It's taken the best part of a week to go through all the posts, reading mostly at night.

I have read post, after post, after post about so many folks having to return the 15-22 to S&W for repairs.

I'm salivating all over my laptop. But all the " return " posts have me at odds with myself about buying one.

Seeing them all dolled up with the window dressing is what makes them so appealing. But, I,m a bit hesitant about the buy/return ration.

Someone really should sell them all dressed up / test fired w/100 rounds, and ready to go. As cheap as most of the add-ons are, I think the initial investment would be be very low.

Gonna think about it some more. Problem is, the more I see, the more I want.

Just do it. I bought mine in June, and it's performed flawlessly.


Chuck

"All dressed up" is in the eye of the owner.
Thousands through ours and not one bit of thinking of a return.
The more you shoot a gun, the better it works. Up to a point of course.

__________________
Buy cheap, pay twice.

Mine is a first generation and has never been back to the factory. I don't have blue springs and have first generation magazines. It is more than acceptably reliable. I may have a fail to feed avery few hundred rounds, but it's okay.

As far as the cheap accessories, mine is all Magpul and Troy. I cheaped out by only spending $150 on a red dot, but it's still only a few hundred behind my AR in total price. To each, his own.

I,ve knocked the extractors out of two different ones (both oob discharges) at a match within 20 rds. of each other. One was mine, the other my friends. We sent both of them back and could not have asked for any better service from S&W. I do wish there was a way to get better accuracy out of them,but it has been one of the most fun guns I,ve bought in a while and I would buy another in a heartbeat.

Most of the issues were with earlier guns. The number of reports of 15-22 issues and OOBs has gone down drastically in the past year. Take the plunge and get your 15-22.

That's the thing " sent back ". Service being great is nice to have. But with so many sending them back for the same reason?

Then don't get one. It's your decision and you are the one who will be deprived of the pleasure of having it to take out. I don't regret mine for a second and would have bought at least one more if it weren't for car repairs and paying for school for my wife and two of my boys.

the vast majority of people don't have issues, and as time goes on less and less problems are being reported on new rifles. i don't think you'll ever find a mass produced product (esp ones with moving parts) where 100% are perfect. also i wouldn't put too much stock into the numerous reports you see posted here, as many people simply find the site on google and post issues... there are many more using the site who don't have issues and obviously aren't starting "my rifle is still fine" threads.

Welcome to the forum Raven, I to have been reading through all the threads regarding all the returns, but like was mentioned in one of the earlier posts those were the earlier (1st gen. rifles) that had the problems. I had bought mine back in June from Cabela's (pre-owned) and it has a serial # DTD**** and I don't have a clue as to when it was manufactured but the fact is it has performed without any problems at all after 700 rds. or so. I would not let the posts about "returns" steer me away from purchasing one of these fine guns. Look at it this way, anything you purchase now-a-days, washer,dryer,refrigerator,or automobile could have problems & require a return, just my 2 cents.

Got mine in jan of this year and have...well lost count a long time ago. Also the range that I go to has an earlier model and it has been used and abused by the public with no major issues. It could be that they just had a bad run of ejector rods. Its just a punched piece of steel prob mass produced. If you want to buy something that always works buy a speed bump...but they are not as fun.

It's likely you won't have any problems. But if do... you'll have to wait about 2 weeks from the time you send your rile in for repairs until it arrives back to you good to go. How many weeks will you wait before you buy the rifle worrying if you might have to send back for repairs?

I hate that lots of manufacturers let us beta test. But, it is what it is, and my recent purchase has been 100% through about 600 rounds of the cheapest **** 22 I can find. Plenty accurate for a plinker, 2 inches at 50 yards with the stuff I throw down it is good enough for me, for my purposes which is fun plinking.

This forum happens to be the best source for information about 15-22's, with that there also happens to be a higher concentration of "help me" questions. People come here for help and suggestions, but not usually to boast about how truly awesome our rifles are. You won't regret buying one. The only problem is buying accessories, there are too many to choose from and you'll spend just as much money on them as the rifle itself. If you choose to go with the 15-22 you'll need something to wipe the permagrin off your face, and a counselor to keep you from buying 1000's of round of ammo and all the ridiculous add-ons your wallet can afford. Good luck.