Broken Striker (M/P9c)

[tuck]

I was doing some dry fire practice this evening and had a little issue. I got a few cycles in and noticed that my trigger wouldn't reset after working the slide.

After a brief WTF moment, I pulled pistol apart and this little guy fell into my lap:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/19/me8e6a6y.jpg

Since small chunks of metal don't usually fall out of my guns, I began searching for where it came. I came up with this:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/19/yhapy7y8.jpg

It appears as if the striker decided it would be better off in two pieces, instead of one. I can't say I've ever seen this sort of failure before...

A call to Smith and Wesson's customer service department got new parts on the way, and my little M&P should be back up and running in a week or so. In the mean time it looks like I'll be carrying my USP.

Have any of you ever seen a similar failure? Also, I've never detail stripped a slide on an M&P, so can someone point me in the direction of a tutorial?

[Rattlehead]

Have any of you ever seen a similar failure? Also, I've never detail stripped a slide on an M&P, so can someone point me in the direction of a tutorial?

I had the front of the striker (the firing pin portion) actually break off after 300 rounds on an M&P 40. The problem was fixed by not shooting 40 anymore.

[Magsz]

Common,

Your photos arent very clear but that is the older, black striker. Those failed sooner rather than late.

The newer, silver strikers are almost indestructible.

[jaxman7]

Beat me to it Magsz.

OP check Brownells. I just ordered an extra from them a few days ago. Just checked. They're still in stock:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/slide-firing-parts/firing-pin-parts/firing-pins/striker-assembly-prod23263.aspx

-Jax

[tuck]

Common,

Your photos arent very clear but that is the older, black striker. Those failed sooner rather than late.

The newer, silver strikers are almost indestructible.

Sorry for the poor quality pics. The iPhone makes photography a pain...

The M&P is older. It's a 2008 with maybe 400 rounds through it.



Beat me to it Magsz.

OP check Brownells. I just ordered an extra from them a few days ago. Just checked. They're still in stock:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/slide-firing-parts/firing-pin-parts/firing-pins/striker-assembly-prod23263.aspx

-Jax

I'll see what striker assembly S&W sends me. If it's not the silver one, I'll order one.

[jaxman7]

I'll see what striker assembly S&W sends me. If it's not the silver one, I'll order one.

Smith will send you a silver one. I'd still get a spare while the stuff is in stock now. I just completely rebuilt (minus slide and frame) my M&P FS 9 with parts from Grant/Brownells/Midway. Was quite pleasantly surprised I could find everything.

Now those parts are part of my spares.

-Jax

[az doug]

M&P's were known for breaking strikers while dry firing. (Check out an M&P forum) I am not certain where the strikers were breaking, but they were. Smith & Wesson has since corrected the problem.

I do own and shoot M&P's, my most recent being a CORE with an RMR. I have been fortunate and have not broken a striker, but need to replace the striker in my older M&P's with the latest striker.

[MH64]

Went ahead and ordered some basic spares since we now have 2 Shields, a compact and a fullsize.

Figured the more common parts wouldnt hurt to have around.

[IZinterrogator]

Buying some snap caps for dry firing is cheap insurance against striker failure when it might matter.