Figure 2-8.--Disassembly lever release button.
To field strip the M9, hold the pistol in your right
hand with the muzzle slightly elevated. With your
Figure 2-10.--Removal of slide and barrel assembly.
forefinger, press the disassembly lever release button
(fig. 2-8), and with your thumb rotate the disassembly
lever (fig. 2-9) downward until it stops. Pull the slide
and barrel assembly (fig. 2-10) forward and remove it
from the receiver assembly.
WARNING
Be careful as you remove the recoil spring
and the spring guide. The assembly is under
spring tension. If you let it fly from the pistol, it
could injure you or become damaged or lost.
Firmly hold the slide in the palm of one hand and
slightly compress the recoil spring and spring guide
(fig. 2-11). At the same time, lift and remove the recoil
Figure 2-11.--Compressing the recoil spring.
spring and the spring guide (fig. 2-12). Be careful as
you release the spring tension. After you have released
the spring tension, separate the recoil spring from the
spring guide (fig. 2-13).
Figure 2-12.--Removing the recoil spring and spring guide.
Figure 2-13.--Recoil spring and spring guide.
Figure 2-9.--Disassembly lever.
2-9
