Heads up... potentially effects all models built prior to February 2019 and may result in an unintentional firing or a slam fire situation when the bolt is closed. S&W will check your bolt to insure it is within spec if you send it in, or you can request a gauge from them free of charge to check it yourself.

M&P15-22 Consumer Safety Alert | Smith & Wesson

Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks, I was just getting ready to post it.

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

It came across my Facebook feed and I didn't see it posted, so thought I would put it on here. I've got the inspection gauge on order.

Does anyone have the bolt face depth dimention / thickness of the gauge? Seems like an easy enough measurement for a Vernier caliper without waiting to order a gauge.

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Dave

Link to order the free inspection tool:

M&P 15-22 Bolt Inspection Gauge

I was thinking the same thing. I hope somebody will mic one when they receive it.

I have a very early one, DTXxxxx, sent for the tool.

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Sure you did

Same here. I have the DTX and ordered the tool.

I have the same question as Wee Hooker.

Does anyone know the thickness of the gauge?
It isn't advertised in the recall notice.

Thanks

I’m just gonna send mine back. No sense in me pretending to be a rifle gunsmith . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

From the instructions, it looks simple enough... I'm hoping that requesting the gauge will have a faster turn around time.

Thanks for the info and the link to order the gauge. It would have been nice if they had included measurement info with the procedure instructions so one could measure instead of having to wait for the gauge.

Mine is a DTHxxxx with a zillion rounds through it. Seems if it was an issue I might have noticed by now, but I went ahead and ordered the gauge on line.

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- Change it back -

I ordered as soon as I received the email from them. I doubt mine has the issue after thousands of rounds, but I will find out for sure when the GO/NOGO tool arrives.

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Seek peace? Prepare for war!

Never had an issue myself but the gauge is free and it doesn't hurt to check.

Since when is a "re-call" a DIY proposition? If the gun aint right, how much faith will I have in the tool? The tool says "I'm good to go" No worries, carry on.

For the UK owners that may not be aware, the UK importer is Shield Sights of Bridport in Dorset.

I've emailed asking if these gauges are available through them and I'll let you know the response as soon as I get it.

Iain

Thanks. Ordered.

Yes and no. You order the free gauge and if the bolt doesn't meet specs, send it in for a recall repair.


Or you can just send it in and have them do it all. I'd rather just wait for a repair if the part is bad instead of waiting for them to say the rifle is good to go and lost possible range time and use.


It would have been even better if they would have provided measurement specs so one didn't even have to wait for the gauge. Then one could have just measure in multiple spots with the depth gauge save even more time before deciding it need to go in for warranty repair or just keep shooting.

I'll guess .043", we'll see when the gauge arrives.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I wonder if by using the tool yourself you absolve S&W of further liability should your diagnosis be incorrect . . . ?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Ha, I don't wonder that at all.

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- Change it back -

I think that might be why they are providing the gauge instead of measurements. It checks or it doesn't with no error. Keeping record of the recall info, gauge being ordered, and pictures of the fit check should cover the end user if S&W tries to push back. I could see them losing court cases over it.

I remember reading many years ago about the S&W M&P 15-22 having this problem but I never read that S&W had a safety recall for the problem.

Now S&W finally has a recall for it after all these years gone by. Sure enough my 15-22 I bought over 8 years ago is on the recall list. Looks like I will be calling S&W on Monday.

It would be good to know the depth specs then I could check my bolt myself with my tools.
Thanks for the recall notice.

3-23-2019 Update: Still haven't received my shipping label from S&W for return of my bolt for replacement. Not even an follow up email from S&W about it.

While not very active on this forum, I try to check in once a month. Thanks for the warning. Lucky I saw these posts.


Yes, thousands of rounds through my MP 15-22. I have noticed anomalies, some of which I reported, some documented on this forum. Have returned the rifle to S&W once before but ordered the gauge for now on the premise that I can check the bolt clearance as needed in the future.


The S&W safety report sounded a lot like public reports surrounding the 'Appleseed incident'; not so much the original event but reports from MP 15-22 owners. Just a thought.

I called the S&W phone number and talked to someone (friendly but not real knowledgeable) for a while friday. Seems this applies to ALL pre Feb 2109 15-22's. Mine are ~5 or 6 yrs old and they're included. DYX and HBW serial numbers. Couldn't get a rim recess spec. You're gonna send in your bolt assy and they'll send you a replacement. Need an RMA before sending your bolt assy.

Both of my 15-22's have .038" rim recesses. That's TIGHT. I have no doubt they'll be replaced. BUT, they've functioned without issue for 75,000 rds between the two rifles, practice, rimfire challenge, steel challenge, bowling pins, etc. Now I know why I have no bolt face imprint on the barrel face. They never touch...

I'd checked headspace on my Ruger and Volquartsen pistols while I was setting them up but had never checked my 15-22's because they're like the energizer bunny, they've just run and run. At least 'til the firing pin breaks...

sn: DZLxxx

Thanks for the heads up. I've got countless rounds thru my 15-22, since I purchased new 8+ years ago, but better safer than sorry. Just got back from taking it out to the range today as a matter of fact.

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John 14:6, Luke 21:11

My DYZ**** isn’t affected by the recall but my DUA**** is. I ordered the tool. I don’t know what more S&W could do to correct this (possible) defect.

Can’t help but wonder if this flows from that Appleseed debacle that everybody debunked at the time . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

SAAMI specs for 22 rim thickness is around 0.043". I mic'd the bolt face on my son's 15-22 at 0.040". It will be interesting to see how thick the gage is when I receive it.

Entirely different. The Project Appleseed boys had an OOB issue, mostly after their RSO's worked on guns per their own statements.

Your reading comprehension seems to match your "rifle gunsmithing" skill(s).

Awhile back when I was shooting at the range I had a multiple discharge, I didn't know what set it off but it definitely surprised me. I haven't had one since and never gave it another thought, I can't remember the details of what happened because I just shook it off and dismissed it.
But when I read about the recall last night it brought back the time my gun had that multiple fire, like I said I don't know if it was something I did wrong or if it was the gun. Guess I'll order the gague.

My HBV is part of it, I'll check it out and order the tool.

roog

I thought the same when I first saw the announcement, but after reading it, it is two different situations. The Appleseed issue was that the rifle could fire OOB. This issue, the rifle can fire when the bolt is closed. If this would have been the issue that caused Appleseed to pull the rifle from their lines, I would have agreed.

Ah. I didn't really follow the Appleseed issue much, other than reading the posts here, but I knew it involved the potential for an unintended discharge. Thanks!

(Ordered my tool a couple minutes ago . . . )

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Seems kinda mean, seein' as how we've never met . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I have 4 or 5 thousand rounds thru mine, with out a problem, but I ordered the gage any way. I doubt that mine has a problem.

Thanks for this.

For all our buddies in the UK and elsewhere, I have no idea how shipping is. If need be, we "colonists" can mic the gauge upon receipt and post the thickness which will allow you to use a depth gauge or feeler gauges. Do you need it converted to metric?

Many thanks for the kind offer Bamashooter

If we get no joy from our importer, I’ll take you up on your offer.

As for the conversion to metric, some of us are old enough to remember rods, chains & cubits as units of measurement and it took us ages to get used to the new fangled Imperial system of inches .

I'll keep you posted

I spent a large part of my career doing field support work for our Navy's submarine fleet. As part of that work, I developed tools and procedures to be used by sailors to check for defective hardware/conditions on weapon systems equipment. The challange in that sort of thing is that the tool needs to be: a) effective, b) easy to use by the untrained, c)cheap to produce and d) able to be fielded quickly. Additionally, there usually isn't the luxury of allot of time to come up a fix once the concern is identified.
I'll go on record to say that I beleive this "go/no-go" tool (and I'll assume some decent accompaning simple directions) is a good approach for S&W to this issue. It checks all of those box's well.

I'll also go on record to say that I understand why they would rather have the public use the tool than to give out the number to measure too. That part is about higher potential for (many unskilled) users making a reading error and the resulting liability. (The engineer in me still wants that number though!;-)
Too bad this happened at all ,but so far I like what I see in the S&W response.

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Dave

UPDATE: S&W issues recall on 15-22 gauge tool citing a few out-of-spec gauges.

^^^^^
Just kidding.

Reminds me of the adage - never take two chronometers to sea, take one or three. (The problem is dual modular redundancy - if they are different, which one is correct (if any)?).

I have a 2018 Performance Center 15-22 (NJ compliant). It was manufactured prior to 2/2019, but the serial number lookup says "Does not qualify", yet the advisory lists no exclusions.

I measure a depth of .041" on the bolt face. If this photo uploads, it shows a .22LR cartridge pressed into the bolt. Seems OK to me.

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I ordered the gauge. I don’t know why S&W is so tight lipped about the thickness, since it will be all over the web as soon as they start to arrive.

I have three affected guns (rifle, 2 pistols) and was curious, so I got out my Mitutoyo dial caliper and checked the rifle and one of the pistols. The other pistol is buried and I didn’t want to dig it out right now.

My rifle (DZV) measured .036” and the pistol (DUM) measured .0385”. While I do have sausage fingers, I go to the dentist regularly and spent a good part of career using precision measuring instruments!

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"I also cook."

I understand there is some variation on rim thickness on the .22LR. I'm going to guess that the gauge is at the low (thin) end of whatever that range is. The SAAMI specs state 0.043" - 0.007" for the cartridge rim. I believe that means a range of 0.036" to 0.043". The "chamber" min/max are 0.043 to 0.051". Since the rim portion of the chamber is really the bolt face - unless I'm reading this wrong - I'd say you want a recess of .043".

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I wouldn't doubt it.

Just been to my local RFD where I purchased the 15-22, and he rang Shield but they are no longer the Smith & Wesson importer. It is now Sportsman Gun Centre.

They are in the process, but today is the first day they have had to deal with it. Might be worth sending them an Email.

Hi UK 15-22.

When I first saw this issue on the forum, I Googled 'S&W UK distributor' and Shield Sights came up at the top of the page. I sent them an email through their contacts page yesterday and, as I hadn't heard anything by mid-afternoon today, followed it up with a telephone call. I went through the now familiar recorded voices (I really hate them ), only to hear that there wasn't anyone available to take my call and could I leave a message. A message was duly left but it was shortly after that I spotted your message about Sportsman Gun Centre (good work on that btw ) so I'm not expecting a call back.

I've just rechecked and their website still states that they are 'proud to be their UK distributor'. Clearly, they haven't taken the information down.

I think I'll leave it a day or so and give SGC a call. Hopefully, they'll have something in place by then.

Iain

So I have been shooting my 15-22 for the past 4 years...rapidly, have kitted it out exactly how I want it and can count the number of issues I've had on one hand.

Should I really be bothered by this news??? Seeing as though I am a second owner of this rifle and in the UK, then my chances of bolt replacement or even the free gauge are slim to none.

Guess I'll just have to keep shooting until it goes full auto, then i'd better reload

I read most of the reports I could find at the time on "Appleseed and MP 15-22". Reports on OTHER 15-22 problems closely resemble the S&W reports in the OP without an out of chamber detonation. I notice 'bolt problems' after ~150 high quality rounds fired without cleaning. The bolt face gets so much waste buildup it could alter clearance effecting operation.

I installed a different ejector. If I return the bolt to S&W, would I need to replace the factory ejector first?

JFTR I purchased a M&P 15-22 since several family members were already familiar with the 'AR-15' layout and I had zero problems with other S&W products.