Anyone tried the new slide release for the M&P?

[proctorman]

I've called S&W Customer Service and they sent a packing label to ship my gun back to get a new slide release installed. I haven't shipped it yet.

So I was wondering if anyone has one yet (Coronach?)
If so, how are they and are they worth the 2 to 3 weeks installation and delivery time? I'm not too fond of the slingshot release method , I prefer the thumb release like the one on my P95.

Also, does anyone have any pictures of the new slide release or have a good link with pictures?

 

[EdLaver]

I wasnt too fond of the sling shot method either when I 1st got my M&P, but after doing a course which required moving, firing, and fast reloads I learned that it is easier to use this method. If ever faced with defensive purposes where reloading is required, it takes less thought and just has a more natural feel to just pull the slide. The instructor of the course even suggested this to all the students and praised the M&P for having this feature.

 

[buzz_knox]

After a lot of courses, I am a big fan of the slingshot method. I've trained with Sigs and Glocks primarily, so the slide stop rarely got used. For me, it serves an adminstrative/malfunction clearing purpose only. That being said, if the M&P slide stop didn't lend itself to ease of use for locking the slide back, that would be an issue.

 

[Dan Burwell]

Here are the pictures you requested. I love the extended slide stop, have never gotten used to the sling shot method tried didn't like it ) I guess I am not tactical enough)


the one pictured has been media blasted for the stainless look, but it shows up better for pics than the black one.

doesn't look like much but very effective.

Dan

 

[proctorman]

Thanks a lot Dan, that new release does look more my style, and it looks like it still dosen't stick out that much. (I can't afford the classes to really master the slingshot method at the moment, and I don't really like it anyway).

I'm starting to lean toward sending it back, but I plan on shooting it a lot this weekend, so maybe next week.

I was also wondering if it's safe to push the magazine in just hard enough to knock the open slide closed, thereby chambering a round "Glock style". I've done this numerous times with the M&P and it has worked fine every time. Does anyone else do this?

 

[VWTim]

Wait, so you slam the mag in so hard the slide comes forward? Sounds like either a weak slide stop or you're hitting it WAY too hard. I can slam the mag home in any of my pistols without that happening.

 

[KI4LIV]

There is actually a WARNING in the manual regarding slapping the magazine in that it may cause the slide to pop forward/slide home.

 

[proctorman]

I don't really "slam" it hard, just enough to knock it loose. I have friends with Glocks who do this and it's worked fine for them, but I'll stop once I get the new release.

 

[LubeckTech]

Do they modify the frame when they install the new release? That's what the pics look like. I have problems too with the fulsh release but think I will wait for an aftermarket replacement. Does S&W charge for this? I emailed them about it and their reply didn't say if they would charge or not.

 

[johndoe1027]

I don't use the slide stop to lower the slide because I was instructed that the little bit of extra travel you gain by pulling the slide back off of the stop will cause less malfunctions. I've never used the slide release to chamber a round (or close the slide on an empty chamber).

As far as slamming mags, I love that feature and I'm trying to master it (just hard enough to make the slide fall but not too hard). I was told that it was no big deal that most plastic auto loaders do the same thing. Now of course this goes against my "pull it all the way back" policy... hmmm. Can anyone provide info that this is bad for a gun? I've never had any trouble from my M&P other than when I was loading my 17 round mag to 18. I had to really slam it then so I stopped loading the extra round in there. I guess they say 17 for a reason dang it.

Mine is a M&P9c BTW.

 

[Joe D]

I adjust my Glock slide stop so that the slide will fall when the mag is seated firmly.

 

[wally]

If the gun don't chamber reliably from slide lock, I consider it defective. Anything that requires two hands is potentially trouble, its called a handgun and if you got hurt earlier in the fight, one hand may be all you have available.

For normal shooting I prefer to insert the fresh magazine and hit the slide release with the left hand thumb as I regain my two handed hold. I also release the mag with the left thumb as I give up the two handed hold -- unless I'm doing some game were I have to drop loaded rounds on the ground, bad idea in general, you might wish you had them later

--wally.

 

[gc70]

My son has a very early M&P. I recently bought an M&P with the new release. My son liked the new release on my pistol enough that he mailed his pistol back to S&W last week for the new part.

 

[Coronach]

My issued M&P came from S&W with the new slide release. I find it to be a good compromise between ease of manipulation and low-snag. I have no difficulty operating it. the difference between the old and new release seems to be confined to the slide stop itself...the frame and slide seem to be unchanged from old to new.

Every M&P I have handled will drop the slide if you slap a magazine home with authority. I don't see it as a problem.

Mike

 

[cbsbyte]

I like the M&P but I am going to wait a few years for Smith to iron out any problems that will arise since the pistol was released. Already they have made a few design changes to correct some flaws with the pistol.

 

[johndoe1027]

I looked this morning and mine has the new release. I don't have any experience with the old release but I do like the new one if that helps. Mine is a MPL55xx bought in Feb 07.