Slide release

[island18]

New shield, slide release very, very hard to activate. Easy to do if I bring back the slide manually, otherwise I need both hands.
I'm doing something wrong, or I need to take it in?
Thank you in advance

 

[shakyshoot]

You SHOULD be pulling back the slide when you release the slide stop. That's why it's called a slide stop and not a slide release. Releasing it with a flip of the thumb is hard on the pistol. About like flipping a revolver cylinder shut with one hand. This will give you the push you need to eliminate that bad habit.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

^^^ What he said.

 

[Rastoff]

Nothing wrong with using the slide stop to release the slide.

Yes, the slide stop on the Shield has been reported to be quite stiff when new. It will get easier as time goes by.

 

[rickyfinch]

It will get a little better, I have been going through the motions with mine, but its still very stiff.
As far as using the slide lock as a release, how is it hard on a pistol. Its the same motion as racking it.

Not attacking, just curious

 

[MichiganScott]

The M&P manual instructs users to chamber a cartridge by pulling back on the slide. The only mention of using the slide stop is when they instruct the user on how to lock the slide to the rear. This suggests that Smith never intended the part to be used as a slide release. That's probably the reason the part is so small and difficult to use as a release.

I agree that it can't be hard on the pistol to release the slide using the slide stop. Even if you wear it out by using it as a release (doubtful), you can always use S&W's lifetime gurantee.

 

[MSG Glenn]

I have an M&P40C that had the same problem. It got looser after use but it's technically called a "slide stop" & not a "slide release". I've gotten so used to pulling the slide back slightly & letting it go that I can't remember the last time I used the slide stop to release it.

Many magazine change drills use the slide stop as a release. It could get your pistol ready to fire a bit faster.

 

[island18]

Thank you guys, as long is nothing wrong with the pistol I can live with pulling back to release the slide. I only use it to field strip the gun.
The way I do it at the range,( I know will not work in real life situation ), but I count the shots and before the last one, I drop the empty magazine, and insert a new one.

 

[Lost Lake]

If you look at the slide stop you will see the engagement angles aren't conducive to easily releasing the slide under pressure.

As the stop wears the angle softens and the stop is easier to move under the recoil spring pressure.

If you wanted to make the slide stop easier to use as a slide release, you would file the angle of the stop so it slide away from the slide easily. Then polish it.

The problem then is you are depending much more on the magazine spring pressure to hold your slide stop in place. Right now you can lock open the slide and remove the magazine and the slide stays open. Filing the stop or using it continually as a release will soften the bite the stop has on the slide and you will have a gun that the slide may not stay open on.

I use my slide stops as releases all the time, I know, I'm bad. A lot of guys have broken the slide stops, I never have.

.

 

[jwalts27]

If you look at the slide stop you will see the engagement angles aren't conducive to easily releasing the slide under pressure.

As the stop wears the angle softens and the stop is easier to move under the recoil spring pressure.

If you wanted to make the slide stop easier to use as a slide release, you would file the angle of the stop so it slide away from the slide easily. Then polish it.

The problem then is you are depending much more on the magazine spring pressure to hold your slide stop in place. Right now you can lock open the slide and remove the magazine and the slide stays open. Filing the stop or using it continually as a release will soften the bite the stop has on the slide and you will have a gun that the slide may not stay open on.

I use my slide stops as releases all the time, I know, I'm bad. A lot of guys have broken the slide stops, I never have.

.

I am bad too, i always use it as a release. Havent had an issue yet. I would say prolly 90% of other peeps do it too!

 

[Llando88]

Good info here.

What are the thoughts about slingshot or overhand?

Any Pros or Cons either way?

I suppose slingshot will not cover the ejection port, a plus I guess?

 

[Rastoff]

What are the thoughts about slingshot or overhand?

• Overhand allows the shooter to keep the gun higher. Thus getting back in the fight faster.
• Overhand offers more leverage and is therefore, easier for most shooters.
• Overhand is a more positive grip.

Is it wrong to sling shot? No. There are just more advantages to using the overhand method.


I would not recommend filing on the slide stop. The engagement surface is small and it would be easy to over do it.

 

[Hatrix]

My full size 40 wouldn't release the slide with the stop when I first got it. It was near impossible to manipulate. To the point of really having to white knuckle and apply a lot of force to act as a release. After a while it "loosened up" enough that I could use the stop to release though.

I prefer the overhand method of racking the slide and loading up a new round. I was taught that way when I was very young. But it's nice to know the slide stop can be used if I had to.