Just took possession of a new Shield 9mm. I have two questions. I'm finding it very difficult to rack the slide all the way back so that the slide stop can be engaged. I'm actually going to have to take it to someone else, stronger than I am, to get the gun back together. The slide stop in itself is very difficult to manipulate, seems very stiff. In general I'm finding the gun difficult to rack. More difficult than one I had the opportunity to use several months ago. Will this 'ease up' with use? Also will the recoil spring lose some of it's tension with use or can I have a slightly weaker spring installed? I also shoot an HK USP compact and have no issues racking it.
If the recoil assembly is installed a little off it interferes with the movement of the slide, I had that same problem when we first got a Shield. Try it again making sure you line up the recoil assembly on the barrel, not the spring mount on the locking lug (which is offset), and this problem sould go away
Hey Diane! Welcome to the forum. How are you racking the slide? Are you gripping it from the back and pulling it straight back? My wife had this problem. She's been watching too many movies. I have her doing the overhand method now and with some practice she's a champ!
Instead of holding the grip in your hand and using the other hand to pull the slide back from the rear of the slide, try bringing the shield up to your chest (barrel pointed in a safe direction) and taking the hand that's not gripping the gun and place it on the top of the slide like you would hold a suitcase handle (but much higher up). Then use your grip hand to push the gun forward while pushing the slide rearward with your opposite hand. This way you are pushing and pulling at the same time instead of just pulling. Also by holding the gun much closer, you will have more control while manipulating the slide.
Those instructions are for if you're not already doing it that way. If you are racking the slide in an overhand method disregard and listen to KRW. Happy Shooting! -Dirvo-
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I need to change the way I rack it. I first learned a different way than the push and I need to unlearn that quickly. I did get the gun back together. What I found out was that when I rack it I come to a point of resistance and I need to push a bit harder to get beyond that point. I still needed someone else to push the slide stop up as I couldn't do it with both of my hands. Getting beyond that point of resistance is a challenge.
Inserting an empty magazine is the solution I arrived at (after much experimentation) to get the slide locked back despite my arthritically weakened hands. Necessity Is the mother of invention!
Yes indeed...a few hundred rounds should make a big difference. Even with an empty mag in I still have to remember to push through that point of resistance.
I, too, have to insert a magazine to reassemble. Unlike the fullsize M&P, it doesn't seem possible to rack the slide hard enough to re-seat the takedown lever in proper position. It is also absolutely impossible to engage the slide stop. I am able to engage the slide stop no problem during normal operation, but not if the take-down lever has been engaged.
Good thing that shooting the thing is so fun and easy, otherwise, I would have thrown it against the wall in frustration! LOL
Diane & Zotzer, I just got my 9 Shield today & have been shooting for 60 years & have never had the trouble getting a gun back together I had with the Shield. Is There a trick to it? Is it alright to put the mag in to put it back together ? Does that effect the sear lever placement?
I have put hundreds of guns back together, but I have never been this old with weak wrists. That makes it worse, but a PPk is no trouble. This shouldn't be either. KR, I triple checked the spring placement for barrel center. What else could it be? If they designed it this way that is a problem.
It seems that a lot of components in the S&W M&P Shield require a lot of break in. I agree with one of the posts that recommend running several rounds through it. It seems that RemOil allows just enough wear to occur. That slide did take some getting used to...for me primarily it was my first CCW style gun....and trying to figure out where both of my larger hands needed to be.
Gene,
The magazine was designed to hold the slide open when empty, so I would hope it doesn't do any damage. Seeing as it's the only way to get the damn thing back together, it's either that or leave it on the table in two pieces. I only have 100 rounds through it right now. I am going to run 500 through before cleaning it, and see what happens then.
Zotzer, I like your thinking, got a laugh out of it. I did take it down again & put on an old pair of water skiing gloves & that helped a lot . I haven't skied in over 50 years so they did come in handy after all. I could hold the slide a lot better. Maybe Smith didn't think any old people would buy their guns.
Maybe S&W should include some ski gloves or bike gloves for taking this gun down. I have an LC9 that is no trouble to take down. Alot easier than this. I have seen a lot of questions on the net about this very thing.
I too was amazed with how much force was required to lock back the slide with the magazine out. The "over hand" method of racking the slide (a.k.a. Star Wars Method...."Use FORCE LUKE!") seems to work better and it does tend to improve with use (break in). I have over 400 rounds through my .40 Shield, now. In addition, I have treated my dual spring guide rod with Frog Lube. That helps a lot with the binding involved with the short rod/dual spring configuration!! FROG IT!!:yes
I have treated my dual spring guide rod with Frog Lube. That helps a lot with the binding involved with the short rod/dual spring configuration!! FROG IT!!:yes
Lineman, I ordered some Frog Lube today. I have been tired of all that stuff that stinks to high heaven, & ate your grips up, & took the paint off your sites This stuff sounded great, has anyone else used it? If this is as good as everyone says, it is worth it.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one having problems, sounds like a good reason to shoot more!! " But Honey I HAVE to shoot it more its not going to break itself in"
Lineman, I am over 80 & my wife can't wait for me to get my order of Frog Lube. Do you put it on after you shower? I do still get a lot of shooting practice in & am looking forward to trying my Shield.
Figured I had better make that a little more clear.
Lineman, I am over 80 & my wife can't wait for me to get my order of Frog Lube. Do you put it on after you shower? I do still get a lot of shooting practice in & am looking forward to trying my Shield.
Figured I had better make that a little more clear.
I had to return my 9mm to S&W the spring is defective. It is not the same size consistently and the rear edge does not sit correctly on the rod. It has damaged the frame, note it has approx 50 rds thru it and not taken down by me this is the way it came from the factory. The slide should not require that much force and should definitely not grind the last 1/4 inch to lock open.
When I got my shield, the first thing I noticed was it was just covered in oil and had pieces of cardboard dust in it (there was a plug inserted so the slide was open the whole time). I took mine apart to clean it and noticed difficulty getting the take down arm back up. That last 1/4 of an inch (maybe 1/8 of an inch) is really rough and did make a slight grinding noise.
Everything looked to be seated correctly though. I'll have to break it down again and take another look.
Yesterday picked up my NIB M&P 9 shield with NO SAFETY, just like my M&P9pro 4.25” & M&P9c both with no thumb safety. How in the world could I image it would be the hardest gun I ever owned & it would be a nightmare to reassemble. Googled how to reassemble the M&P shield & got the S&W Forum which I’m a member of. Was amazed at all who had the same problem. But unfortunately with all the helpful suggestions mine still remains unassembled. I called S&W that evening and was able to get some in tech support, before they closed for the holiday weekend. Paul gave me the same advice as did the forum, & told him did it all. He said that there have been some issues with the recoil guide rod, and would send me a replacement Monday. Well I guess I have to wait to see if that will be the fix. If not???
Yesterday picked up my NIB M&P 9 shield with NO SAFETY, just like my M&P9pro 4.25” & M&P9c both with no thumb safety. How in the world could I image it would be the hardest gun I ever owned & it would be a nightmare to reassemble. Googled how to reassemble the M&P shield & got the S&W Forum which I’m a member of. Was amazed at all who had the same problem. But unfortunately with all the helpful suggestions mine still remains unassembled. I called S&W that evening and was able to get some in tech support, before they closed for the holiday weekend. Paul gave me the same advice as did the forum, & told him did it all. He said that there have been some issues with the recoil guide rod, and would send me a replacement Monday. Well I guess I have to wait to see if that will be the fix. If not???
Received replacement RGR yesterday & guess what? Still have the same problem. Called S&W, requested a return shipping label, sent to me email as we were on the phone. Took it to FED-X same day, now the wait.
gene1...... I hope you don't mind me saying this Sir but good on yer, that you are still getting out there to shoot and are still buying guns. I hope I still have that vitality when I get to your age......impressive!
Like all of you I also found it difficult at first to pull back the slide enough to flip up the slide lock. Until I realized that...well, if you don't rack it back hard- all the way- the first time and you sorta just rack it back "normally" until it stops....... it stops prematurely. It feels like it's there...like it has hit it's furthest rearward movement but then you realize it's not enough to flip the stop lever up. Moving it back from that position is harder also because you are already holding it against tension.
The best bet is to try rack it back as hard as you can the first time...all the way and be ready to flip the lever. The over the top method is definitely best.
That said, I'm blessed that don't have arthritis etc and my arms etc are still strong, so I really feel for you folks who are having issues because it definitely is a stout spring to move.
The springs are not as smooth as they should be, and the flat spring's edges dig into the shaft of the assy. The second stage is really gritty too. Grease it well with your choice of slippery stuff (Mobile 1 oil from the auto parts store is A+ too but that's a different story), lock it open (use empty mag to help and the push-pull method for girls), leave it open for a few days to a week, then fire at least 500 rounds through it and practice racking it at home a few hundred to a thousand times This will reduce it to a normal level of resistance and smoothness.
I have done all of this, and its gotten marginally better. But I can't decide if the slide is easier, or if the resistance training has just made me stronger. Either way, its gotten just a tiny bit easier.
But I have to admit, the Shield stays in the closet more than it goes out shooting, and its moved to the front burner for guns that will be sold if I fall in love with something else. Its made a trip back to the factory, had three new recoil spring guide rod assemblies, been polished, lubricated and has almost a thousand rounds down the pipe. Depending on the day, I often still have issues locking the slide back for the initial load. And I feel like a fool standing at the line looking like the 90 pound weakling trying to pull the slide back on my gun. I can't see keeping my money tied up in a learning experience from which I learned nothing. I'm old, and I'd think its me, but I have other guns, old and new (VP9 is the latest) and I have had this issue with none but the Shield.
Obviously, mine is the exception. I've shot ones owned by other people and had no issue whatsoever. But mine's a bear.
Mine was tough to rack when I first got it. A couple of cleanings to figure out how she liked to be handled and some rounds downrange loosened her up nice. Stay with it Diane13.
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