Help for newb with M&P 9

[JackBauer]

Hello,

I just purchased my first gun today: an m&p fullsize 9.
I plan on taking some shooting classes and become a member at a gunclub to practice.

However, I am at home trying to familiarize myself with the gun and am having trouble with it. After I insert the mag, I pull the slide back into it's locked position. From this position, I can only rack the slide forward if pull the slide back then push down on the slide lock and let it go. Why do I see videos of people simply pulling the slide back from it's locked position and letting it go forward? I am pulling all the way back and can not slide rack it this way. Yes, I have read the instructions with this gun and they are *not* helpful, which is pathetic. I will recite the instructions from the manual if necessary unless someone can help me out here.

Thank you!

 

[SpudRacer]

Let me guess. You're using an empty Magazine?

 

[JackBauer]

Let me guess. You're using an empty Magazine?

Yes... (anticipating rolling eyes)

 

[mctrinket]

Yes, Jack, it's working as intended.

If an empty magazine is in the gun and you rack the slide, it will lock.

If you have no magazine in the gun and you rack the slide, it will not lock.

If you have a loaded magazine in the gun and you rack it, no matter what position the slide is in, it will chamber a round and be ready to shoot when you pull the trigger.

I'd suggest Googling "M&P 9mm" and watching a few of the introductory videos out there.

It's a great gun. Have fun and be safe!

 

[SkuaSeptember]

Mctrinket has given you correct info. May want to go through the manual a few more times.
BTW, when you get to field stripping it in addition to pushing down on the sear lever you will need to pull the trigger before you can remove the slide.
As always, make sure it is not loaded!

 

[JackBauer]

Thank you everyone. Looking forward to practicing with this gun.

 

[noxin]

The real Jack Bauer would not be impressed

 

[Maxspeed]

I have an M&P 9 full size. It has a heavy trigger pull. If you have a trigger job you will like it much better. I had mine done by a smith in North Attleboro for around $80. Love it now.

 

[AmmoSapien]

Buy some snap caps to safely practice loading and unloading the gun.

 

[mctrinket]

A trigger job on an M&P is really the way to go. I had mine done at Business End Customs:

http://www.businessendcustoms.com/

Highly Recommended. Lou is the owner and he will take good care of you.

 

[slugworth]

The real Jack Bauer would not be impressed

ROFL.....

 

[thesyguy]

Buy some snap caps and practice with those in the magazine. Safe and easy.

 

[SSW]

Another note I didn't see in the manual, but found by suprise. Is with the M&P if the gun is in slide lock, when you insert the next loaded magazine, if you insert it with a good amount of pressure the M&P will release the slide and chamber the first round of the new magazine. I found this out at an IDPA match this year and people with more knowledge than me said this was a feature not described in the manual.

Enjoy your M&P!!!!

 

[Deleted member 12999]

That's not really a feature, just physics.

 

[JackBauer]

Thanks again for everyone's additional comments. Yes, Jack wouldn't be impressed...

 

[WallHack]

Mctrinket has given you correct info. May want to go through the manual a few more times.
BTW, when you get to field stripping it in addition to pushing down on the sear lever you will need to pull the trigger before you can remove the slide.
As always, make sure it is not loaded!

Really? My .40 didn't say anything about pulling the trigger, just push the lever down and rotate the takedown lever. Done it a million times.

 

[SkuaSeptember]

Yup, mine absolutely will not strip down if the trigger has not been pulled. Drove me nuts in the beginning because I could not find this referenced anywhere.

 

[cthorne98]

I have never had to pull the trigger to strip the gun down. The reason for for pushing the sear lever down is not having to pull the trigger. Rack the slide, drop the mag, push the lever down, rotate the takedown and hit the release. The slide should come forward and off.

 

[SkuaSeptember]

I have never had to pull the trigger to strip the gun down. The reason for for pushing the sear lever down is not having to pull the trigger. Rack the slide, drop the mag, push the lever down, rotate the takedown and hit the release. The slide should come forward and off.

I know thats how it is supposed to work, but it never has.

 

[WallHack]

Yup, mine absolutely will not strip down if the trigger has not been pulled. Drove me nuts in the beginning because I could not find this referenced anywhere.

That is very odd. I'd contact S&W if I were you....

 

[Deleted member 12999]

@ Skua Take the slide off, and then look at the sear housing group. Flip the sear disconnect up and down. What does the sear do? Does it flatten sear out when it goes down?

 

[Kahrmine]

I have an M&P 9 full size. It has a heavy trigger pull. If you have a trigger job you will like it much better. I had mine done by a smith in North Attleboro for around $80. Love it now.

I second this.

 

[Blix666]

just to chime in on getting trigger done over, you can buy just the hard sear from Apex and shave a few pounds off the pull for only $39

 

[Roscoe]

A trigger job on an M&P is really the way to go. I had mine done at Business End Customs:

http://www.businessendcustoms.com/

Highly Recommended. Lou is the owner and he will take good care of you.

THIS..

I have the same M&P9, trigger job is mandatory on the MA compliant version.

 

[GaryW]

Buy some snap caps to safely practice loading and unloading the gun.

+1
Snap Caps are a good suggestion when learning to use the gun. You can also get an idea how she "fires" and the way the action ejects without having to send expensive lead downrange just to "get a feel for it".

 

[SkuaSeptember]

@ Skua Take the slide off, and then look at the sear housing group. Flip the sear disconnect up and down. What does the sear do? Does it flatten sear out when it goes down?

So, did you ever bring something to be repaired because it refused to function properly, and then as soon as the mechanic, repairman or other knowledgeable guru came into the vicinity the item worked flawlessly?
Your remote repair skills are awesome!
Wish I could figure out why it didn't work before. Lack of evidence to the contrary implies operator error but I refuse to own up to that.

 

[TonyDedo]

+1 on a trigger job

+100 on snap caps

Most importantly, take a basic defensive pistol class with a good instructor who can teach you first hand the best way to operate your new pistol.

I recommend NEShooters.

 

[Gammon]

I have an M&P 9 full size. It has a heavy trigger pull. If you have a trigger job you will like it much better. I had mine done by a smith in North Attleboro for around $80. Love it now.

A non Mass "free state" trigger return spring will reduce your trigger pull by about 50% for $2.75.

 

[Gammon]

PS I removed the "idiot lever" the first time I took my M&P apart. Now it disassembles just like a Glock.

 

[KH56010]

PS I removed the "idiot lever" the first time I took my M&P apart. Now it disassembles just like a Glock.

If you're talking about the mag disconnect, absolutely remove that. However, I don't recommend that anyone removes the sear disconnect lever. 1. You don't need to remove it to take off the slide if you don't have a mag disconnect (add a spring). Just pull the trigger. 2. If you do remove it and something in your trigger assembly breaks (Return spring, trigger bar, something in the striker/sear springs and parts) you can no longer easily get the slide off as there will be no way of dropping the sear.