I have a gen 1 M&P, full sized, 9mm. I bought it second hand and it came with a dovetail red dot sight mount. I removed the red dot sight mount from the rear sight location only to learn that the plunger and spring were missing. Good grief. I contacted S&W and they sent me a new plunger and spring. After installing the new plunger and spring followed by the rear sight I am now unable to reassemble. The slide will not go all of the way back. My first assumption is that the spring is too long/too stiff and thus interfering with the slide. However, I don't want to jump to that conclusion without getting some input. Any suggestions? Remedies? Thanks in advance.
Unable to Reassemble After New Plunger and Spring
- Thread starter BigSky!
- Start date
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I think the plunger shape may have been revised a couple times. Does everything move smoothly? I had to sand a replacement for my shield just a little as it would hang up.
Did they send the little disk that goes on top of the plunger spring? How did you hold it all together while you slide the rear sight back on? Perhaps the spring got pinched/mangled by the rear sight.
Take the slide off, flip it upside down (remove rsa and barrel). Grab a pick, punch, whatever, and depress the striker block and release. Does it move freely? Try several times. Then try to push the striker forward to see if the tip protrudes into the breech (should not). Then, depress and hold the striker block and push the striker (should protrude now). Release the striker, release the block.
You can install the slide with no barrel and RSA. The slide should go on quite easily. If it still hangs, take a picture so we can see how far back it can go. Make a note, the take the slide off and orient it to the same position and see if the striker block is aligned the bump on the trigger bar and pushes up on the block.
Take the slide off, flip it upside down (remove rsa and barrel). Grab a pick, punch, whatever, and depress the striker block and release. Does it move freely? Try several times. Then try to push the striker forward to see if the tip protrudes into the breech (should not). Then, depress and hold the striker block and push the striker (should protrude now). Release the striker, release the block.
You can install the slide with no barrel and RSA. The slide should go on quite easily. If it still hangs, take a picture so we can see how far back it can go. Make a note, the take the slide off and orient it to the same position and see if the striker block is aligned the bump on the trigger bar and pushes up on the block.
Kp321
Member
Is the RSA in the proper notch on the bottom of the barrel? If it is too low, the slide won’t function correctly.
I wouldn't be surprised on the "revised". No, everything does not move smoothly as it pertains to the spring, plunger and slide going in to position. Everything else (trigger, slide catch, etc.) all move as they should.
Yes, they sent the disk which I put in place at the top of the spring. Then, I was able to slide the rear sight far enough over to capture it. Then, I used my slide pusher to push it the rest of the way into place. The striker block can't be moved making me think the spring they sent may be too long. The striker moves in and out when pushed. IT DOES PROTRUDE INTO THE BREECH WITHOUT MOVING THE STRIKER BLOCK. The slide will not go into place even without the RSA and barrel. I'll try to take a picture this week if the information I have provided doesn't get me an answer.
Yes.
Thank you all for your input. My obvious next step is to remove the sight, remove and reinstall the spring and plunger/disk. However, I don't want to do that until any of you have had time to review my responses to your questions and input. Thank you all for your attention to my problem. Heck, it may be as simple as cutting a couple of coils from the spring. Once again, I don't want to jump to such efforts on such a safety related part without input from those of you who may be more knowledgeable than myself. Thanks again.
Thanks for the detailed reply. Does sound like the striker block is "jammed" somehow. I asked about the plate due to reading past posts about changing rear sights, losing the plate and installing the sight. In some cases the sight snagged the spring and mangled the end. It's not a big spring.
It is a bit puzzling though. If the block was stuck so the slide can't go on (spring too long), then the striker should be blocked from protruding.
Anyway, I'd pull the rear sight back off. I'd even take out the striker to make sure it wasn't damaged. With the slide stripped, see if you can rack it on the frame again. There should be nothing preventing it from sliding fully.
Here's pic showing my spare spring, plunger and disks. My disks are older and metal. I believe the new ones are plastic with a small nib to contain the end of the spring.
Post a few pics if you can.
It is a bit puzzling though. If the block was stuck so the slide can't go on (spring too long), then the striker should be blocked from protruding.
Anyway, I'd pull the rear sight back off. I'd even take out the striker to make sure it wasn't damaged. With the slide stripped, see if you can rack it on the frame again. There should be nothing preventing it from sliding fully.
Here's pic showing my spare spring, plunger and disks. My disks are older and metal. I believe the new ones are plastic with a small nib to contain the end of the spring.
Post a few pics if you can.
