The Silliness of Field Stripping Some Autos

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PJSprog

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My wife recently bought a new S&W M&P9c. Upon stripping it to clean it for the first time, I was a bit taken aback by the silliness of their takedown process. It seems there is a "sear disengagement lever" hidden in the back of the mag well that must be moved forward to release the slide. I had to refer to the manual to find this after some considerable frustration on my own. They include a "tool" just for this, apparently, which also serves to hold in place the changeable backstrap. When I showed it to her, I commented, "Check out this <deleted>!"

It reminded me of a couple other autos we have which require tools for basic cleaning. Her Walther P22 requires a short length of extension rod to keep the spring aligned when reinstalling the slide. My S&W 622 came with a small plastic spacer (long since lost) required to keep the slide open a specific amount to remove and reinsert the slide stop. (I use a spent case for that now)

A coworker tells me he has to tap out a pin to remove the slide on his Hi-Point.

Seriously? Does it really have to be so complicated just to clean your gun?

My 1911 comes apart by just removing the bushing and the slide stop, both of which can be accomplished with my fingers. Glock dis-assembly seems to be a pretty simple process as well.

Admittedly, I'm a revolver guy, so the semi world has always been a little strange to me. But, it seems like minor field stripping for cleaning should be a task which can be accomplished without the aid of special tools and hidden secret levers.

Is it just me?

[/whining]
 
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Some hifalutin 1911s require a right angle pin (not too long now) be stuck through a teeny angled hole in a full length guide rod for break down.
 
You don't need any special tools to field strip the M&P. The tool provided CAN be used, but most anything will work, a pencil, paper clip, pocket knife, etc. Once you learn how to do it most are pretty easy. The possible exception is the Ruger MK-1,2 and 3 series pistols. Even your 1911 is far more complex than most.

Semi's are a snap compared to a revolver.
 
Next time pull the trigger like you would a glock... no need for tools or shoving your finger down in there..
 
Sometimes the little tools make a process easier. Sometimes they don't. I think most people enjoy the added extras. For example the plastic plug to put in the recoil spring of a P22, I never needed that when I cleaned my exes's P22. However she needed that plug to put it back together.

Likewise some 1911s come with a grip wrench to remove the barrel bushing. Some people hate it, some people need it to take apart the firearm. When my 1911 was brand new, it NEEDED that wrench to come apart. Now it pretty much rattles around inside the gun case.
 
Sig 239 and XDm, drop the magazine, lock the slide, flip one lever, release the slide. Simple and safe. I never understood why you would design a pistol that has to have the trigger pulled to field strip it.

My first pistol, a S&W 459 was tricky because you had to retract the slide to a particular point, hold the slide at that exact spot while simultaneously trying to push the take down pin/slide lock lever out. Fun, fun.
 
The reason the M&P requires the extra step is that some expressed concern that 'pulling the trigger' has lead to negligent discharges amongst supposedly trained professionals with other brands of pistols. S&W designed the M&P so that pulling the trigger was unnecessary.

Next time pull the trigger like you would a Glock... no need for tools or shoving your finger down in there..
Click to expand...
Yes, as long as it's not equipped with a magazine safety.
Pinky fingers work well and are usually available for field dissassembly of an M&P.
 
My first pistol, a S&W 459 was tricky because you had to retract the slide to a particular point, hold the slide at that exact spot while simultaneously trying to push the take down pin/slide lock lever out. Fun, fun.
Click to expand...
Same o for an LC9, plus you need a small diameter pin pusher. :(
 
FWIW, the incorporation of the sear deactivation lever in the M&P pistol was the result of feedback received from law enforcement during the R&D phase of the M&P project, specifically providing a way for users field-strip without having to press the trigger.

I remember having somewhat the same reaction as you the first time I went to field-strip the older metal-framed Ruger P-series pistols, like my KP90DC .45 (stainless, decock-only). It seemed an unnecessary pain to have to lock the slide back and manipulate the ejector plate forward to allow field-stripping.

Looking back at it nowadays? Doesn't seem like so much of a pain. It made sure the owner/user would have an extra opportunity to be able to visually inspect the barrel's chamber during the field-stripping process.
 
I learned field stripping on a SIG226. Simplest thing in the world.

Then I had to learn the Ruger 22 pistol - what a joke!
 
Perhaps it just indicates that I have a twisted mind, but I rather enjoy the variety of field stripping designs. The .25acp vest pocket ones with "fixed" barrels than have locking lugs in the frame & require twisting the barrel w slide locked back are the most fun (same design in the French MAB's of post-WWII vintage). The simplicity of the PPK blowbacks & clones are one of the most elegant, though: drop the trigger guard & ride the slide back and up -- done.
 
Yep, you can just pull the trigger on the M&P like you do the Glock if you don't want to mess with the "sear deactivation lever", which was invented because of constant whining about having to pull the trigger on a Glock. Further, you pretty much have to lock the slide back on the M&P to rotate the main takedown lever anyway, making the "sear deactivation lever" doubly useless, but never the less it is there. You should also be able to remove the magazine disconnect pretty easily if it has one.
 
If you have trouble stripping a M&P it's because you failed to read the operators manual. They didn't hide the lever, it's yellow. They didn't make it a secret, it's well documented.

It forces a chamber check and removes pulling the trigger from the take down procedure, both good ideas considering the number of people that shoot themselves cleaning guns.

Now, if you want to have some real fun with a takedown, I inherited a Mauser 1914 pocket pistol from my grandfather, and that's a hoot.
 
"... It forces a chamber check and removes pulling the trigger from the take down procedure..."

Excellent point, it's rather difficult to have a negligent discharge while stripping an M&P as opposed to a Glock for which the trigger must be pulled to disassemble. Yes, one should always check the chamber, but the fact remains that Glocks have had negligent discharges because people didn't.
 
Next time pull the trigger like you would a glock... no need for tools or shoving your finger down in there..
Click to expand...

^^^This.
The idea is to create a MOA that doesn't require pulling the trigger and insures the chamber is clear before taking it apart. Its not the only way to do it. After the first time, I quickly decided to check clear, and pull the trigger -- just like with a Glock.
 
Is flipping down a small lever in the magwell that burdensome?

I think this is what's called a "first world problem."
 
In stripping down the various P series pistols I have this nightmare of the slide slamming shut while depressing the ejector and dancing around the room try to retrieve my finger.
 
I'll toss in that early gen pistols had a curved sear disengagement level instead of the modern straight levers. Due to the design of the curved level, you have to have it depressed to reassemble the pistol, with the modern straight one it doesn't matter.

-Jenrick
 
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