Hi!

As the title says, firing pin in my M&P15-22 broke.

I've put some 7k rounds thru her and I've always carefully cleaned the gun after a shooting it.



Has this happened to others?

Yes it did, but someone has worked really hard to achieve it see Reliability Update: 8500 rounds (update)

A broke firing pin is not a cleaning issue. It usually is from a metal defect or excessive firing of higher power ammo (I mean like a steady diet of Stingers for several thoudand rounds or so) or a combo of things.

Like maybe not cleaning it and having fun with slidefire?

Possibly, but as photoracer mentioned, it's probably a rare metal fatigue problem. I've got over 12,000 rounds through my 15-22 and it's still going strong. Regardless, S&W Customer Service should take care of you. Give them a call and get the rifle back to headquarters for some work.
I imagine they will be very interested in examining the broken firing pin to prevent this in the future.

Agreed. This is uncommon and almost certainly related to a manufacturing or metal defect issue.

As a point of interest, how often is it recommended to remove the firing pin and clean it and the inside of the bolt?

I don't live in the US, so sending the gun to the S&W is going to be a problem..

If some of you know anybody at the S&W customer service, who I can contact directly, I'd appreciate the info.

Only options for me at the moment are to wait for the import company to get me a replacement pin from the S&W(this will take forever), have it made or S&W will send me a new one directly(if I'm lucky!).

I have read only one negative comment on here about S&W's customer service. I believe they are very good so if you call and explain your issue I would bet they will send you a new firing pin. You might have to send them the old one back, but that shouldn't be too hard.

Call S&W I they should send you a new one. Even if your not in the USA.


Zack
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I've never disassembled my bolt for cleaning. I doubt you'd get any recommendation from S&W to do so.

Thanks - that's what I thought. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

So unless my firing pin jams up on crud I don't intend to either but I may flush occasionally with CLP.

S&W makes no such recommendation. Most manufacturers discourage bolt disassembly, especially striker-fired assemblies in pistols.

I have never had the need to disassemble a bolt. Flushing it out with GunScrubber and then high-pressure air a couple of times, followed by a squirt of DRY lubricant is all I have ever found necessary. FWIW, using a wet lube in any firing pin/striker channel just makes it gunk up that much faster.

What product do you use? Eezox or something similar.

Common dry graphite, like you shoot into a lock to lubricate it.

You don't happen to dry fire your 15-22 a lot, do you? S&W recommends not dry firing a 22lr firearm since the firing pin can hit the chamber and break.

I don't dry fire any rimfire guns.
If the hammer is cocked I release it by pulling the bolt open, then pressing the trigger to release the hammer. After this I carefully close the bolt.

I sent an e-mail to S&W on Sunday, they're yet to respond..
I guess I send them another e-mail.

I figured. I was just double checking.

They will take care of you, its just a pin. To date I have dealt with them three times, I bought the parts, and all went great. I even bought a new upper from them, in case anyone cares, they are only 19 bucks.

Complete with barrel and handguard?

I think not

Thus far S&W Customer Service has not responded to my e-mails..

I have say, I'm a little disappointed.

They can be a little slow with emails, give them a couple more days.