MP 15 Sport III serious FTF

[Copperthehound]

Hello, I've had some serious FTF issues on my brand new sport 3. Already sent it back once to S&W once, waiting two months and still having the same darn issue. I'm here to gripe about the poor warranty work to start, and also see if I can fix it myself instead of waiting another two months? This is my first AR platform, reviews seemed good for the perfect starter rifle.

Here's what I think I know as of now.
*Pmag that came with the gun and was sent with the gun for warranty work
*worse when 10 rounds or more are loaded in mag.
*Feeds much better when I physically push the bottom of the mag forward
*55gr bullet tip hardly engages the feed ramp so polishing wouldn't do anything
*notably only tried one style of mag so far, just got the gun back last week and expected it to function after the S&W armorer worked on it
*We suspect the shoulder is slamming into the Bottom of the chamber opening due to the accumulated brass build up.

I'm pretty bummed for my first AR platform, and super irritated at S&W. Please see pics of bashed, bent neck rounds and any insight to a fix other than rolling the dice with S&W would be much appreciated. Thank you

 

[husker51]

I have not had this kind of problem. I have an M&P 10 though. I would be asking S&W why they thought your rifle was fixed. The photos you have provided are disturbing to say the least. I would like to know how you get this remedied. I am afraid I would ask for a refund.

 

[Copperthehound]

Thanks, not even sure what hoops you have to go through to get a refund. The store shipped it off for me the first time as a customer service, but indicated that it's between me and S&W once the background check was completed and left the store. I'll get on the horn tomorrow and see what can be done…

 

[TX-Dennis]

This honestly sounds like it could be a magazine issue to me. Have you tried more than one magazine? Other brands of magazines?

P Mags are usually quite good, but you could have gotten a bad one. Perhaps some rough spots on the follower or a weak spring? If you only have the one magazine I would purchase another and try that out. Take the original apart and look for any burrs or rough spots on the follower or the inner body of the mag that the follower could be catching on.

By the way, you are extremely unlikely to get a refund. Best you can hope for is that S&W will find the issue and fix it (assuming it's not just the magazine.) Their repair center is generally quite good.

 

[Copperthehound]

This honestly sounds like it could be a magazine issue to me. Have you tried more than one magazine? Other brands of magazines?

P Mags are usually quite good, but you could have gotten a bad one. Perhaps some rough spots on the follower or a weak spring? If you only have the one magazine I would purchase another and try that out. Take the original apart and look for any burrs or rough spots on the follower or the inner body of the mag that the follower could be catching on.

By the way, you are extremely unlikely to get a refund. Best you can hope for is that S&W will find the issue and fix it (assuming it's not just the magazine.) Their repair center is generally quite good.

I'm guessing a refund is pretty unlikely too… I have tried a half dozen different Pmags including the one I sent back with the gun and various types of ammo, all the same. I did grab some metal PMS mags on the way home from the range but haven't been able to try them yet.

 

[bamashooter]

As for now, while being respectful, insist on a replacement or refund. If not satisfied, have a contingency plan in place. Be prepared to go public, social media, all that. Humiliate them into satisfaction. But don't drag your heels doing so. As much as you can, have your statements prepared ahead of time so you can immediately post them. Make a list of where you will post them. Send links to S&W. Save all comms between you and S&W.

 

[kwb377]

Can you post pics of the feedramps/barrel extension/chamber?

 

[TX-Dennis]

As for now, while being respectful, insist on a replacement or refund. If not satisfied, have a contingency plan in place. Be prepared to go public, social media, all that. Humiliate them into satisfaction. But don't drag your heels doing so. As much as you can, have your statements prepared ahead of time so you can immediately post them. Make a list of where you will post them. Send links to S&W. Save all comms between you and S&W.

That seems a bit extreme or at least premature.

Copper, I would call S&W and explain what's happening. Maybe send them the pictures you posted of the damaged rounds. They will email you a prepaid return label to send it in for repair. Should they deem it unrepairable (not likely) they would replace the weapon. I've sent in several guns and never had a problem getting them fixed.

Good luck, and it sucks that you are going through this.

 

[Copperthehound]

Can you post pics of the feedramps/barrel extension/chamber?

Here is a shot of the chamber area. I also ran one last test, three different mags, filled to capacity and just letting the bolt fall by release button.

 

[bamashooter]

That seems a bit extreme or at least premature.

Copper, I would call S&W and explain what's happening. Maybe send them the pictures you posted of the damaged rounds. They will email you a prepaid return label to send it in for repair. Should they deem it unrepairable (not likely) they would replace the weapon. I've sent in several guns and never had a problem getting them fixed.

Good luck, and it sucks that you are going through this.

The OP did the proper thing with them. They had it 2 months and returned a dangerous and unreliable pos. I stand by my recommendation.

 

[Copperthehound]

This honestly sounds like it could be a magazine issue to me. Have you tried more than one magazine? Other brands of magazines?

P Mags are usually quite good, but you could have gotten a bad one. Perhaps some rough spots on the follower or a weak spring? If you only have the one magazine I would purchase another and try that out. Take the original apart and look for any burrs or rough spots on the follower or the inner body of the mag that the follower could be catching on.

By the way, you are extremely unlikely to get a refund. Best you can hope for is that S&W will find the issue and fix it (assuming it's not just the magazine.) Their repair center is generally quite good.

Ran a test with three different mag manufacturers , stacked to capacity and simply dropped the bolt home. All three produced damaged brass.

 

[67tempest]

May be a defective mag catch holding the mag to low and allowing the round to catch on the feed ramp

 

[Oldsalt66]

Short answer; the lower receiver appears out of spec and needs to be replaced.

 

[Copperthehound]

Short answer; the lower receiver appears out of spec and needs to be replaced.

That would be my guess, still going back and forth with S&W and my gun shop. Pretty frustrating!

 

[Copperthehound]

May be a defective mag catch holding the mag to low and allowing the round to catch on the feed ramp

it would have to be out of spec lower Id think, and it appears to be holding it to high. The bullet barely engage the feed ramps

 

[Kal.38]

Looks to me like The M4 cuts "feed ramps" are not uniform. The left side definitely has an edge the right doesn't have.
To confirm stack a mag so it feeds from the right. Then drop the bolt.

 

[Oldsalt66]

Looks to me like The M4 cuts "feed ramps" are not uniform. The left side definitely has an edge the right doesn't have.
To confirm stack a mag so it feeds from the right. Then drop the bolt.

Yes, the barrel extension machining does indeed look like garbage.

 

[Kal.38]

Yes, the barrel extension machining does indeed look like garbage.

And it was sent back once already?
An old Riverine I worked for told me. Say this before you even touch a tool.
"I'm working on this like someone's life depends on it, because it does"
Those are the stakes kid, don't like it find different work.

It was only a city garage before I joined the Army, but every cop car that left that shop was 100%.

 

[McChemist]

Just an observation, but you may have several issues occurring simultaneously. Undefined lower reliever problems and feed ramp machining deficiencies. I doubt that it is some brand-specific ammo issue given the mangled bullets shown. I wonder if the displayed gouging matches up to the rough feed ramp problems. Could be a clue as to the problem root cause. I have had a Sport II (battle tested by Kyle Rittenhouse) since 2018. Have not seen this issue.

 

[WR Moore]

OK, the rifle was (supposed to be) function fired at the factory. First off, check the magazine springs to make sure they were installed correctly. It's unlikely that all the mags would have this issue, but it's worth checking. Now then, you state "stacked to capacity". The normal practice is/was to download by 2 rounds to ensure feed reliability. Give that a try.

Looking at the stack of 3 mags, those dents in the body of all rounds show damage from being forced upward into the bolt while the bolts in battery (forward). With all due respect, just how familiar are you with the AR platform? If little, has anyone with more experience tried your example? ETA: exactly what ammo are you using? Try some IMI or Winchester ball.

After a quick glance, the only available sample's barrel extension isn't perfectly uniform with respect to feed ramp "clocking" but it feeds everything when mags are properly loaded. If there's someone around that you can borrow their proven reliable lower, try their lower with your upper. If it chokes, it's your upper. If it doesn't it's your lower. You might try your lower with their upper. That'll give you information to provide to S&W if necessary.