15-22 Magazines failing?

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Anyone else having problems with 15-22 mags failing. I've had S&W replace 8 mags so far. Yes I own that many) I've noticed it doesn't matter if is 25 rnd or 10 rnd. Black or FDE, they all will have the follower start getting stuck about 1/2 thru. I've cleaned and oiled very well. Still fails. fortunately S&W will replace upon request. But it's about a 6 to 8 week turn around. I think most of that is because of supply issues.
 
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First of all, don't oil magazines! Any magazine. Second, be aware how you're loading the rounds. Make sure they're not going in at an angle. I have 9 15-22 magazines both 10 rd and 25 rd and have never had any issues with them jamming/not feeding.
 
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I've had a few fail over the years by coming apart at the seam. I'm guessing whatever they use to secure the halves together has failed. I just tossed them. Had no idea I could get replacements from S&W. I have a couple dozen or so. My son and I used to shoot our two 15-22s several hundred rounds per week. I just considered the magazines as wear items, tossed the failed ones, and bought more. I'm certain the failed magazines had run more than a thousand rounds through each of them before breaking. They get shot much less frequently nowadays.
 
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dry, graphite-based lubricant

Guess I should have specified that I use dry, graphite-based lubricant. Also each magazine probably had well over a thousand rounds. I go to the range two times a week running at least 500 rounds each trip. Yes, I should invest in a ammo company! lol. Because I shoot so much, I use cheap ammo. Armscor High Velocity Round Nose 40 GR is dirty, but accurate and cheap.
 
Unfortunately 15-22 mags WILL fail at the feed lips. The plastic wares away from the front and works its way rearward. The test I used is put lite upward pressure the front of the bullet; if it stays in place, good to go. If it rotates up, its placed in practice use only bucket.

Eventually it will not hold the round down for reliable feeding and need to be replaced.

Metal lining at the feed lips would reduce the need to replace them as often as I do.
 
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Not what my local gun smith said

I reached out to two different gun smiths and they both said it's OK to put a thin coat on the follower. Also, when I spoke with S&W tech support they said the same thing.
 
I have about 12 mags because I've owned 4- 15-22s and all my my F&F love to shoot them at the same time. 6 mags have worn out or failed. 1 has worn feed lips and 5 have split down the seam at the feed lips.

Thanks for letting me know they will replace them.
 
Have multiple factory magazine. Use 2 primarily. Several thousand rounds with zero issues. My use of the gun has slowed down the past year. Probably 1.5 magazines used every 10 days.
 
Sorry to hear about the 15-22 magazine issues.

I clean those and Glock mags with CRC QD Electronic Cleaner only (never other solvents or gun cleaners) or just dry brush and wipe them out. I don't use any lube on mags, none.

Can't say your graphite lube is the cause of your frustration, but I strongly suspect it may be.
 
Magazines are consumables, especially plastic mags.

That said, I have thousands of rounds through the half dozen 15-22 mags I have and haven't had one fail yet.

As noted above... don't lube mags. Wet or dry....
 
"I think most of that is because of supply issues."

I think different, only because on the one hand I don't know the first thing about these magazines, and on the other hand because I've been trained to recognize and focus on THE REAL problems---and solve them----rather than focus on the symptoms thereof.

Given that training, and the practice of what I've learned, I'll suggest THE REAL problem doesn't have anything to do with guns or any part thereof. It has to do with the philosophy held by those who make them----perhaps those who owned those who make them-----whomever that may have been at the time------and since-----if applicable---another thing I don't know.

Once upon a time, like the first hundred years, S&W's philosophy was very clearly, We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price. Then, somewhere around the first of the second hundred years, their philosophy (or perhaps the philosophy of whomever may have owned them at the time) came to be--------We will be successful if we build our product at the lowest possible cost.----and things have been going downhill ever since---and getting worse (from our point of view) ever since---a sad tale.

Ralph Tremaine
 
15-22 mags DO wear out, usually at the feed lips. I shoot mine regularly for sanctioned Steel Challenge and need to replace after several thousand rounds. Others I shoot with in SC have the same experience. It is essential to clean the fine .22LR residue from the mag, body and lips, every few hundred rounds to ensure reliability. I am part of the "do not oil or grease" camp for mags, especially if dust is part of your landscape.

They are a consumable IMO, so keep some new in the package on hand.
 
I sent S&W 5 of the 15-22 mags with a different repair issue. The mags split at the feed lips seems. They sent them back with the firearm without opening the Ziplock bag containing the mags. I wasn't surprised. I guess they consider them consumables too or they did not have a repair request for them. That would be my fault as I did not mention it to CS. :)

Just wanted to update this thread. I just called them and they responded to the issue very quickly. Great CS.

Pretty cool.
 
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Holy Swiss cheese!

I did not know ProMag made 32 round 15-22 mags or even... reliable magazines. I hear their drums are good. Maybe they should change their name to ProDrum.

I really wish I had bought a bunch of the 32 rounders.
 
I "had" 3 mags for my 15-22. One was bad and S&W replaced it without hesitation. It came to me in short order.

Then I had to switch to 10 rounders, and then I had to lock the sucker in and top load. I have been using a single mag now for however many years with 100% success. As far as I'm concerned THAT mag has to last a lifetime.
 
strobro32 said:
I sent S&W 5 of the 15-22 mags with a different repair issue. The mags split at the feed lips seems. They sent them back with the firearm without opening the Ziplock bag containing the mags. I wasn't surprised. I guess they consider them consumables too or they did not have a repair request for them. That would be my fault as I did not mention it to CS. :)

Just wanted to update this thread. I just called them and they responded to the issue very quickly. Great CS.

Pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Did you call first? I called, spoke to a very nice lady. I do not remember her name. But I explained my issue to the person who answered. They transferred me to her.
 
Guess I'll stick with tried and true Ruger 10/22. I must have 10 standard 10-round magazines from the early 80's that are still going strong. They have never failed and the rifle is as reliable as it was when new in 1981. Now I use them in a newer 2014 Ruger American Rimfire.

Ruger American .22lr.jpg
 
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