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The "automatic" slide closure has been experienced with my M&P at and I've wondered about it.
If this is not designed to be a feature, then the slide lock is slipping. Why?
Possibly due to wear and, if so, will repeated slips on the locking surfaces generate additional wear to the extent that it become difficult to keep the slide locked open? Time will tell, but I don't think so because whether the slide is closed by seating a mag or using the thumb release the same locking surfaces are involved -- by design.
Or, perhaps the cause relates to whether each gun has oil/lube on the lock surfaces. Owners could test that theory.
Or it may be manufacturing variation.
Pondering this further, I got out my M&P and tried seating a mag into the pistol multiple times with increasing force. With an empty mag the slide remained locked (because the follower pushes up on the slide lock and keeps it locked). With a loaded mag, the rounds depress the follower and as the mag is seated more forcefully, there is a point at which the lock will release the slide.
Next question is whether the force of seating the mag is actually causing the slide lock to slip, or is producing a rocking motion of the gun that is akin to pulling the slide back and releasing it. I tried various techniques, but ended up inconclusive.
In summary, the more forcefully the mag is seated, the more likely the slide will release "automatically". Lubrication may be a factor.
WARNING: DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE UPWARD FORCE WHEN INSERTING A LOADED MAGAZINE INTO THE PISTOL. EXCESSIVE UPWARD FORCE COULD CAUSE THE SLIDE TO MOVE FORWARD, CHAMBERING A ROUND AND MAKING THE PISTOL READY TO FIRE.
The "automatic" slide closure has been experienced with my M&P at and I've wondered about it.
If this is not designed to be a feature, then the slide lock is slipping. Why?
Possibly due to wear and, if so, will repeated slips on the locking surfaces generate additional wear to the extent that it become difficult to keep the slide locked open? Time will tell, but I don't think so because whether the slide is closed by seating a mag or using the thumb release the same locking surfaces are involved -- by design.
Or, perhaps the cause relates to whether each gun has oil/lube on the lock surfaces. Owners could test that theory.
Or it may be manufacturing variation.
Pondering this further, I got out my M&P and tried seating a mag into the pistol multiple times with increasing force. With an empty mag the slide remained locked (because the follower pushes up on the slide lock and keeps it locked). With a loaded mag, the rounds depress the follower and as the mag is seated more forcefully, there is a point at which the lock will release the slide.
Next question is whether the force of seating the mag is actually causing the slide lock to slip, or is producing a rocking motion of the gun that is akin to pulling the slide back and releasing it. I tried various techniques, but ended up inconclusive.
In summary, the more forcefully the mag is seated, the more likely the slide will release "automatically". Lubrication may be a factor.