Decoding S&W 15-22 serial numbers

tatwell · #1 03-06-2010, 12:27 PM

If anyone has figured out how to decode the 15-22 serial numbers to determine the build date could you please let me know how? Thanks in advance for any help given.

Old No7 · #2 03-06-2010, 07:31 PM

Well, mine matches my initials, so that's pretty cool! ("What do I win???")

Seriously... There aren't that many months or years of production yet, never mind decades, so this issue won't be a problem until about............. 2037 or so.

Sure hope S&W gets them "all figured out" by then!!!

Hey, maybe that's when they will make REAL 5-round and 10-round SHORT magazines too!

Old No7

BeginingOfTheEnd · #3 03-06-2010, 09:00 PM

When did you pick it up? Got mine mid Feb, sn DTU

tatwell · #4 03-06-2010, 10:50 PM

I actually have not got one yet, but Davidson's just got some in and I have one on hold. And since they just got these in from Smith & Wesson-I assume they get them straight from the factory-I am curious as to how to determine the build date. The problems have been going on for a while, and while I did read a post on here that serial numbers are not an indicator as to whether the rifle will have problems, I am thinking that surely the latest production units should be coming in without problems. Of course I could be wrong, especially if Smith & Wesson's sales have been slow and older ones are still in the pipe line. I think that I saw where someone who had a DTZ number had problems, and lots with lower numbers had no problems, but surely at some point Smith will have to incorporate the fixes in the production line.

Topsportsman916 · #5 03-06-2010, 10:55 PM

I got mine in late January & it has a DTH serial number.

Defender3 · #6 03-06-2010, 11:12 PM

I'm going to make an assumption, but it seems the series are running sequentially. Mentioned on the forum have been DTH, DTM, DTU and DTX. I believe the newer threaded versions are DTU and later. I can't account for how long a rifle may be in stock or on a shelf, but at the local shows here in NoVA, the rifles on the tables are DTMs (non-threaded barrel), DTUs and DTXs (both with threaded barrels). I bought a DTU53XX and the dealer said he got it mid-January from S&W. Dealers I spoke with at the shows are saying they are just now receiving the DTXs from S&W, so they could be the ones coming off the lines now. Interesting will be the MOE versions and what series of SN they are assigned.

lexcruiser · #7 03-06-2010, 11:16 PM

I just got mine last week from my dealer who said he had just received them from S&W. Its a "compliant" version for NJ, but its a DTX...

UZI4U · #8 03-06-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topsportsman916

I got mine in late January & it has a DTH serial number.

Same as mine and no problems so far

tatwell · #9 03-06-2010, 11:58 PM

Thanks guys for the info. I am putting together all the information I can find and take a stab at trying to figure out exactly what the root cause of this rifle's problems are. I have actually read all the posts since the beginning, so I know what problems have been reported. For the record, I am not a troll, I am not a S&W basher either. I think that this rifle is a good one, at least I liked the feel of the one I looked at last week, but it bothers me that a good rifle has the kind of problems that this one does.I spent almost 40 years solving problems, and now that I am retired I have plenty of time to work on things. So, I'll be posting some questions and I will be grateful to anyone who takes the time to answer. Thanks again.

RazorClose · #10 03-06-2010, 11:59 PM

Dtx4xxx - fte and oob

California - not threaded

RazorClose · #11 03-07-2010, 12:00 AM

DTX4xxx - fte and oob

California - not threaded

Going back this week

BeginingOfTheEnd · #12 03-07-2010, 12:27 AM

Again mines dtu, threaded, only mag problems...sticking up sometimes. No fte/ftf/oob

Okie22 · #13 03-07-2010, 03:48 AM

Bought mine feb. 19. The day the shop took delivery. DTX, threaded barrel, but no blue springs. 800+ fed 550 rounds and not one problem. The kids rap off a mag as fast as they can. Very pleased so far.

ChattanoogaPhil · #14 03-07-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topsportsman916

I got mine in late January & it has a DTH serial number.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UZI4U

Same as mine and no problems so far

I picked up a DTH in October. No problems.

rickyblaze · #15 03-07-2010, 09:57 AM

DTX3xxx threaded no blue springs OOB,FTEx,FTEj and a few Dbl taps. Should be at S&W on monday for inspection and repairs

ChattanoogaPhil · #16 03-07-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickyblaze

DTX3xxx threaded no blue springs OOB,FTEx,FTEj and a few Dbl taps. Should be at S&W on monday for inspection and repairs

Was there any modifications done to the trigger before the dbl taps? How many total rounds through the rifle before that started happening?

MarkH1254 · #17 03-07-2010, 11:01 AM

Mine serial DTU9XXX, was purchased in February and was born on January 5 2010, from the datecode on the box. It has the old style magazine, no blue springs and a standard barrel (not threaded). I have had problems with empty cartridges not ejecting and some failure to feed. Not sure what OOB means, anyone help me out here?

Thanks
Mark

Defender3 · #18 03-07-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkH1254

Mine serial DTU9XXX, was purchased in February and was born on January 5 2010, from the datecode on the box. It has the old style magazine, no blue springs and a standard barrel (not threaded). I have had problems with empty cartridges not ejecting and some failure to feed. Not sure what OOB means, anyone help me out here?

Thanks
Mark

OOB is an out of battery firing of the cartridge meaning the bolt is not fully closed.

tatwell · #19 03-07-2010, 11:28 AM

Thanks for all the info. If some rifles built in January 2010 are having problems it sure doesn't look like S&W is doing anything differently. I find this peculiar. One could speculate that S&W might have a whole bunch of parts in hand that they know contains some bad ones, but they do not have a way to identify them, so they are using what they have and then fixing the few rifles that come back with parts from a known good batch. (Unless they farm out some of the small parts to another manufacturer, but then the other manufacturer would be responsible for the problem.)This might make some sort of sense concerning the ejectors, and whatever else they change to stop the FTF's and the FTE's, however it doesn't make sense with the OOB's as someone could get hurt. Thanks again for the help.

MarkH1254 · #20 03-07-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defender3

OOB is an out of battery firing of the cartridge meaning the bolt is not fully closed.

Thanks for the explanation! It's fine people like you that make this a great forum!

Mark

chuck s · #21 03-07-2010, 01:10 PM

I've not heard of anyone getting hurt with a .22 out of battery firing. Many times folks don't even notice it until they notice the stoppage.

-- Chuck

tatwell · #22 03-07-2010, 03:15 PM

I should have phrased that differently, sorry. I don't want to exaggerate. However I did see a few posts on other forums where left handed shooters got "stung" on their face when a case blew out. Thank heavens I haven't found any reference to some one getting seriously hurt, and hopefully I never will.

Fondis Firearms · #23 03-07-2010, 06:02 PM

Mine is a DTX1XXX that I bought 5 Feb. According to S&W it left the factory the 1st week of January. It is the non-threaded barrel. The only problems I have had are mag snags, with a couple ftf. No fte or oob. I haven't had a lot of time to shoot, but I have put about 700 rounds thru it. The S&W rep is getting me a new mag, and I love my gun.

rickyblaze · #24 03-08-2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Was there any modifications done to the trigger before the dbl taps? How many total rounds through the rifle before that started happening?

Had just got it and fired less than 100 rnds the first time and with Winchester hp's the second time with some Federal bulk 36gr hp's with under 300 rnds. OOB's with winchester bulk 36 gr hp at least 3 times but luckily extractor stayed in bolt. No mods what so ever,just opened the box cleaned the bore and took it out to shoot. FTExtract and FTEject were common with every mag and ammo I tried. I wrote a very good desciption of what kinds of problems I was having so I hope it comes back fixed. Bad as it I know it is I was shooting it one time with no hearing protection and the OOB's were very loud and scared me the first time. Ear plugs from now on

contender85 · #25 03-10-2010, 08:31 AM

Mines a DTM3XXX, picked it up 3/6 175 rds through it so far with only a couple ftf's and I beleive they were ammo problems...Win 333 bulk pac.

Mark

NJ Shooter · #26 03-11-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defender3

I'm going to make an assumption, but it seems the series are running sequentially. Mentioned on the forum have been DTH, DTM, DTU and DTX. I believe the newer threaded versions are DTU and later. I can't account for how long a rifle may be in stock or on a shelf, but at the local shows here in NoVA, the rifles on the tables are DTMs (non-threaded barrel), DTUs and DTXs (both with threaded barrels). I bought a DTU53XX and the dealer said he got it mid-January from S&W. Dealers I spoke with at the shows are saying they are just now receiving the DTXs from S&W, so they could be the ones coming off the lines now. Interesting will be the MOE versions and what series of SN they are assigned.

I have a DTU8XXX that is not threaded, bought it the day it arrived at the dealers 01/21/2010

Zuidoo · #27 03-11-2010, 12:05 PM

I just picked up a like new used one and the Serial # is a DTE 2*** Where does this fall in the production line? Haven't had a chance to really shoot it a lot yet.

jamesjensen1068 · #28 03-15-2010, 10:05 PM

Mine is a DTA1xxx.....would that make it one of the first production runs?

red98muswha · #29 03-16-2010, 07:50 PM

DTU-03XX Bought new December 26, 2009. Maybe 500 rounds of Federal through, and it was just sent back March 12, 2010. Had multiple FTF's, and 1 OOB discharge that sent the extractor, pin, and spring flying.