Another 2 thumbs down to S&W

I have two 15-22s just because of their asinine parts policy. Why 15-22s? Because I shoot NSSF Rimfire Challenge and the 15-22s run more reliably than the 10-22s or AR conversions I see. I take a second complete upper to matches so I have spare parts and if I need stuff I can't buy I can put the broke stuff on the lower I left original and send it back under warranty while still having a functioning match rifle. I have about the same money tied up in two 15-22s as I'd have in one good AR conversion.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed but so far I haven't needed parts. This is my second year shooting the NSSF series.
I had a similar issue. I lost the extractor, spring and plunger due to a mechanical jam at a match. Even though it was not caused by an OOB they wanted it back to fix it. So I just bought another 15-22. Used one merged rifle in Ruger and NSSF Rimfire from 2011 thru 2014 including all the world championships. Then I finally built a custom lightweight 10/22 and now I use that (plus a backup 10/22). This weekend I have to bring the 15-22 and my old Buckmark open gun out of the safe for the PSA Rimfire Challenge a 200 target rimfire steel match in PA. Mainly because both these guns allow me to make faster mag changes than either of my 2 Ruger firearms and every stage has about 50 targets.
Oh yeah I also have a custom 3 lb AR-22 built with the help of Taccom. Might use that at the event instead but I am having a disagreement with Taccom so I am not using their stuff right now.
 
Last edited:
Hey folks, I gotta admit that I was wrong about the headspace issue. It's OK to swap/exchange/install barrels on the 15-22.

Thanks to tacticool22 for pointing that out in another thread.

"I dun lurned sumtin new today!"

My apology for giving out bad info.
 
Buy a Ruger 10-22 and with all the cool add on stuff available you will have a much better gun in the end. I don't drink the 15-22 kool aid but many here do.... and refuse to diss their plastic gun regardless of the issues.
 
Buy a Ruger 10-22 and with all the cool add on stuff available you will have a much better gun in the end. I don't drink the 15-22 kool aid but many here do.... and refuse to diss their plastic gun regardless of the issues.
Wrong on so many points. We want a rifle based on the AR platform so we can train and use the same accessories. If we preferred a wannabe tactical rifle dressed up with "cool" add ons we would have brought a 10-22 in the first place. Most of us already own a Ruger but we have moved on to a modern sporting rifle design. I don't shoot my Ruger because it doesn't interest me any more, the 15-22 does.
 
I plan on SBR'ing my 15-22 in a month or so. I have one of the nice camo editions.

What if I want to no longer have an SBR (yeah, I know, said no one ever), use it in a non-SBR state, or the gun smith messes up the cut.

It would be nice to be able to have a stock barrel available.
 
Buy a Ruger 10-22 and with all the cool add on stuff available you will have a much better gun in the end. I don't drink the 15-22 kool aid but many here do.... and refuse to diss their plastic gun regardless of the issues.


I'm with Ken on this.
 
I plan on SBR'ing my 15-22 in a month or so. I have one of the nice camo editions.

What if I want to no longer have an SBR (yeah, I know, said no one ever), use it in a non-SBR state, or the gun smith messes up the cut.

It would be nice to be able to have a stock barrel available.

I felt the same way prior to making mine a SBR. However, it just is not possible. I too contacted S&W & they will not sell you a spare barrel.

So next best option was for me to purchase another 15-22, back when they were very cheap a few months ago. Now I have a spare barrel. Actually a spare everything. :D
 
I'm with Ken on this.

Probably a good idea if you don't want an AR trainer. The 10-22 is a fine gun but it is not designed to emulate an AR. For someone like me that wants my 22 trainer to act just like my real ARs, a dressed up 10-22 with cool add on stuff would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
 
Well the gun is on its way to S&W. Not very happy about the wait time.

For those that ask what happen, the cleaning rod/brush is stuck in barrell! It went it, got a little tight then stuck! Before you ask, I tried everything i could think of. It wont move. Im at the point even if i got it out, i would question the barrell. So time for new one.

Got the tacticool22 vise clamp and nut tools. Learned how to take the thing apart.
 
So you blame S&W for a stuck cleaning rod? I don't think it's their fault or that it should be covered under warranty. If you had given us this information in your first post, we might have been able to suggest a solution. Stuck rods, or stuck bore snakes, are not an uncommon problem and there are ways to address the problem that don't require a new barrel. "Everything you could think of" may not have covered all the possibilities for removing the obstruction and retrieving your brush and rod. I understand your not wanting to own up to this originally, but I consider this operator error, not a problem with S&W or your 15-22 rifle.
 
The barrel is likely ok. But if you just want a new barrel I'd keep the barrel and send in the rest. Tell them your dog ate it or your wife got made at you for cleaning guns in the kitchen, grabbed the barrel and tossed it outside down the sewer grate. Hey, it could happen!:D. In the meantime, drip some Kroil down the barrel, set it upright and let it be for a day. Then get rod and push or whack it out.

More damage is done to .22 barrels from cleaning than shooting. Remember that next time you reach for a cleaning rod and brush. Maybe next time just push a patch through the bore with your favorite bore cleaner and then drag a bore snake thought it.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
When I first got my 15-22 I saw on u tube how to make a home made bore snake :o it did not work & got stuck. I had to buy a cleaning rod kit & a real bore snake ( my version of saving money ) Now I don't clean it a lot but when I do I mop the barrel then pull the snake through a couple or three times :)
 
When I first got my 15-22 I saw on u tube how to make a home made bore snake :o it did not work & got stuck. I had to buy a cleaning rod kit & a real bore snake ( my version of saving money ) Now I don't clean it a lot but when I do I mop the barrel then pull the snake through a couple or three times :)

Funny.

We've all tripped over a dollar to pick up a dime at one time or another. Stuff happens.
 
So you blame S&W for a stuck cleaning rod? I don't think it's their fault or that it should be covered under warranty. If you had given us this information in your first post, we might have been able to suggest a solution. Stuck rods, or stuck bore snakes, are not an uncommon problem and there are ways to address the problem that don't require a new barrel. "Everything you could think of" may not have covered all the possibilities for removing the obstruction and retrieving your brush and rod. I understand your not wanting to own up to this originally, but I consider this operator error, not a problem with S&W or your 15-22 rifle.


I never once said it was S&W fault. I find it unacceptable that it can take 5 months to buy a barrell.
 
Well the gun is on its way to S&W. Not very happy about the wait time.

For those that ask what happen, the cleaning rod/brush is stuck in barrell! It went it, got a little tight then stuck! Before you ask, I tried everything i could think of. It wont move. Im at the point even if i got it out, i would question the barrell. So time for new one.

Got the tacticool22 vise clamp and nut tools. Learned how to take the thing apart.

Maybe they will get it out for you and it won't take five months. Did the barrel get leaded?

Barrels are pretty tough, and if it is an aluminum cleaning rod and a brush it will probably be fine.

Heavy leading is very common when one shoots unplated .22's at high frequency (and even plated .22's). A hot barrel shooting soft .22 lead bullets will gunk up quick.

I've cleaned a 10/22 that leaded up and pushed out many long, finger like extensions of lead.

What ammo were you shooting?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top