I purchased my M&P in January, 2006. It is one of the first ones to roll off the assembly line (ser# MPA, number under 5000). I very much like the feel of the gun and like the way it shoots. The reson for my frustration is that it has been back to Smith & Wesson twice and still does not function reliably.
The first time I sent it back was because it had developed a light strike problem. I also asked S&W to adjust whatever needed to be adjusted to prevent ejected brass from hitting me in the face. S&W sent me a shipping label and in typical S&W fashion I had the gun back very quickly. The brass still hit me in the face and it developed light strikes again within about 100 rounds. The additional problem of the slide stop sticking up had also developed (with a minimum of fouling the slide stop would stick up so that I was unable to slingshot the slide. The slide stop would eventually fall if you held the slide back long enough). I called S&W again and again received a shipping label. Turnaround was again excellent and I had the pistol back in short order. The second time thney replaced the barrel and installed one of the new style slide stops. I took it out to shoot the other day and now the slide locks back with rounds still in the magazine at least once or twice per magazine. None of my fingers are anywhere the slide stop and this occurred with another shooter as well. The profile of the bullet does not appear to be interfering with the slide stop and I had never had this issue before.
I am an experienced shooter and have not encountered these problems with any of my other guns. And lest anyone think I'm one of those guyss that always seems to have issues with my guns, this is the first gun I've ever had that I've had to send back to a manufacturer. I've never gotten a "bad gun", and I've purchased and shot my share over the past thirty or so years I've been shooting.
I was wondering if Mr. Burwell or any of the posters here with more M&P experience than I have encountered the slide stop problem and/or have any thoughts on an easy fix.
I don't want anyone to take this as a bashing of Smith & Wesson or the M&P. I love the company and I really want to like the gun. I'm just getting a bit frustrated at this point. My department is in the process of transitioning to Glocks. While I never really cared for them I must admit that they work very well. Though I like to be consistent and carry the same gun all the time I had considered the idea if fcarrying my M&P off duty. At this point however, I just don't trust my M&P enough even to compete with it.
Anyway, any thoughts on the slide stop issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
The first time I sent it back was because it had developed a light strike problem. I also asked S&W to adjust whatever needed to be adjusted to prevent ejected brass from hitting me in the face. S&W sent me a shipping label and in typical S&W fashion I had the gun back very quickly. The brass still hit me in the face and it developed light strikes again within about 100 rounds. The additional problem of the slide stop sticking up had also developed (with a minimum of fouling the slide stop would stick up so that I was unable to slingshot the slide. The slide stop would eventually fall if you held the slide back long enough). I called S&W again and again received a shipping label. Turnaround was again excellent and I had the pistol back in short order. The second time thney replaced the barrel and installed one of the new style slide stops. I took it out to shoot the other day and now the slide locks back with rounds still in the magazine at least once or twice per magazine. None of my fingers are anywhere the slide stop and this occurred with another shooter as well. The profile of the bullet does not appear to be interfering with the slide stop and I had never had this issue before.
I am an experienced shooter and have not encountered these problems with any of my other guns. And lest anyone think I'm one of those guyss that always seems to have issues with my guns, this is the first gun I've ever had that I've had to send back to a manufacturer. I've never gotten a "bad gun", and I've purchased and shot my share over the past thirty or so years I've been shooting.
I was wondering if Mr. Burwell or any of the posters here with more M&P experience than I have encountered the slide stop problem and/or have any thoughts on an easy fix.
I don't want anyone to take this as a bashing of Smith & Wesson or the M&P. I love the company and I really want to like the gun. I'm just getting a bit frustrated at this point. My department is in the process of transitioning to Glocks. While I never really cared for them I must admit that they work very well. Though I like to be consistent and carry the same gun all the time I had considered the idea if fcarrying my M&P off duty. At this point however, I just don't trust my M&P enough even to compete with it.
Anyway, any thoughts on the slide stop issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.