I was at a Steel Challenge match this weekend, doing very well with my transition to using optics this year. Well, at the end of my third stage, I inserted my chamber flag (a pretty large one made of nylon - fills the width of the opening), and released the bolt.

I usually try to hold the handle so the bot doesn't slam against the chamber flag, but it slipped. I thought I saw something fly out of the chamber, but didn't pay much attention.

Well, on the next stage, I was having all sorts of problems. Found out that what had flown out was the extractor. It hit the chamber flag and popped out.

Fortunately, I have a spare ejector and spring with me. No plunger, but I found it laying on the ground.

So, two lessons learned. One, was that I put a groove in the chamber flag so that if I lose grip of the bolt release and it slams forward and hits the chamber flag, the bolt will contact the chamber flag and the protruding extractor won't make contact.

Another, mentioned by a friend, was to get a whole bolt assembly, so that if there is any failure during a match (e.g. striker, extractor), I can quickly swap it out. Later, I can use spare parts to bring the bolt back into ready condition.

I just need to find a bolt assembly. Found two places that sold them, but they were both out of stock.

Thank you for letting people know. How big is your flag? Will the pink/red flag coming with the gun cause this kind of damage? I slam closed the bolt with a zip tie flag a few times at the range, and fortunately there is no damage so far.

I've used the one that came with it for quite a while with no problems. I bought another chamber flag that has a ring and 3/4"x3" or so red flag on it, so that it was easy to grab. However, the nylon part that fits into the chamber is almost 1/2" wide and almost the same width as the opening.

So it contacts about 80-90% of the bolt face. With the extractor sticking out (and would fit in a slot at the breech face) it contacts the chamber flag. Hitting it hard enough, will dislodge the extractor.

I shoot Steel Challenge and use a chamber block that goes in the mag well and sticks up between the bolt and the chamber.


I find it easier to get in than a flag that needs to be threaded into the small chamber of .22 and it holds the bolt back and lets the chamber cool off some. Being bigger it's also easier to manipulate and find on the table when it's time to bag my rifle.



Smith-Wesson M&P 15-22 Magazine Safety Flag - FGS Engineering

Nice! I've seen similar kinds of blocks that people have used on other 22LR rifles. With the mod I did, mine is fine now, but this may be something to ask for as a gift for XMas.