I have been assimilated...resistance was futile....

[Flapjacks]

New guy around these parts and new to the AR platform. Just picked up a new 15-22 Sport, with the M-Lok handguard. It's going to be a "family" gun, so the adjustable stock and smaller handguard are beneficial. Took it to the range, today, to get some rounds through it and zero it in a bit. I definitely need to pick up some hotter rounds as I had quite a few FTE's. Pretty sure I'll put a red dot on, before too long. All-in-all, I'm very excited!

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I definitely need to pick up some hotter rounds as I had quite a few FTE's.

Welcome. Curious what ammo you were shooting? Normally, you don't need "hotter" rounds for the gun to operate properly. All I shoot is subsonic ammo, which ain't hot, and I have no failures.

Did you clean the gun properly prior to shooting? If you are new to the gun, there are lots of threads here discussing what is needed. Also, make sure you weren't holding onto the magazine while shooting. Wouldn't be a bad idea to get the proper tool so as to check your barrel nut to verify it is not too loose.

Some folks fail to load their magazines properly, so that you always have the rounds staggered, however that would cause a failure to feed properly... not a failure to eject.

 

[GhostMutt]

There is also the ejector nudge fix, I am NOT saying that this is the problem you have, but like the wise words from Redneck Jim, there are numerous things to consider before trying this.

A loose barrel nut will throw off accuracy and a seriously loose barrel nut will effect extraction and ejection.

Loading the mags properly is also crucial.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO76HC9tD4g[/ame]

 

[Flapjacks]

Thanks, guys! I think GhostMutt might be on to something. I did clean & lube it prior to shooting. I was shooting CCI Superapido loads, the bulk ammo offering at the range where I shoot. My thinking was that the loads might be too light for the new spring and needed something hotter to wear in the spring. (Forgive me if I'm waaaay off base. Like I said, I'm new to the platform.) At any rate, mag was loaded properly and floating, as I had the handguard on a bag.

Going back to thinking that GhostMutt is on track, when I was cleaning it after shooting, today, I did notice that the tip of extractor was snug against the rib on the bottom of the bolt. I can see this causing friction and not allowing the bolt to go all the way back. Going to research some more, make the adjustment, and hit the range tomorrow for a follow-up test....

Thanks, again!
FJ

 

[GhostMutt]

Just to clarify, the extractor is the claw attached to the bolt, the ejector is the long arm attached to the barrel. When running a cleaning rod or bore snake down the barrel it is important to make sure that the ejector is covered...a piece of drinking straw is great...to stop anything snagging on it and potentially bending it.
The Extractor can be removed to be cleaned but do not put any lube on it or in it...like wise with the firing pin channel.
The only part of the 15-22 bolt assembly that needs lube are the rails and even then only a tiny amount.
I hope you get your teething problem sorted out so you can enjoy the full experience of this wonderful firearm.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Very easy to bend the ejector when cleaning, so I too always put a straw over it.

What the heck is CCI Superapido?

 

[Flapjacks]

Busted! Yes, I meant to say ejector.... I looked at it, again, and it's actually not touching the bolt; although, it is plenty close. The tooth of the ejector is about the thickness of a piece of paper away from the rib on the underside of the bolt. I gave it really good cleaning and am going to hit the range, again, to see if the problem persists. If so, then I'll head back to the shop where I got it and have them look at it and see if we need to send it back to S&W. I'm not opposed to that if I end up with a better-shooting rifle.

The Superapido rounds are the bulk that they sell at the range. For whatever this is worth....

CI .22LR Rimfire Ammo, CPRN, 40 Grain, 500 Rounds - 616672, .22lr Ammo at Sportsman's Guide

"CI" 22 ammo? - RimfireCentral.com Forums

Despite the "CI" branding, the back of the box does say Cascade Cartridge International

 

[RedNeck Jim]

The Superapido rounds are the bulk that they sell at the range. For whatever this is worth....

CI .22LR Rimfire Ammo, CPRN, 40 Grain, 500 Rounds - 616672, .22lr Ammo at Sportsman's Guide

"CI" 22 ammo? - RimfireCentral.com Forums

Despite the "CI" branding, the back of the box does say Cascade Cartridge International

That makes sense. You called it CCI, and I've never heard of CCI making this ammo.

Doubt the gun shop will be much help. If you can't solve it yourself, you, the owner, will need to contact S&W to have it shipped back to S&W for free repair.

 

[Flapjacks]

UPDATE: Went to the range and had 3 or 4 FTE's in about 20 rounds, using Norma TAC 22. I did stop by the shop where I bought it. They're an S&W certified dealer and they're kinda the local AR authority in town. Plus, the co-owner/gunsmith owns a 15-22. I explained what was going on and he adjusted the ejector, cleaned the mag, and suggested a hotter round, around 1250 fps, not the 1100 that the Norma rounds are. I'll try round 3 with the hotter round and will take it from there. If I still get FTE, then I'll get ahold of S&W and see about sending it back. Stay tuned....

 

[ArmyRover]

Our 15-22 eats whatever ammo you feed it. just keep it clean and properly lubed

 

[Flapjacks]

...aaaaaaaand it's taking a 2-3 week, all expenses paid, round trip to Springfield, Mass. Picked up some new ammo, cleaned & lubed (again), and hit the range, today. About 4 shots in, it stovepiped. After that, it was every 3-6 rounds. It would actually cycle a new round into the chamber but wouldn't eject the empty casing, not allowing the bolt to close. Called S&W and they sent me the shipping label. I'm good with sending it back if it means getting things right and not having to worry about malfunctions.

Thanks for all the help/suggestions!

 

[GhostMutt]

...aaaaaaaand it's taking a 2-3 week, all expenses paid, round trip to Springfield, Mass. Picked up some new ammo, cleaned & lubed (again), and hit the range, today. About 4 shots in, it stovepiped. After that, it was every 3-6 rounds. It would actually cycle a new round into the chamber but wouldn't eject the empty casing, not allowing the bolt to close. Called S&W and they sent me the shipping label. I'm good with sending it back if it means getting things right and not having to worry about malfunctions.

Thanks for all the help/suggestions!

The best possible course of action to take my friend, hopefully they will sort it out and get you shooting again ASAP. On a side note, do you have a barrel nut tool? such a tool is essential to making sure that the barrel nut is tight, a loose barrel nut can effect accuracy and loads of other issues and remember ANY work done on the barrel nut or flash hider, it is the barrel that must be held secure and NOT the handguard.
Anyways, S&W will sort you out and then you can get to enjoying this enigma of a rifle

 

[Dark Halo]

I will report back with how well mine functions. I pick my new style 15-22 sport up here in a few

 

[Target Titan]

Yours is not the only one with FTE issues. I bought my 15-22 sport and shot about 250rds of Remington Thunderbolt the next day and the gun would FTE 2 to 3 times on most mags. I then tried my same ammo in my buddies original 15-22 with no problems. Then we tried 3 other types of ammo he had in my rifle with same FTE issues. Then tried his BCG in my rifle and still FTE. My BCG in his worked fine. We finally noticed that my ejector would move in and out, along with side to side probably 1/8". Sent it back to S&W on Feb 5th, and hoping to get it back soon.

 

[Flapjacks]

Mine is currently "On the truck for delivery by end of day (a 10-hour window)," according to FedEx tracking, but not sure when it will get here. With it being a signature/ID required delivery, I'm held hostage until it gets here. Good thing I work from home....

 

[Flapjacks]

Got her back and made it to the range. They included a copy of the work order and it said they replaced the extractor. Had one stovepipe, early on, but that was it. Even got to trusting it enough to do some semi-rapid-fire. MUCH happier, now! Time to hit the optic store for my Strikefire II....