Racking M&P 9 slide while holding down trigger

[bazfoo]

I just got an M&P 9 and was fondling it and dry firing it. I noticed that if I dry fire and hold the trigger down while racking the slide, the first 1/8" of travel, the slide seems to be getting hung up on something. If I dry fire and release the trigger, the slide moves freely. I'm guessing the lip of the firing pin is getting caught on the front part of the sear, but am not sure.

My shield with an APEX DCAEK doesn't do this, but this is probably irrelevant.

Is this normal? Has anyone else noticed this? This is the full size M&P 9, if that makes any difference.

 

[danashan]

Not normal. I would call S&W.

 

[Bob P]

This.

 

[bazfoo]

OK, so if I disengage the sear with the lever thing, I still get the problem. So, this means to me that the loop on trigger bar is having issues going over the striker block. Maybe a burr in the striker block channel?

ETA: upon further inspection, the sear still moves a little bit, even with the lever down. So still may be the sear/firing pin contact.

 

[7.62x39]

I have no idea why someone would want to rack the slide with the trigger pulled or in what kind of situation that would come into play, But, If you are holding the trigger back the hammer is still on the disconnecter and has not been handed off to the sear yet. I would assume that is what is hanging you up.

 

[JClark]

I have no idea why someone would want to rack the slide with the trigger pulled or in what kind of situation that would come into play, But, If you are holding the trigger back the hammer is still on the disconnecter and has not been handed off to the sear yet. I would assume that is what is hanging you up.

If you think about it, the slide gets racked with the trigger depressed just about every time you actually fire the weapon. In a lot of cases I bet the slide will cycle fully on a depressed trigger during live fire. The OP is simulating a live round going off and has found that something is getting hung up, and likely causing unwanted wear and tear on the internals, something you wouldn't be able to distinguish by just firing the gun. Seems like a good test to do.

 

[bazfoo]

Its just the way I shoot. I pull back on the trigger, usually holding it back while the shot is let off, slide cycled, then brought back to battery. At that point, I let out the trigger for the next shot.

what JClark said

 

[mousegunfan]

I have no idea why someone would want to rack the slide with the trigger pulled or in what kind of situation that would come into play

Dry fire to test your reset. Happens after every shot if you shoot from reset, just in fast motion.

 

[shipwreck]

Dry fire to test your reset. Happens after every shot if you shoot from reset, just in fast motion.

This. I do it all the time. Never thought anything of it.

 

[Bonesinium]

Good catch and an excellent reason to function check, test, inspect, and practice with your firearms. I'm not sure what is the cause, but you are definitely correct, it isn't right.

I have no idea why someone would want to rack the slide with the trigger pulled or in what kind of situation that would come into play,

That's usually the situation during the normal function of a semi-automatic handgun...

 

[bfm]

Its just the way I shoot. I pull back on the trigger, usually holding it back while the shot is let off, slide cycled, then brought back to battery. At that point, I let out the trigger for the next shot.

what JClark said

Pretty much how you are supposed to shoot. Hold trigger back, acquire target, release just to reset, squeeze.

- - - Updated - - -

That's usually the situation during the normal function of a semi-automatic handgun...

And about the only way to build memory for reset point etc while dry firing.

 

[dlarge]

Dry fire to test your reset. Happens after every shot if you shoot from reset, just in fast motion.

This. I do it all the time. Never thought anything of it.

Bingo.

 

[bazfoo]

Good catch and an excellent reason to function check, test, inspect, and practice with your firearms. I'm not sure what is the cause, but you are definitely correct, it isn't right.

I've sent an email to SW. We'll see what they say. Good thing about their lifetime warranty, I suppose.

 

[Jbarila]

Doing this checks trigger reset. Your situation is not normal and needs to be looked at.

 

[bazfoo]

The response I got from S&W:

This is not a concern, the firearm will break in with use.

Hmmm. OK, then. I'll take it to the range, while I wait for the APEX parts to get in, and throw a 100 rounds through it. I'll report back in a few days.

 

[Bob P]

I thought you said it gets hung up on the sear when you rack the slide? How can that not be a concern? Didn't you say you need to pull the trigger for it to go into battery? That isn't something that will 'wear in'. That's a serious safety concern.

 

[Kisspik002]

Im not an M&P expert but doesn't the MA versions have that Magazine safety where if the mag is out of the gun it wont fire. Could that have something to do with his issue. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[bazfoo]

I don't believe that the MA ones have a mag disconnect. This one certainly doesn't.

 

[vellnueve]

I don't believe that the MA ones have a mag disconnect. This one certainly doesn't.

At least a few years ago the MA SKUs all had mag disconnects.

 

[DMWB]

This happened when I moved the sear deactivation lever in my brother's M&P 40C too far down, then moved off its normal fulcrum point. I freed up the slide by pulling the trigger, but then had to move the lever back into place manually to return the gun to normal working order.

 

[S1991]

A little late to the party but..I just bought an m&p 9 and it does the same thing. I went to the range and put 200 down range and it ran flawlessly. I checked my buddies and his does it too..plus smith and wesson said its fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bazfoo]

A little late to the party but..I just bought an m&p 9 and it does the same thing. I went to the range and put 200 down range and it ran flawlessly. I checked my buddies and his does it too..plus smith and wesson said its fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

Better late than never! Thanks for the info. I just received the APEX DCAEK parts, so I'll install those before I hit the range. I've been repeating the steps above and it already seems to be getting easier to rack the slide with the trigger held back. Guess I was worried for nothing. Still haven't made it to the range, but I'll report back once the apex parts are in. I wonder if it'll do the same thing with a different sear.

 

[Nectaris]

Holding the trigger down while racking an M16 is part of its function check.

 

[bazfoo]

Welp, I got the APEX DCAEK in and the supposed problem is now gone. Must be something to do with the shape of the sear. Still haven't made it to the range ... hopefully soon.

 

[S1991]

Just dropped my sear in today and its almost gone now, I think that bit of resistance is the slide pushing the trigger bar to the side so the sear can reset.. If that makes sense. Either way no biggie