields and am very happy. No malfunctions at all.

 

[swsig]

Here's another alternative if you haven't yet purchased a Shield 9: Consider a Shield 45 instead. It's not only easier to rack than the 9, but I've found my 45 to be significantly more accurate than my 1.0 version 9.

 

[Ranger17]

When I was shopping for my Shield 1.0, i found some pretty simple to rack and others i really struggled with (all were new). Though to be honest some examples were fresh out of the factory wrap and not cleaned so difficult to get a good grip. I ended up with a Pc model that both my wife and I can rack with no issues. Thankfully lol.

After near 2300 rounds (I love shooting it) it is simple to function..... except on days my carpal tunnel kicks in. Then about anything I grip can cause some trouble.