Safety Selector Switch wont rotate

Stu707 · Dec 8, 2015

Newby here. I purchased an M&P 15 Sport. The manual suggests cleaning the rifle before first use. After returning the receiver to its normal position and securing the takedown pin, I was unable to move the safety selector to Safe. The manual says when that happens lock the bolt open, then press the bolt release. However, I am unable to get the bolt catch to hold the bolt open.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

McE · Dec 8, 2015

Safety can only be flipped to "safe" if the hammer is cocked.

You can see this by removing your upper from your lower. *Note: DO NOT pull the trigger and let the hammer just drop and hit the receiver. Gently ease it down. You can cock the hammer manually by pushing it back and down until it catches. Then you can activate the safety.

While your rifle is fully assembled (with no magazine in it, no round in the chamber), you can lock the bolt back by pulling the charging handle fully to the rear, and pressing on the lower half of the bolt release lever on the left side of the rifle.
Use the left hand to hold the rifle around the magwell. Use the right hand to pull back the charging handle. Use the left thumb to push in on the lower half of the bolt release lever. It's just a tiny round nub. Slowly release the charging handle while you keep that nub pushed in and you should feel the bolt catching.

If you're only concerned about flipping on the safety, you don't have to bother with locking the bolt back only to release it. Just fully rack the charging handle, that will pull the bolt back and cock the hammer, and then when you release, the bolt will close, hammer will stay cocked, and you can flip the safety.

eyegots2no · Dec 8, 2015

Sorry---I cannot see why you would have this problem.

Try pivoting the receiver, cock the hammer, put the safety "ON" then close the receiver. The work the safety back and forth and see if everything is ok.

As for working the bolt stop. You have to hold it down

(the BOTTOM half of the bolt release!!!)

while pulling the bolt all the way to the rear. You should hear/see the release pop up in front of the bolt. Then, you can get your thumb off of the bolt stop and the bolt should remain open and you then push the charging handle all the way home.

Stu707 · Dec 9, 2015

Thanks very much, McE. I followed your advice and everything is working the way it should.

Stu707 · Dec 9, 2015

“Sorry—I cannot see why you would have this problem”

You are correct, eyegots2no. It is my responsibility to fully understand how the rifle works before taking it home. The day that I purchased the rifle the store was very crowded with prospective purchasers.The sales clerk demonstrated how to operate the weapon including how to pivot the receiver, remove the bolt and charging handle and how to reassemble the gun. I should have asked to do all of those things myself.

As I live in California I had to wait 10 days before picking up the gun. In between my purchase and pick up date, the San Bernardino massacre occurred. The store was even more crowded then for my first visit. I just wanted to complete the paperwork, get my rifle and get out of there.

MichiganScott · Dec 9, 2015

Glad you have one, Stu. I'd bet they are getting hard to find at normal prices.

eyegots2no · Dec 10, 2015

Whoops. Sorry.

I did not mean anything about the 1st sentence---I was just going through my mind thinking maybe something was broke.

Looks like Mce sent his message while I was typing mine. I do not criticize anyone on learning stage---nor am I a know it all.

I am glad the store was crowded though----means people are buying!!!

Glad you got an AR and I hope everybody everywhere gets one.

Have fun with it!!!

Vulcan Bob · Dec 13, 2015

Not wanting to side track or hi jack the thread but here go's. That's the beauty of the 15-22, all the controls function exactly like the AR-15. Running the 15-22 builds familiarity and "muscle memory" needed at a much lower ammo cost. Plus it's great fun!

Safety Selector Switch wont rotate

Stu707

McE

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eyegots2no

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Stu707

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MichiganScott

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eyegots2no

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Vulcan Bob

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