FTF, FTE Problems

test86

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Hi all,
I have my S&W M&P 15-22 since begin of December last year and didn't have much time to go to the range...

I started out with Federal Champion the first time and had some FTE, so I thought I should clean and lube it a little bit and try out different Ammunition...

Today I tried it again and shot about 300 rounds through it... Federal Champion, Minimags, AR Tactical and Federal Automatch...

I still had about 20 FTF and FTE (With each of the Ammunition), sometimes it felt more like a bolt action rifle...

I have a newer version with a blue spring.


Is there anything I could do? Any solutions? Could it be, that it is the magazin I use (I only have one at the moment, two 25 rd mags are on backorder and should hopfully be here soon, but they are still not being shipped)

Or should I directly send it in?


test86
 
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The overwhelming majority of such problems are caused by improper magazine loading. Make sure you are following the loading instructions in the manual.

Also make sure you are not using the magazine as a forward hand-hold. This is almost guaranteed to cause feeding problems.

I hope this helps.
 
Thank you for your reply,
I was reading the manual completly before going to the range the first time and I applied the instructions to the best of my knowledge to load the Magazin/rifle.

And I use a foregrip when shooting, so I dont hold the rifle by the magazin.


test86
 
Yes make sure too in conjunction with using the follower button correctly that the rounds are "staggered" properly. Rim of the round being loaded in in front of the rim of the previous round. If not the rounds have to jump over the rim of the round under it. This can cause nose dives or other feeding problems.
 
When cleaning the rifle, did you snag the extractor?

No, I read about this issue before, so I was careful with the extractor and I had this problem even before first cleaning it...

Yes make sure too in conjunction with using the follower button correctly that the rounds are "staggered" properly. Rim of the round being loaded in in front of the rim of the previous round. If not the rounds have to jump over the rim of the round under it. This can cause nose dives or other feeding problems.

Okay, I will look at this closer next time at the range. It sounds plausible...


Thanks again for the replys and help!
 
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To tell if you are loading mags right, load one up, then holding the mag in your hand use your thumb as the bolt. Push forward in the rim of the round. It should slide out nice and easy. Unless the rim was behind the one below it. If it was behind it you will notice a difference.
 
A note. The only fail to feeds I've had are when my kiddies loaded mags by pulling the follower all the way down and dropped rounds in, and the mag I had that had worn lips would let rounds "stand up".
 
I just started to have fail to feed after about 700 rounds of cci mini mags, I too bought my gun in December 2012.The gun has been working flawlessly until now,I noticed the ends of the bolt slides appear to be a little rough where they fit into the grooves of the barrel, wandering if there is any suggestions, very carful about mag loading and use a forward grip
 
I just started to have fail to feed after about 700 rounds of cci mini mags, I too bought my gun in December 2012.The gun has been working flawlessly until now,I noticed the ends of the bolt slides appear to be a little rough where they fit into the grooves of the barrel, wandering if there is any suggestions, very carful about mag loading and use a forward grip

I don't understand this. The bolt rails don't even tough the barrel, must less slide into it. Do you mean the grooves in the bolt?

It will probably have zero effect upon functioning, but you can always polish the rails with some 800 grit wet and dry paper.
 
I have had fail to feed with CCI ammo which is heavily waxed. Between the wax and cold weather the rounds get "stuck" in the magazine. Eject the magazine and the next round will not load even if I cycle the spring a few times. analysis of the magazine showed wax buildup inside it. Federal ammo does not have this issue.
 
Do you mean the two notches on the breach face where the bolt slide fingers fit are rough or the fingers themselves are rough?

The bolt slide fingers on mine have small radii along the edges and are not rough. Did you have any barrel work done? Did it maybe get twisted out of alignment.
 
Do you mean the two notches on the breach face where the bolt slide fingers fit are rough or the fingers themselves are rough?

The bolt slide fingers on mine have small radii along the edges and are not rough. Did you have any barrel work done? Did it maybe get twisted out of alignment.

You are correct about the fit; I forgot about those as I was thinking of sliding. Unless the ends of the rails were somehow deformed, their condition will have no effect upon the operation because they are essentially locked into the bolt face recesses and only move when the FCG is removed.
 
Yeah that's what I was asking. If his are rough, maybe his barrel was twisted and notched the tips. This could be why he is having feeding issues.
 
Thanks for the feed back, yes I'm talking about the tip of the fingers where the radius is, no barrel work has been done, but this is a different box of shells. I did use less oil after last cleaning,that could be the difference or the only other thing is the outing before I tried out for the first time a plinker tactical 35round mag, that's when I had the first fail to feed
 

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