So I just purchased a brand new M&P 15-22 the other day for 439$ unthreaded model and when i got it home and pulled it out of the box there were long scratches running up and down the barrel horizontally! Is this because they are pumping them out as fast as they can and QC is slipping or is my rifle just a fluke? I know a gun is just a tool but i take care of my tools and one of the scratches is through the bluing and i can see some silver!

Mine had this too, I had to send it back for a squib load and case rupture, I asked if they could just replaced the barrel and they did.

That's why I insist on putting eyes on the actual item that I'm taking out of the store.

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M&P40c/15-22/SD9VE/Mossy500

What about this?

Birchwood Casey: Finishing Details

Thanks for the link, I scratched the hell out of my barrel when I took the barrel nut off. I am going to order some tonight to fix it.

I don't know if that Blue will match up. I installed a threaded barrel adapter on the end of my unthreaded barrel and then installed a Bird cage flash hider. The finish on the flash hider was horrible and I sprayed it with some Brownells Teflon Moly oven cure gun finish. Of course I didn't bake it on. It matched up really nice. I've used this stuff to touch up nicks and ring marks on matte finish scopes and touch up scratches on matte guns. Item # 083-048-801. I used it to refinish an old mauser that I was fixing up and I didn't think it was very durable after I had baked it on. Seems to just work better to touch up stuff without baking.

Brant

Our stores here in Louisiana make sure you inspect it before you take possession, as there is no returning a gun. Then they put it back in the box and walk you out of the store, while they carry it, to your vehicle.

One of mine was scratched up, and it had other more serious probs, sent it back to get fixed, truth is that surface coating on the barrel scratches easy, i cleaned the barrel on the inside of the hand rail with a piece of cotton rag and a barrel rod, the little aluminum connector that i attached the plastic 22 jig to, scracthed it with no effort.

I would have inspected it but the store closed at 6 and I was there at 5:50 doing the background check they locked the door on me as I was paying for it so I rushed out of there so they could get home! My mistake

You seem like a nice guy. Easy to get rushed when we think others are waiting on us. However, it's a mistake you're not likely to make again.

NEVER go out the door without a close inspection, including opening the action and basic field strip. If the dealer objects, pick up you money and walk out the door.

The barrel is not blued; it is a black oxide finish.

What about this one for aluminum.

Birchwood Casey: Finishing Details

You were in there making the transaction. They would've waited on you. Locking the doors is only to keep new customers out so they can focus on closing. Well, lesson learned. Good luck on getting those scratches taken care of.

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M&P40c/15-22/SD9VE/Mossy500

Your right lesson learned for sure! Now if i put on the barrel shroud from tacticool does it affect the accuracy? I would like to find one of the stainless steel looking shrouds that are ported on the end. seen them in a few picks but cant find who makes them!

The barrel is steel, not aluminum.

The barrel shroud will not affect accuracy. The place you're looking for is: Kineti-Tech shrouds for AR 15 Saiga 12 S&W 15 22 and many others.

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M&P40c/15-22/SD9VE/Mossy500

I had bought mine online . 425 shipped.. Good old days..

I agree. If they don't like it,there is "usually" something amiss. I have found broken firing pins along with other odds and ends. First time I did that at a few shops they about freaked out. Also a good way to tell if the person knows what they are talking about behind the counter. Now,it's no big deal and "most" of the time people will do it or a good dealer will too,so some one can't pull a fast one back on them.

I bought my oldest grandson a 15-22 for his 16th birthday. It was bought from a dealer in Augusta, Georgia. When they opened the box, there was no magazine. The dealer said S&W must have forgotten to put on in the box. My son told him what he thought of that possibility and the dealer "found" a magazine in the back room.

What is not to like about this post? Major, you amaze me and as I said before, but this time I'm not kidding, when I grow up I want to be just like you.

Am I the only one here who doesn't plan for this rifle to be a museum piece? Yes, I will take care of it, clean it and admire it but a few "battle scars" only makes it look cooler IMO. Look at some of the pics of the soldiers' weapons from Iraq and Afghanistan. If I could get mine to look like that overnite, I would do it in a heartbeat. My other passion is guitars and we call this look "relic" and guys actually pay to have this done to their brand new guitars. I would love my 15-22 to be battle worn so I won't lose sleep over a scratch here and there.

I have some nice, expensive firearms, but there's not a safe queen in the bunch.

BTW, I have my father's 1953 C.F. Martin D-14. I can't believe how much Martin told me it was worth.

Wow, that is worth some serious cash, small fortune.

Send it to me and I'll make it look plenty worn for you...

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M&P40c/15-22/SD9VE/Mossy500

I dont mind a few scratches and nicks on my guns as long as I put them there but to buy something brand new and it have flaws and imperfections then to me that is used and i should get a discount! I just traded my 82 colt sp1 at the last gun show for a brand new bushmaster moe edition and 500$ because i had owned it for 5 years and it had went from pristine to about 85% and i didn't want to continue to beat up a collectible firearm. to me it was a tool and not worth more than the 800$ i paid for it but to the guy at the gun show it was gold.

Yup, and my 12-year old granddaughter is learning to play it.

I had (have) the same issue. Barrel was all scratched up and dinged out of the box. Didn't notice it in the store (my fault). Also noticed a small ding and scratch in the barrel crown. Sent it in to Smith and asked if I could be given an undamaged barrel and all they did was color over it. You can still see all of the dings and whatnot, just not quite as bad. Didn't do anything about the barrel crown.

I also own a 9C which I love but after seeing the poor quality on the barrel and the sub par "fix", this will probably be my last S&W.

Edit: I searched for the issue and found this thread. Didn't realize it was from 2013 and not 2014!

Legitimate wear comes from legitimate use. Go ye forth, and use!

Think of it this way, you don't have to worry about scratching it anymore because its been pr-done for you so just go out and have fun. Kind of like pre-torn jeans.

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15-22 bullpup, "X-terminator"