Noticed something interesting and wondering if anyone else has seen it. One of my 1522's had a hair line crack at the base of the feed ramp. Came that way new. I removed it and ran it through a polishing process to be able to see the crack better. Feed ramp came out slick as glass and it turns out the crack went all the way through the casting.

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ramp.jpg (32.7 KB, 283 views)

It's not a casting, it's a metal injection molded part. You can see the little nipple where the material is injected.

You should be sure to notify SMW as the manufacturer of this part obviously has a process problem.

Yes I believe that S&W and other gun makers use that process for many of their parts. Evidently powdered metal processes prove most affordable for complex shapes. S&W sent a replacement and I put it back on using the press tool that we made and a new barrel nut wrench.

Powdered Metal Process just makes sense for complex parts. The metals are strong (strong enough to be camshaft lobes) and it's much easier to manufacture than machining from billet stock.

Lomax,

Can you post a photo of the barrel with the chamber block removed? I'd like to see what the back side of the barrel looks like.

Thanks!

I already put it back onto the barrel but I don't think I took a photo; I'll check. I made a special tool to remove and install it. I will be taking it off again shortly to start on a HM2 barrel project for the gun. I had already made a barrel nut tool back when I bought my first MP1522; check it out.

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	InstructionsPage1.jpg (82.2 KB, 161 views)
	InstructionsPage2.jpg (117.5 KB, 157 views)
	Tool-in-place.jpg (20.3 KB, 156 views)

I worked for a company that did MIM (including for SMW).

MIM is superior to "powdered metal" in that it can do more complex shapes and achieves higher part density.

Of course, that is when it is done right, which the part above was not.

Thanks for the pics! Im sure it wil help more than a few of us here!