Got an M&P9 on Tuesday, its my first handgun and I haven't even had the chance to shoot it yet (gonna be going tomorrow to use the free range pass I got with the purchase of the gun). Anyway, while going over it and checking out the different functions and whatnot, I noticed that its incredibly difficult to release the slide with a magazine inserted using the left handed release. The right handed release works just fine, but I can barely use the left handed one with two fingers let alone just my left thumb. As I am left handed, this is kind of a concern; I don't necessarily want to have to pull back the slide with my right hand while holding down the release with my left thumb to release the slide every time as it's a fairly cumbersome maneuver. Is there any way to make it easier, or am I just going to have to learn to live with it?
My new M&P...
- Thread starter M_Olson
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Sylvan-Forge
Member
Try it after dropping the mag.
In other words, lock the slide back with the mag in, then remove the mag and try and drop the slide.
It should be a little easier.
It should be a little easier when loaded as well.
I believe the left hand release is cammed to the shaft of the right hand release so there will be a little play in the left one.
G'luck
In other words, lock the slide back with the mag in, then remove the mag and try and drop the slide.
It should be a little easier.
It should be a little easier when loaded as well.
I believe the left hand release is cammed to the shaft of the right hand release so there will be a little play in the left one.
G'luck
I did notice that it is much easier without a magazine inserted. I also noticed, after field stripping it, that there is a little tab on the right hand side of the release lever that pushes down on the spring part of the magazine. I think this is what causes it to be so difficult as the leverage between the left and right side would be much different. Will the pressure on the tab be different with rounds loaded in the magazine?
Sylvan-Forge
Member
When there are rounds in the mag, there won't be any pressure on the tab.
With a loaded mag, slide locked back, it should feel the same as having no mag with the slide locked back.
With a loaded mag, slide locked back, it should feel the same as having no mag with the slide locked back.
Lonestar49
Member
...
Congrats on the new gun..
Put a little oil around, and on, the lever/s where they rest, and move, next to the frame, along with a little oil on the slide cut, where they go up and lock the slide open..
While your at it, chk your guns rails and guides, to be clean, and take some good gun oil and re-apply some fresh new oil there.. I find using Q-tips soaked a little in, any good gun, oil works well to swipe the rails, both for quick cleanings, and oil applications.
If you got a gun cleaning kit, take your gun rod, put a pad thru it, soft side out, put a couple of drops of oil on each side, not a lot, and from the rear, going forward, swirl/twist the rod and pad as you slowly push it all the way out the front - KEY - of the barrel, then pull it, twirling, all the way back out, do this a few times, and IF a lot of black comes off on the pads, repeat with new pad until clean..
Bore snakes same caliber, or the next size (only) caliber UP, work well for quick cleaning of the barrels, and all ya have to do is pull them, from the back, all the way out forward, 2, 3, times and this will help keep dust, tiny powder residue build-up, from making a home in there.. lol
Good luck,
Ls
Congrats on the new gun..
Put a little oil around, and on, the lever/s where they rest, and move, next to the frame, along with a little oil on the slide cut, where they go up and lock the slide open..
While your at it, chk your guns rails and guides, to be clean, and take some good gun oil and re-apply some fresh new oil there.. I find using Q-tips soaked a little in, any good gun, oil works well to swipe the rails, both for quick cleanings, and oil applications.
If you got a gun cleaning kit, take your gun rod, put a pad thru it, soft side out, put a couple of drops of oil on each side, not a lot, and from the rear, going forward, swirl/twist the rod and pad as you slowly push it all the way out the front - KEY - of the barrel, then pull it, twirling, all the way back out, do this a few times, and IF a lot of black comes off on the pads, repeat with new pad until clean..
Bore snakes same caliber, or the next size (only) caliber UP, work well for quick cleaning of the barrels, and all ya have to do is pull them, from the back, all the way out forward, 2, 3, times and this will help keep dust, tiny powder residue build-up, from making a home in there.. lol
Good luck,
Ls
Thanks for the info/advice, Lonestar and Sylvan. I'll look into getting a cleaning kit in the near future. A quick question on lubrication: I have a bottle of Break Free CLP that I use for my knives; is this a good quality oil, or should I use something better?
Lonestar49
Member
That should work for now..
...
A lot of responders in other threads, in here, about lubrication's swear by CLP, and use it only..
I have never used it but, I use a similar product, called EEZOX, a synthetic *light cleaner and lubricator in one which adheres to metal pores, and in very light applications, such as for inside of magazines, you can use it to clean, as well as light cleaning of gun, in general, and if put on in a very thin coat, let it stand for some 10mins, then swipe it, leaving a very fine layer, it will then dry, yet remain as a lubricant, good for the mags and areas that you do not want oil, or oils residue, which will attract dust, dirt, powder residue, and build up into a gunk pile if not cleaned out in time..
You should be fine using CLP until you make another choice or use gun oil, etc., as the one thing, which I do not have a problem with here in Calif, is humidity, or sever cold damp season, which the EEZOX, if used, also from many read users reports, keeps metal of guns from rusting.. people that use this stuff swear by it.. directions, application uses, all on can.
I recommend 2 cans to start, one spray can for deep penetration and light spraying on boresnakes, and one non-aerosol spray can, so you don't waste it and put a little in the lid of the other can an dip your Q-tips in it and clean, and lubricate gun, rails, feed ramp, any metal that starts to shine by, and thru, normal wear, leave a wet coating there, like ICE, and you can use reg gun oil there as well, your choice, just use Q-tip to apply oil, etc., and leave ICE sheen only.
I use it (EEZOX) as a base coat, but then cover rails and guides with gun oil, or with one of my guns, I use white Tetra gun grease in light, smooth, clear, like ICE, applications, the same as one should do with gun oil or CLP or EEZOX..
But it's better, for the rails and guides, to use too much, than too little, as your gun gets HOT as you go longer, and that can lead to evaporation of a too thinly coated rail or guide.. so be generous there, as you will most likely learn quickly, how to quick-clean your gun after any shooting, and if you keep a round count, and record of what ammo works best with your gun, and some that may not work well with your gun, you will know, say around 500-800 rounds later, time for major cleaning and scrubbing of your barrel with some kind of copper solvent..
Your gun store should be able to steer you to everything here in regards to care of your guns, except ya need to get your own Q-Tips, and buy some gun toothbrushes, they're cheap, get 3 or 4, at your gun shop along with a bore snake, IMO, if say your gun is a 9mm, then get a 40cal boresnake, if your gun is a 40cal, get a 45cal boresnake.. Just a bit harder to pull thru, but it will and will clean better.. same deal with a copper (only) brush cleaner (next size bigger caliber like boresnake for better cleaning) for your barrel when it comes time to scrub her insides out.. All the way from the back thru and out the front, then back all the way out, over and over that way some 5-8 times.
Give her good lovin, she will return the favor..
Ls
...
A lot of responders in other threads, in here, about lubrication's swear by CLP, and use it only..
I have never used it but, I use a similar product, called EEZOX, a synthetic *light cleaner and lubricator in one which adheres to metal pores, and in very light applications, such as for inside of magazines, you can use it to clean, as well as light cleaning of gun, in general, and if put on in a very thin coat, let it stand for some 10mins, then swipe it, leaving a very fine layer, it will then dry, yet remain as a lubricant, good for the mags and areas that you do not want oil, or oils residue, which will attract dust, dirt, powder residue, and build up into a gunk pile if not cleaned out in time..
You should be fine using CLP until you make another choice or use gun oil, etc., as the one thing, which I do not have a problem with here in Calif, is humidity, or sever cold damp season, which the EEZOX, if used, also from many read users reports, keeps metal of guns from rusting.. people that use this stuff swear by it.. directions, application uses, all on can.
I recommend 2 cans to start, one spray can for deep penetration and light spraying on boresnakes, and one non-aerosol spray can, so you don't waste it and put a little in the lid of the other can an dip your Q-tips in it and clean, and lubricate gun, rails, feed ramp, any metal that starts to shine by, and thru, normal wear, leave a wet coating there, like ICE, and you can use reg gun oil there as well, your choice, just use Q-tip to apply oil, etc., and leave ICE sheen only.
I use it (EEZOX) as a base coat, but then cover rails and guides with gun oil, or with one of my guns, I use white Tetra gun grease in light, smooth, clear, like ICE, applications, the same as one should do with gun oil or CLP or EEZOX..
But it's better, for the rails and guides, to use too much, than too little, as your gun gets HOT as you go longer, and that can lead to evaporation of a too thinly coated rail or guide.. so be generous there, as you will most likely learn quickly, how to quick-clean your gun after any shooting, and if you keep a round count, and record of what ammo works best with your gun, and some that may not work well with your gun, you will know, say around 500-800 rounds later, time for major cleaning and scrubbing of your barrel with some kind of copper solvent..
Your gun store should be able to steer you to everything here in regards to care of your guns, except ya need to get your own Q-Tips, and buy some gun toothbrushes, they're cheap, get 3 or 4, at your gun shop along with a bore snake, IMO, if say your gun is a 9mm, then get a 40cal boresnake, if your gun is a 40cal, get a 45cal boresnake.. Just a bit harder to pull thru, but it will and will clean better.. same deal with a copper (only) brush cleaner (next size bigger caliber like boresnake for better cleaning) for your barrel when it comes time to scrub her insides out.. All the way from the back thru and out the front, then back all the way out, over and over that way some 5-8 times.
Give her good lovin, she will return the favor..
Ls
chupacabrah
Member
my left handed slide release is tough, too. I've had about 700 rounds through it. and about 4 cleanings/oilings. The slide release on the right side is still hard to operate--I can't do it at all with my left thumb. I CAN do it if i use my right hand to manipulate it, but that defeats the purpose. I figure more breaking in (lock slide, release, repeat) would help it loosen up some.
or maybe it's just "one of those things"
or maybe it's just "one of those things"
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