Everyone always say SV ammo is always more accurate than HV ammo. Well my 422 hates SV ammo. It is not that is is inaccurate with it. But it is so unreliable with it. I constantly get failure to eject when shooting with SV ammo. Today I shot with SK ammo, both HV and SV, both solids. I got so many fail to ejects, fail to loads etc when shooting with the SV. When I switch over to HV, it runs like a dream. I thought my pistol was maybe designed for SV ammo? Seems not to be the case.
Will HV ammo wear it it prematurely or is there nothing wrong with it to shoot HV ammo in it? It is more accurate with HV ammo as well. I've got the ''target'' model, 6'' barrel with adjustable sights

The 422 is a nice .22. From the situation you describe, it sounds best if you stick with HV .22 LR. The 422 owner's manual is not available online, but I would guess it has the usual "use ammunition intended for the gun" statement. If it runs perfectly with it, don't mess with success.

Also, I doubt using HV will wear it out more quickly, especially since you will eventually start using the gun like a hammer in frustration if you keep using SV . Hope this is helpful.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Not to assume anything, have you field stripped and cleaned it thoroughly? Especially the area that holds the spring and guide rod? That's what the slide rides on. The slide doesn't ride on grooves or rails in the frame, like say a Glock. Polish up the outside of that and where it rides inside the slide. Have you had this since it was new, or did you get it used?

Hi Slidemuzik.
I have it from new, only bought it two years ago. It was stock that never sold.
I clean it the same way I clean all my guns, after every range trip.

And it's always acted this way? I'd be interested in what the factory tells you about this. It would be worth a call.

Let me explain what happens more clearly. I get mostly failure to load/feed with SV. I would load the magazine full of SV ammo, rack the slide, shoot. First shot goes off, no problem. Then when I want to pull the trigger for the second shot, all I hear is a click. I then point the pistol downrange for a few seconds, just to take care of a possible delayed fire. When I rack the slide to get out the ''defective'' round, there is nothing in the chamber! So maybe the SV ammo don't have the oomph to fully rack the slide to pick up the next round? This does not happen with HV ammo. I have a 100% reliability record with CCi Mini Mags. I have shot at least 600 of them since I got the pistol. Not even one problem. What could be the reason for the pistol to miss-feed SV ammo like this? My pistol is cleaned properly and in a like new condition. It boggles my mind why it miss-feeds SV ammo only.

I had that problem with the very same gun. It turned out that it just needed a good cleaning. I shot mostly target ammo, it's not really dirty or HV. I also shot cheap ammo and it is dirty and not HV. It didn't take long before the problems begin.
I'm thinking the HV ammo is over coming the fouling and that's when your problem go away.

You have to at the least, remove the slide to get a fare cleaning
if your not already doing that.

Hope that helps some.

Here is the part that I am talking about.

photo credit: skjos

If you look at it, you'll notice grind marks towards the rear of it. I'm guessing this was some sort of hand fitting. This and the reciprocal shaft in the slide that this part rides in. I use a brush ( I think a .45 size) and the old Hoppes to scrub that shaft well. If that gun sat for years before you bought it, perhaps there's old lubricant that is now adding friction instead of lowering it. Again, I'd call the factory. Won't cost you anything and they might have some other ideas.

I clean that part till it shines. I have not cleaned it on the inside though, just always on the outside. I will make an effort to clean it on the inside of the tube as well. Then I will polish the outside. There can't be any factory lube on the outside of this part, or on the rails of this gun left, as I've cleaned this pistol a couple of times now.
So the problem can most likely be dirt on the inside of this part?
I will surely look into this.

Edit: This morning before going to work I quickly looked at the possible issue.
I noticed that when slowly pulling back the slide, it comes to about half-way, then the amount of force needed doubles till it is fully cocked. As if there is something that wants to block it from cocking all the way. Should the cocking action be like this, or smooth with a constant force all the way?

Last thing first. Yes it is normal when the slide has been pulled back approximately one inch, that the force increases substantially.

Regarding the part of the barrel that holds the guide rod and spring, I'm not sure we're on the same page yet. The shaft I'm talking about is inside the slide, where that part rides. It sounds like you have field stripped the pistol and removed the slide. Have you carefully inspected the guide rod and spring?

Again, I'd recommend calling Smith tech and see what they say. I think we'd all like to hear what they say. I can tell you I have fired one mag from a 2206 TGT of sub sonic CCI with no issues. One other variable is what brand of sub sonic you were using. Have you tried another brand?

I have about 5 brands of SV ammo, all are giving the same issues.
My cellphone contract does not allow international calls. I am in South Africa. I have send them a mail though.
I will be sure to tell you what they responded. It may take up to 5 working days according to them.

Well they never responded to my mail. I expected more than this for S&W. But it is fine, I will just shoot what works.

For a semi-auto, I find high velocity rounds are a minimum.

Standard velocity rounds will fire, but sometimes not have enough recoil to cycle the slide correctly.

I have a Sig 1911-22, and see the same in a friend's beretta neos.

Ok, so I don't really have to feel bad to shoot HV rounds in my 422 then.

What about hyper velocity rounds? I have bought some Remington Yellow Jackets, just because I never seen them before in local gun shops. I normally never buy hyper velocity ammo. I have shot a few rounds of it in my 422, but stopped as I thought it might be damaging to it. I also shot more than a few in my CZ452 rifle. But they are not accurate enough for me really in the rifle. In my pistol they were surprisingly very accurate, definitely on par with CCi Mini Mags. But as they are hyper velocity rounds I am not sure if I should shoot with them. I only have 180 or so of them left. Will 180 Yellow Jackets do any harm to my 422?

I have read somewhere that the chamber pressures between hyper velocity rounds and HV rounds are about the same, as hyper velocity rounds use lighter (32-34 grain) bullets to get the higher speed.
Now if chamber pressures are so close, why is it not advisable to shoot hyper velocity rounds in a pistol?

Hyper velocity is not a big issue. CCI Stingers might be, depending on the firearm, as the casing is longer.

You might find more impact and eventual wear using hyper velocity.

I don't have that model, so would suggest you check the owner's manual.