SD9VE slide won't lock back on empty mag

[DRPoolio]

Cross posted at the S & W forum.

This issue started after the 1st couple hundred rounds shooting the gun following it's purchase in May.

I've shot multiple different ammo, reloads, 115, 124, Hornady, Winchester, etc. No matter the ammo it won't lock back. I've had friends shoot the gun...same result. I thought it may have been my limp wristing but that's not the case.

In fact, if I manually lock the slide back and put a magazine in, just the impact of that mag going in will cause the slide to release.

To further my point I've had the slide locked back, set the gun down on the bench and had just that light impact caused the slide to release. The gun has never been shot anywhere other than the indoor range close by. Never had it in the dirt, sand, wind, grime, or any outside environmental goblins.

I clean it every 2-300 rounds, I've lubed it following cleaning per the manual included. I've also taken as much lube off the gun as possible and shot it fairly dry. Both approaches net the same result.

So....it's not me, it's not the ammo, it's not my friends.....it's definitely the gun. So should I send this back to S and W? Is there something I adjust to help this? Will my LGS be of any help?

Your advice is appreciated

[scoobydo]

Not familiar with the gun, but sounds like a slide-stop issue.
When you lock it back, is the stop barely engaging?
How does the spring seem?

[DRPoolio]

Not familiar with the gun, but sounds like a slide-stop issue.
When you lock it back, is the stop barely engaging?
How does the spring seem?

The spring is good and tight, no other issues with FTEs or FTLs.

[JustEd]

Don't own it but the design is a familiar one.

Hunch, put one round in a magazine, load the weapon and push up on the bottom of the magazine while dischsrging the firearm (four safety rules apply). See if the slide now stays open. Repeat several times with pressure on the mag and then with none. That may show where the problem is, poorly fitting mag (again a hunch).

Hope you don't normally use the slide stop to close the action on a new mag. Shouldn't wear out in just a few hundred rounds but that practice can cause accelerated wear on the cutout in the slide and the slide stop over time.

[Lead Waster]

Happens with different magazines?

[DRPoolio]

Don't own it but the design is a familiar one.

Hunch, put one round in a magazine, load the weapon and push up on the bottom of the magazine while dischsrging the firearm (four safety rules apply). See if the slide now stays open. Repeat several times with pressure on the mag and then with none. That may show where the problem is, poorly fitting mag (again a hunch).

Hope you don't normally use the slide stop to close the action on a new mag. Shouldn't wear out in just a few hundred rounds but that practice can cause accelerated wear on the cutout in the slide and the slide stop over time.

I'll give that a try next trip to the range

[DRPoolio]

Happens with different magazines?

Yes, 3 seperate mags, all OEM, same result.

[BigPimping]

Hmmm. Mine seems ok. Did you call SW?

[DRPoolio]

Hmmm. Mine seems ok. Did you call SW?

No, I think that's my next move. Would my LGS be any help with the process or straight to SW?

[Sohum63]

Maybe take the slide off and put a mag in, see if the follower pushes up on the slide lock. I would have thought it was your mags but if three new mags do the same thing it will probably end up being something with the spring on the slide catch or maybe the catch itself not being able to snag the slide. As mentioned above, a loose fitting mag that doesn't sit in far enough could be likely, I have had good luck spotting what is causing it with the slide removed and just looking to see what is keeping the folower from pushing up on the catch.

[JustEd]

I'll give that a try next trip to the range

It might not be just the mags but possibly the mag catch not fitting properly. Again, this is a hunch!

[tw0792]

Put a small dab of silicone caulk on the top of the magazine follower, where it catches the slide stop. It's not pushing it up and enough to catch the slide well. May have to reapply every so often.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[559BearDown]

I seriously hope the OP figured something out in the past 2.5 years lol

[tw0792]

Yeah but I posted this for other people like myself who just bought this gun and had the same issues...old habits die hard I guess.

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[SkyHawk]

Put a small dab of silicone caulk on the top of the magazine follower, where it catches the slide stop. It's not pushing it up and enough to catch the slide well. May have to reapply every so often.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Caulk? Seriously, your first post is a necropost about caulking a gun? How about bend the slide catch tine down closer to the follower, or ask SW for new followers, or if the magwell is loose on the mag bodies allowing the tine to slip past the follower ledge, asking for new mags or a new slide catch?

If one doesn't have caulk, would bubble gum work? McGyver Redneck much?