What's up with the 9mm follower design change?

[nogeek43]

I purchased my M&P 9 new in May and it came with 3 factory magazines. One magazine follower picked up the slide stop fine, but the other two had the same problem, slide stop tab slid down the side of the follower. S&W sent me two new followers, but they did not help. I took the two defective magazines to my LGS and tried them on a new M&P 9 with the same results. I called S&W again and they said to send the magazines back to them. That was two weeks ago and haven't heard from them yet. I am out of town right now so maybe they are at the post office waiting for me.
Also the slide stop barely latches the notch in the slide to hold it back and with a little wear from use, I'm sure the tab on the slide stop will scrape away the plastic follower and fail to lock back the slide.

 

[bxojr]

Interesting. Thanks for that report -- it at least suggests that S&W agrees this is not how the follower should behave. Though it's disappointing that they don't seem to have a fix.

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[jstanfield103]

I think I also would just bend the slide stop just enough to catch the follower. I would not think it would hurt and just may take care of all you're worries

 

[bxojr]

I think I also would just bend the slide stop just enough to catch the follower. I would not think it would hurt and just may take care of all you're worries

I thought about that, but I'm a bit hesitant to do anything that might potentially obstruct the feed ramp. But I guess it would take only a very small adjustment. And worst-case scenario, if I totally screw it up, I can always just order a new slide-stop assembly from Brownells.

I may give that a try, depending on what happens when I try live ammo (and maybe depending on what S&W tells me, if I decide to call them).

 

[tonesurfer]

FWIW. I've had my FS9 for over a year. The original 2 mags, and one extra I order right after acquiring the pistol work fine.

I bought 2 new mags (from Midway) in Dec 12 right after Newtown. I bought 2 more last week (also from Midway). All four of the new ones have the problems described in this thread. Slide stop engages the side of the follower. I've used the 2 Dec purchased mags extensively in IDPA and they work fine. I've not had a problem with them not dropping free. They however, do not "spring" out like the orginal 3 mags do.

In contrast to the post above comments from the armorer son, It seems that what causes the forceful ejection of the mag is the little bit of spring in the mag spring because it is depressed ever so slightly by the slide stop catch. The slide stop spring cannot force the mag out as the slide stop is immobile while the slide is locked back.

 

[Tinn-Can]

My two new ones from midway stick from time to time... Hopefully they will sell the new slide lock lever soon to get a better reset and fix this...

 

[mlapaglia]

FWIW. I've had my FS9 for over a year. The original 2 mags, and one extra I order right after acquiring the pistol work fine.

I bought 2 new mags (from Midway) in Dec 12 right after Newtown. I bought 2 more last week (also from Midway). All four of the new ones have the problems described in this thread. Slide stop engages the side of the follower. I've used the 2 Dec purchased mags extensively in IDPA and they work fine. I've not had a problem with them not dropping free. They however, do not "spring" out like the orginal 3 mags do.

In contrast to the post above comments from the armorer son, It seems that what causes the forceful ejection of the mag is the little bit of spring in the mag spring because it is depressed ever so slightly by the slide stop catch. The slide stop spring cannot force the mag out as the slide stop is immobile while the slide is locked back.

Just to keep the kids street cred, the comment about the slide spring was mine not his. Yes it was wrong. He read it and gave me a "Gibbs" to the back of the head. What can I say it was a senior moment.

 

[bxojr]

Had a chance to try mine with live ammo today. I loaded the new mag with three rounds and shot to slide lock, and repeated this test five times.

The behavior is no different with live ammo; the follower still slips past the slide stop lever. On one trial, it briefly engaged properly, but then the slide stop slipped off with an audible "click."

The mag has started dropping out more freely when I press the mag release. I think it's because the slide stop has abraded away the plastic on the side of the follower so the squeeze isn't so tight. But I'm afraid if I keep using it like this, the friction will continue to wear away the plastic until the slide stops locking back on an empty mag (or worse yet, damage the slide stop lever).

I'll probably call S&W tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[tonesurfer]

I did a little more experimenting as one of the posts (this one or one of the others floating about) mentioned that the follower is affected by a round being in it. Sure enough this seems to be true.

Simple enough to test yourself. Pull the slide off your pistol. Load a round into the magazine. Insert mag. Now pretend your the slide and strip the round out. You'll likely have to support the nose so it doesn't hang up on the front of the trigger bar. Notice how the follower engages the slide stop. For me, the stop is engaged by the flat area of the follower, not the sides.

Now I know we can't humanly duplicate the speeds of the real slide movement. However, if you try this you will hopefully find the same results.

 

[bxojr]

However, if you try this you will hopefully find the same results.

Not me. I've tried it every different way imaginable: loading the mag empty and racking the slide, loading the mag with a snap cap and racking the slide, loading with a snap cap and manually stripping off the round like you describe, and firing live ammo. Same behavior every time. I think there were one or two times that the follower just barely engaged the slide stop, but even then it's prone to slip off.

The fact that it works differently in different guns, and differently from one time to the next, tells me that this not how it's supposed to be. The tolerances are pretty small, and I think the follower is just sloppily manufactured. It should be the same every time.

 

[tonesurfer]

Not me. I've tried it every different way imaginable: loading the mag empty and racking the slide, loading the mag with a snap cap and racking the slide, loading with a snap cap and manually stripping off the round like you describe, and firing live ammo. Same behavior every time. I think there were one or two times that the follower just barely engaged the slide stop, but even then it's prone to slip off.

The fact that it works differently in different guns, and differently from one time to the next, tells me that this not how it's supposed to be. The tolerances are pretty small, and I think the follower is just sloppily manufactured. It should be the same every time.

Well PHOOIE! Keep us updated on what you hear from SW.

 

[Saudade]

I took my slide off too to make a closer inspection. My 4/29/2013 HAV came with 2 10 round mags that have the old style follower. It doesn't catch by much, but it reliably catches. I even put a few snap caps in and striped them out with each trigger pull. I even try to wiggle the mag and follower but it held.

I did notice the trigger bar does move to the "outside" when I start the pull. It does appear to be able to rotate a fair amount in the trigger itself. At least it doesn't seem to affect the slide locking.

 

[AR-Getsome]

I think the issue might be the new magazine spring tension. I inspected the new magazines compared to my old. Same issue as the OP, but the tension between the two are noticeably different.I'm going to fire a couple hundred rounds to get the spring broke in to see if that makes a difference. There is definitely something wrong with the new design. But before I cry over spilled milk I'm going to put my new magazines to work,

 

[jstanfield103]

Saw this thread on another site and thought that you might like to see it.
That link is definately not working so I will give the long route.
here is where you go.
mp-pistol dot com
MP Full Size Pistols
M&P9 Magazine Follower/Slide Catch Issue

Sorry could not get the link to work no matter what I tried.
This site will not let you link

 

[AR-Getsome]

Saw this thread on another site and thought that you might like to see it.
http://***************/mp-full-size-pistols/37069-m-p9-magazine-follower-slide-catch-issues.html

Link does not work

 

[bxojr]

Saw this thread on another site and thought that you might like to see it.
That link is definately not working so I will give the long route.
here is where you go.
mp-pistol dot com
MP Full Size Pistols
M&P9 Magazine Follower/Slide Catch Issue

Sorry could not get the link to work no matter what I tried.
This site will not let you link

Excellent, thank you! Haven't read the whole thread yet, but it looks like this is a real problem and that S&W has at least heard about it. (I haven't had a chance to call them yet...)

 

[tonesurfer]

Wondering if one could file a little ledge off the corner of the follower. Keep the catch from digging sideways into the follower and yet create a flat area for the catch to press on. If you look at a shield mag follwer this is how they are shaped.

 

[bobermo]

Wondering if one could file a little ledge off the corner of the follower. Keep the catch from digging sideways into the follower and yet create a flat area for the catch to press on. If you look at a shield mag follwer this is how they are shaped.

Might be a potential DIY modification. A concern would be whether the slide stop lever would be raised high enough to properly hold the slide open on last round if the modified flat area is below the original design. Some testing would be needed.

 

[sstewart]

I got my 9mm mags from Midway. I compared to the 3 I got with the gun kit and they look identical to me. My gun is approx 3 months old. I haven't gone to range yet. Is this wide spread?


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[bxojr]

I got my 9mm mags from Midway. I compared to the 3 I got with the gun kit and they look identical to me. My gun is approx 3 months old. I haven't gone to range yet. Is this wide spread?

Have you tried them in the gun to see if they properly engage the slide stop? You should be able to determine that without going to the range. I find it interesting that the new mags work fine with some guns and not others; I wonder what the difference is...