Hello, all. First post, but long time S&W lover. I just purchased a "new" M&P 22 Compact from a reputable vendor on GunBrokers and noticed a few issues with this gun.

1. There is noticeable wear on the slide where metal meets metal. There is also a good amount of gunpowder build-up. The vendor said that they don't have the means to shoot the gun and sold it as they received it.

2. The slide bounces up and down the frame and has noticeable clicking. See video here (with sound):
S&W M&P 22 Compact — bouncing slide - Album on Imgur

3. The ejector moves around a lot. It moves up and down as well as left and right. See video here:
S&W M&P 22 Compact — Play/wiggle in ejector - Album on Imgur

How much of this is normal?

I'm not sure. I don't think yanking on that will fix anything.

I just checked my M&P Compact 22 and the movement in the ejector is the same. I believe that is just the nature or the beast. Mine has functioned fine as is.

The gap between the frame and slide on mine is not as large but that gap does seem to vary from gun to gun throughout the entire M&P line.

How does your gun function?

So far through a couple thousand rounds mine has been extremely reliable. At least 1/2 of the rounds fired in mine have been suppressed.

The ability to move the slide is normal, as for the loose ejector I can check a couple of M&P22C when I return to work.
As for the wear marks and build-up of gun powder it sounds like it have been fired.

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Hello darknes my old friend

Welcome to the Forum

It sounds like you talked to the seller, what resolution did they offer you?

Since you took it home, How does it shoot? If it shoots good I would not worry too much about it.

Many plastic guns have gaps between the frame and slide.

I can not see the ejector moving when the firearm is half disassembled being an issue. Does it move when the slide is in place? Are you experiencing ejection problems?

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"Acta non verba"

Thanks. I haven't shot this yet. It's still sitting at the FFL as I'm posting around looking for input/feedback from others who have had this gun. I'd rather not shoot it yet in case this is truly a defect and needs to be returned.

That's reassuring -- thanks for sharing. I haven't shot this yet in case this needs to be returned.

I appreciate that.

Whenever I buy a gun, I usually get a test round with the date fired. This one didn't have that. It seems to have been shot more than the one test round.

Is this something that S&W can “fix”? Or does it not need fixing? It would be a gamble to officially buy this just so that I can test a few hundred rounds

Here is a different perspective. The front of the slide tilts upwards, which is why it’s so bouncy in the video. It’s constantly rubbing against the barrel and thread protector. Sometimes it gets snagged on the thread protector.

Images:




Images don’t imbed for some reason. Here are the links:

New Smith and Wesson M&P 22 Compact — slide rubs against the barrel and thread protector - Album on Imgur

Smith and Wesson M&P 22 Compact — Slide rubs against barrel and thread protector - Album on Imgur

Dr Void, it looks like you have a non-stock thread protector installed. My M&P 22 Compact came from the factory with a tapered thread protector that holds the slide rock-solid in battery. Photo attached.

For what it's worth, the ejector in my gun floats in the frame same as yours with the slide removed.

Attached Images

	22 Compact.jpg (30.4 KB, 36 views)
	Muzzle.jpg (56.9 KB, 34 views)

Actually, it’s the same one but mine is on backwards. Didn’t come with the tool so I had to use pliers with a towel to remove it and reverse it. I wouldn’t have figured that out without you sharing your picture, so thanks!

Anyways, now that the wider end is on the outside, the slide grinds up against it more. Does your slide rub against the barrel and thread protector?

Yes, but that's what oil is for: to lubricate that interface. The slide and barrel are acting similar to a floating barrel and slide mounted bushing, with the roles reversed. The barrel is mounted solidly to the frame and the slide is supported at three points: the barrel and two lugs at the rear. As the slide moves back, the rear-mounted lugs and the many forces involved with the recoil spring assembly will pull the slide down to minimize the rubbing. I think it's normal, but a firearm engineer may prove me wrong.

What you're saying sounds logical. I'm not an engineer either, but with the thread adapter replacing the thread protector, the aim should change a bit, right? The adapter is thinner and the protector is wider, so the protector fills the hole more and the adapter for the can wiggles around the hole in the slide more.

Hoping this won't be an issue.

Are you referring to the adapter sold by S&W, SKU: 3002050? The product description says "The Smith & Wesson® M&P®22 Compact Suppressor Adaptor Kit converts the M&P®22 Compact barrel from a 3/8 inch x 24 thread pitch to a 1/2 inch x 28 thread pitch to accommodate the more common 1/2 inch x 28 suppressors and muzzle devices."

Not knowing the dimensions I cannot speak to that wiggle, but simply adding an adapter should not change the aim since the sights are on the slide. I do know that the slide cannot be removed with the adapter in place. Are you planning to add a suppressor?

I believe Smith stopped including a fired casing with guns awhile ago. Typically all guns are fired at the factory, usually more than once, sometimes several mags worth. I've seen some fairly dirty guns come directly from multiple different manufacturers.

Hi guys,
Looks I'm jumping here a little late and all problems seems to be explained.

Anyway, to clear the doubts - nothing wrong with your M&P22C pistol... just somebody played with it before it was sold to you.

1. slide bounces up&down at the muzzle end - typical for this firearm. Slide is mounted over the barrel at the front and has only rails at the back.
2. ejector moving around - nothing wrong, this is how it has been done in this pistol
3. free spot differences below and under the barrel - this is how the semi-autos work. All good here, barrel shifts up when slides goes back, so this extra room is needed.
4. thread protector installed backwards ... - definitely somebody messed this up...

Once you fix the thread protector, your handgun should be ready to go.

Hopefully you got good price for "used" new firearm...

All but this one ... the barrel on a M&P 22 Compact is fixed to the frame and does not shift up when the slide goes back. The barrel O.D. is machined a little smaller in the middle than the larger O.D. of the thread protector at the muzzle and the chamber section at the breech.

To the best of my knowledge all companies stopped sending the fired casing with dates on the envelope around 2015.

It had something to do with one of the liberal east coast states requiring the dated envelopes with spent cases to solve crimes and then the state decided it was a waste of money so the gun manufactures were not required to send them anymore.

Thanks for the well thought-out response.

I put 150 rounds through it today and noticed weird behavior. The gap between the tip of the barrel and the side changes; meaning, the barrel is tilted at 1-2° differently from shot to shot making it shoot high or low.

Also, not sure if it’s an issue with the ejector or my ammo, but out of the 150 rounds, 3 stovepipes, 3 failure to eject, and a few casings that would just gently roll out while others would get flung to the right. I was using CCI Standard Velocity since I’m going to be using a can whenever I get the stamp.

The barrel is fixed to the frame, it cannot tilt. If it does it is broken and needs to go back to the factory.

As you describe the ejection issues, the problem (if not a loose barrel block assembly) is most likely with the extractor, not the ejector. Also worthy of a trip back to the factory.

S.H.I.T.... you are right... This is what happens when I write before I think...

The gap around the barrel should not change your accuracy.
With fixed barrel, whenever you aim - you hit.
I'm not sure how you can find 1-2° differences, but check if the barrel sits tight on the frame.
There are 2 pins that keep barrel set to the frame. Be sure you have them both in good shape. Otherwise the barrel can move a little bit - which is not good at all !

Regarding ejector. This is just piece of metal held by 1 pin and yes - it is moving around... but to be honest, I've never found this as issue.

The only difference might be - I'm using High Velocity ammo only (CCI and Aguila)

The 1-2 degree change causing me to shoot high or low is not caused by the barrel since it's fixed. It has to do with the bouncing slide and the sights that sit on the slide that bounce up and down. After each shot, the wobbly slide can sometimes be more centered, while other times, it's like in the picture I've linked in a post above -- with the barrel pointing low

Have you measured the gap between the barrel (with the thread protector properly installed, or with the adapter installed) and the hole in the slide?

Have you ever reversed the thread protector? The point of aim (and point of hit) should be the same all the time, even if you can wobble slide up /down. Slide always stays UP under guide rod spring tension.
But you can experience a weird behavior if your thread protector is still mounted opposite way.