I have about 2,000 rounds through my 15/22 and now the bolt fails to lock open on the last round. I have 3 S&W magazines and it does it on all them. I don't believe it is an ammo issue, because if I insert an empty mag and pull the charging handle back it still wont latch open. I have one mag that if you get the bolt to latch open, tipping the rifle sideways will release the bolt. Is anyone else having this problem. It's very annoying, because I don't always keep count of the rounds, so I'm dry firing the rifle more than I would like. It doesn't matter if the gun is dirty or I've just finished cleaning it. I've shot several different types of ammo and all do the same thing. HELP please!!

Does the bolt hold open firmly when you apply the bolt catch by hand when cocking back the bolt?

If not, then perhaps you have a worn or rounded catch that interfaces with the notch in the bolt, or the notch in the bolt has either rounded-over edges or is clogged with debris preventing full engagement.

If the bolt catch does hold firmly when manually applied but not so when using your magazines then the plastic magazine followers are possibly worn out or your springs are very, very weak. See if you can borrow another magazine from a friend and test if theirs will work - or not.

Good luck.

when I apply the bolt catch by hand it holds open really well. Nice and solid. Put any of the 3 mags in and it doesn't hold open or if it does, when I shake the rifle a little it releases the bolt. Can't believe the S&W magazines would go bad this quick. probably less than 2,000 round fired in the gun and equal use of the mags. I haven't cleaned the mags but they don't look dirty. Have probably 7'000 rounds through my M&P9 2.0 and haven't had any problems with those even though I haven't cleaned them. Maybe it's just the plastic mags need cleaned more often.

With your lower open, take one of your mags and see if the red tab is pushing the bolt release all the way up. With the bolt release up, the bolt will stay open on an empty mag.

The first picture is with the tab pressed down by the bolt release and the second picture is the tab pushing the bolt release up.

If your mags are doing their job, then the issue is somewhere in the bolt carrier group.

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You woudn't happen to have disassebled your magazines recently, would you?

No I cleaned one and tried it. No go. Tried a friends 2 mags from his AR 15/22 no go. Gun heads for S&W tomorrow.

cut 1/3 off the bolt release spring.

well, 2 to 3 coils

Are you saying that the springs in the magazines have weakened enough that they can't hold the bolt locking lever open? That seems to be a very good suggestion, because the rifle worked fine then over time it started having this issue and has gotten worse.

I cant find the post but I was having the same issue years ago and cutting two OR 3 coils off the bolt release spring fixed. Haven't had any malfunction over 5000 rnds with cci standard. It seems counter intuitive but weaken the spring helps the lock back.??? I,ll try to find the post from smarter people than me.

This is a somewhat common issue. IWhat you have described is a bolt release spring problem. It is a very easy fix.
YouTube is your friend on this one.

Talk to S&W last week. Sent the 15/22 in because it wouldn't lock open on the last round. They said they repaired the extractor and will ship in 5 to 10 days. We'll see how that works out. Not real hopeful at this point. :-(

Well like I figured!! Got my 15/22 back on the 6th. Same problem again. Sent it back on the 8th. Can't believe they didn't fix the problem. 3 times in the letter they required for repairs, I stated that the bolt doesn't lock back after the last round is fired. Repair form says they fixed the ejector, which was not the problem. Now the wait begins a new. Hope after the next 2 month period it will be fixed this time. Asked the person that I talked to if the people in the repair department even read the letters. All I got for an answer was "I hope so".

Good luck on this, I hope S&W actually fixes it this time. I've got lots of rounds down mine and not had this issue.

oh, and contrary to what you read on most internet forums cutting a coil spring actually makes it stronger, not weaker. A spring is essentially a coiled lever. All else being equal a longer lever has more flex. So cutting the lever/spring, makes the lever shorter and therefore stiffer.

Anyway sorry or the rant, I only just joined but I've been reading this forum for years.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff just getting really discussed with S&W. It seems like every time I call, somebody has a different story than the previous person you talk to.

Last shot hold open

I'm going to have to agree with Fjefman, when you shorten a spring you stiffen it. Back in the 70's when I raced stock cars if you wanted to stiffen up the suspension you would cut a coil off of the spring. This is a problem for S&W to fix. If I mess with it the warranty goes out the window. I'm not the only one having this problem. If more people would send their guns back to be repaired maybe S&W would redesign their system.

Well Hell! Got my AR 15/22 back from S&W. It goes back again tomorrow. Loaded 3 shells in 3 different magazines. First two mags locked open after the last round was fired. On the 3rd mag it failed to lock open and after that it never did lock open on the last round again. My friend was with me with his AR and I tried his 3 mags. Same results. Tried my mags in his AR and they worked just fine. S&W says they "MAY" replace it with a new one. Thoroughly disgusted with S&W and this rifle.

Well that just flat out SUCKS! I feel for you, brother. How aggravating that is. I don't know of the bolt locking open after the last round would be a big deal to me, but, if that's how it's designed to work, well, it should work properly. I guess at this point, if I were you, I would demand a new rifle if they can't seem to fix it correctly after several attempts. Good luck with that. Hope you get it squared away.....eventually.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Eric300. The bolt not locking open when the last round is fired, has caused me to DRY FIRE this gun numerous times. That is something I don't like to do with rimfires. I'm sure S&W wouldn't replace the firing pin if it was damaged from doing this. This whole situation has become a point of pride for me now. They'll either fix or they'll get it back hundreds of times. Not costing me anything to send it back and forth, hopefully they'll get tired of it and replace it. I see from another poster that this may be a more common problem that needs brought to S&W's attention.

Now you might understand why, regarding simple problems and solutions, many enthusiasts prefer to perform the repairs themselves as opposed to dealing with the manufacturer. Good luck with it.

bamashooter with a new gun under warranty I feel I shouldn't have to solve "SIMPLE" problems myself. Maybe if more people would send them back to be repaired for the same problem S&W would find a fix and recall all the ones that need repaired. Just saying. Would you take a new car back for repairs that you could fix if it was still under warranty???

Or, they'll just stop making them Like Ruger did with their 10-22 WMR!

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Just cut 1 coil and test with an empty mag. If it still fails, cut 1 more coil and guarantee it will lock back. just need a small punch and put the cut side toward the eject side or...... keep posting fails and stop asking for "HELP please!!" and not taking advice?????

When a gun of mine has been to the factory twice, they will never see it again, and neither will I.

However, I learned long ago that many aggravating little problems have simple solutions done at home. These work, and there is no reason not to follow the advice of others who have been successful with minor adjustments/repairs.

Stubbornness and pride have a cost in time, effort, frustration and aggravation. I won’t spend that capital on a $400 machine. If this thing otherwise works as it should, and cutting a little spring seems to be the fix, and you won’t do that, you are making your own problem worse.

Cut the spring.

ladebakk and CB3 what if i cut 1 or more coils off of the spring and it still doesn't work? What then? I'll try working with S&W till they say sorry or replace it. If S&W says live with it' then I'll sell it and get some other brand. I wouldn't feel comfortable working on any firearm of mine. Sorry if you think I'm STUBBORN or prideful but that's the way I feel.

Buy a spare spring, modify it, install the modified spring. It works? Viola! Problem solved. Save the factory original spring. If the mod doesn’t work on the aftermarket spring, reinstall the factory part and ship it back to S&W for warranty work. I have replacement parts for ARs on hand because they are moving parts and they do fail over time and use. For me, a big part of the enjoyment of owning my firearms is working on them, especially the plug and play parts of an AR. Just a suggestion. Small parts kits cost a couple bucks.

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1SG, USA (Ret)

After S&W sent me 3 new magazines to try with the same problem happening, they finally agreed to replace it. The new AR 15/22 has been running like a charm without a single problem now for 7 months. It will eat any ammo I put in it. Thanks for your comments and help.

Right: The spring holds the bolt catch out of the way. If it's too strong relative to the mag springs, then the bolt catch never engages...





+1


Want it done right?





Yes. And I've done so.