I just received one in the mail and when I put it in my rifle, unloaded, the bolt did not stay open when I racked it. Normal? Should I get a replacement or refund? It is made/marketed for this specific model.

That is the first I heard of this happening, so I'd say it is not normal. The company does make two models, the 15/22 and the AR15.

Yours should say this...Manufacturer Part No: S&W-DRUM.

__________________
Save time, see it my way. LP

The box says m&p the drum says ar-22. is there a difference? maybe they sent the wrong one?

Are you sure it was fully seated?

Was the follower completely raised?

Did you actually load a few rounds and shoot them?

Hand cycling is often not the same are an actual firing cycle.

I have never fired the rifle.

Yes, the towers are different.

__________________
Save time, see it my way. LP

Yes, it does sound like they sent the wrong one.

Lame guess I get to re-order and wait again!!

Thank you for the help

The black dog drum does not have a bolt hold open feature no matter what version it is. Normal operations.... it's good to go

The drums are all the same, they make 3 different towers for the AR22, 15-22 and 10-22.

Wait.....the pictures on the site show the ar 15 writing on the frame for BOTH models. So maybe they never changed the writing. I'd call Black Dog and ask. Phone: (208) 465-1940

I suspect that's what they did, so follow Major's advice and put 50-200 rounds and report back.

__________________
Save time, see it my way. LP

I have 2, one when they 1st released the 15-22 version (bout year ago) and the other was direct purchase from Black Dog a month ago. Both drums are marked; "AR15 22 CONVERSION 50 RD" opposite that marking is; "FITS AR/22 AND 10/22 TOWERS" Mine both came with the 15-22 tower and I have a AR/22 and 10/22 tower which works in both of them.

If it fits in you 15-22, you got the right one. The AR/22 tower will not work in the 15-22. (Won't fit)

There we go.

__________________
Save time, see it my way. LP

And if you have both a 10-22 and 15-22 you can change out the tower for about $23 and use it in both by just changing the tower.

From their web site...

AR15.22 50RD DRUM WILL NOT FIT THE S&W-M&P15.22

S&W M&P15.22 50rd DRUM The long awaited S&W M&P 15.22 50 round drum.
You do not need an accessory or tower. to make the drum work. It assembled, ready to go.

Features: Built with an interchangeable feed tower. You can easily disassemble the drum, slide your S&W-22 tower out and replace it with the new Black Dog 10-22 or AR-22 feed towers. All replacement parts for this drum with the exception of the tower are the same as our AR15.22 drum.

These are modified AR15.22 Drums. They have been epoxied for extra strength and then CNC milled to fit in your S&W mag well.

Just checked mine bolt does not stay open manuly recycling the bolt. If you look at the original S&W 15-22 magthere is a tab outside the back of the follower the black dog does not have this. This is what keep the bolt open IIRC.

I also have 2 of these drums

they are SWEET.... and yes the bolt does NOT stay open after last Round

Small thing ta worry about... but dumping 50rds at once with my slideFire... you forget about that Fast

LOL

__________________
--Stav--

I have a timney 667 with kns pins and a slide fire installed but I have never fired the rifle. Soon. Problem is I only have around 275 rounds which will go fast and I don't want to run out of ammo. I have never read anywhere that said the bolt stays closed with the drums. Small thing to worry about I suppose, but I wouldn't have purchased it had I known. I overpaid to begin with to get what I want, which I don't mind doing, but I am disappointed in my purchase. Perhaps as you say, 50 rounds in 2 seconds will change my mind

If you have buyers remorse then you could try to sell on one of the auction sites if you didn't grossly overpay. Ammo should be making it's way back into the market soon hopefully.

Only problem with bolt not staying open is if you are paranoid of dry firing you will after the last round this will usually happen with any .22. If this is something you are afraid you could try a snap cap as the first round you put in after firing all other 49 rounds it won't fire on a dry chamber it'll drop the firing pin on the snap cap just remember last round that didn't fire could be a dud or snap cap so watch where it goes to retrieve it. It doesn't bother me to dry fire. I have not tried this so I don’t know for sure if there would be any feed issues just a thought I had.

I will get flamed for this, but a never-yet-fired rifle, a 50-round drum, a SlideFire stock and less than 300 rounds of ammo ... Am I the only one that thinks this is a lousy combination?

Take the SlideFire off, put the drum back in the box and get used to shooting with the rifle in a normal configuration before you start playing Machine Gun Kelly.

That combo is a blast but 275 rounds will go bye bye in about a minute or less or firing time..

I have 11,000+ rnds of .22lr (including 4800 rnds of CCI MM) and I feel funny blasting my way through 1000rnds a session.

Get a few thousand rounds and then go at it.

I agree. It's kinda like starting out with an uzi when you never shot a pistol. But in all honesty, I didn't exactly start out with a cap gun myself.

__________________
Save time, see it my way. LP

I prefer Tony Montana but to each his own... I think I will keep the slidefire stock on for its novelty purpose and use the magpul cts when I'm not showing off

I'd rather spend $350+ on ammo than a slidefire. Seems to me like all you're going to do is show it off.......pointless reason to purchase a firearm, wouldn't you say? I spent $70 and made my own bump fire stock copying someone's awesome idea, and still have ammo to keep myself and the old lady happy for months.

Thats cool. I'd rather have this particular gun as a novelty toy safe queen if you don't mind. I have other firearms and ammunition to shoot. When and if I choose to shoot the rifle it will be done so in a safe manner. That should be your only concern.


No. I wouldn't.

Statements like "novelty toy safe queen" make me uneasy. The 15-22 is neither a novelty nor a toy.

Robbie Wheaton says its a fun little toy in his youtube video... which is the reason I am building the rifle. I think you should contact him with your concerns immediately.

for sure get more ammo... youll need it

A Slide fire is not for everyone... Agreed... it is in NO WAY cost effective... but thats NOT why we buy it is it

Its STUPID fun... and an other way to have fun with our Hobby

and I would trade it for anything... well maybe a REAL full auto toy...LOL

__________________
--Stav--

Ah yes, youtube, the gold standard for all things firearms related. We should all emulate everything on youtube.

I disagree, but again... to each his own

Actually there is an adapter for the regular AR that allows you to use 15-22 mags in a .22 AR conversion upper. I know because I have one. So technically if you leave the 15-22 tower on you can make it work for both. I have a 50 RD BDM drum but have not tried it with the adapter on my CMMG conversion. Maybe I should.

I think since they adapted the mag to fit S&W 15-22 specific they stopped making the adapter or at least I can not find them on their site. Do you have a p/n for it? I also think but as I don't have both that the one made for the specific firearm would fit with less wobble then with the adaptor more joints more movement, but like I don't have both to compare just past experience with adaptors of different types.

How reliable are the 50rd drums?

From the Blackdog web site;

S&W 15-22 tower;

S&W 50 Round Drum Tower Conversion Kit

Ruger 10-22 tower;

10.22 50 round drum tower conversion kit

AR15-22 tower (for cmmg and like uppers)

AR15.22 Conversion Drum Tower Kit

Reliability has been ok but they are made of a less impact resistant material (plexi/perspex) compared to a polymer and can be damaged pretty easy.

I would go with 2 x 25rd S&W mags rather than the drum, with the exception of a slidefire perhaps.

I got to use my drum this weekend at the range. Is it me or does this thing add a bit of recoil? No issues here, it preformed flawlessly. As well as my promag.

I don't see how a drum can increase recoil. If anything, the additional weight should reduce the already minimal felt recoil.

In my experience it doesn't change recoil but can weight shift due to the looser fit in the mag well, which creates an additional 'kick'.

I only have 1 drum so I don't know if all of the 15-22 towers fit loose or if they just have variation in manufacturing.

If there is no change in recoil how can there be a change in "kick"? You are confusing the movement of the magazine with the so-called kick.

Well mine doesn't shift. But I get the extra "kick" then back to low recoil with the stock mags. I don't know. Maybe I'm just crazy.

No it doesn't reduce it. Not with my gun at least.

That's what I meant, the movement of the full drum as it initially rocks forward then settles back. No it's not recoil but rather induced by it.

I was able to tighten my tower and the wiggle seems to be gone, maybe now I'll get this mysterious extra recoil

How much are these magazines currently selling for?

Still looks to be $79.99 + $6 shipping to me at Brownells. Cheaper to buy 25 rounders if you could find them but they look cool.

They ship extremely fast.

Are these really in stock at Brownells? I ordered one just in case they were.

You should receive a shipment email very soon. I received mine within an hour but I ordered at like 2pm. Then received 2 days later.

Are these considered reliable enough for competition?

We shoot local Rimfire Madness matches that typically have 40 targets per stage...no mag change should be good for a couple of seconds per stage.

I would say yes, as I haven't had any feeding issues.

Mine doesn't stay open when empty.

You are correct..I got a shipping confirmation this morning.

The Black Dog drums are great! I ordered my 5th at Brownells in the middle of the night and it has been shipped already!

Fast fast delivery.