Take Down Lever 40 cal.

[Laundry Man]

I just purchased a new M&P 40 cal. compact and I have to hold the take down lever down as I move the slide off the frame. Does anyone know if this lever should stay down on its own. The first few times I cleaned the gun I did not have to hold this lever down.

 

[novalty]

Greetings from Maine. Welcome aboard!

 

[handgunner356]

I find I usually have to hold the lever down so it doesn't pop back up, I would say it's normal.

 

[Laundry Man]

Thanks for the welcome and the info on the take down lever...

 

[Sprefix]

RattZ!!! I thought I was going to c a take-down lever-action in 40 cal.........

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Laundry Man,

My wife's M&P40C did the same thing. I e-mailed S&W about it with the same question and they said you have to hold the lever down.

 

[jeffk49738]

Mine won't stay down either. When I first got the gun it did. Now it doesn't. I posted it, but didn't get back anything significant as to if it was normal. I just got used to using two hands to take it down.

 

[southchatham]

Seems all the compacts are like this, mine included.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Somebody told me to hold the guide rod down.... Not a heck of a lot of help , but it does assist in juggling fingers to keep the lever in place while trying to slingshot the slide.

I was told that sometime it'll stay down, but don't count on it ....

(My Full Size .40 doesn't seem to need this, but my 9mm and .40 Compacts do.... I think it's a "Feature"....)

Regards,

 

[chaddlee1978]

I have a the .40 in full size and at first I did not have to hold the take down lever but now I do. The first three times I took it down I did not have to hold the lever but after shooting 300 rounds through mine, I have to use my fingers to keep the take down lever down. I thought maybe it is because my gun is getting broken in and not so tight. I do love shooting it. Getting better and more accurate with the gun.

 

[SMMAssociates]

chaddlee:

I "heard" that it's a good idea to look at the takedown lever casting, and if there's a bump on one face towards the center, to smooth that out. Didn't do anything here....

I do find that just holding the thing down lets me swap hands well enough to deal with it without any problems. It really should stay down, IMHO, but it's not important as long as you know about it.

Regards,

 

[flkinganuthin]

I think it may be the real reason for the sear disconnect. No way you can hold down the take down, pull the slide of the stop, and pull the trigger.