Just picked up a M&P 15-22 (problems and fixes)

[UtahHunting]

New to the forum. I am an active participant over at TFL forums and stumbled across a few threads here.

I picked up a M&P 15-22 2 days ago at Cabela's. I decided on it over the SR-22 and the Colt. I brought it home and cleaned and oiled it. Went to the range yesterday and loaded 10 rounds of CCI in the magazine. All 10 fired without a hitch. Loaded 10 more and had a FTE every other round. From there on out it was constant FTE with a few FTF's mixed in. I tried CCI's, Winchester, Federal, American Eagle ammo to name a few all of which had issues.

I was frustrated and ready to make a trip back to Cabela's. This is unacceptable for a $500 gun. I came home and read a few threads on it. I tweaked my extractor inward just a hair, probably 1/16 of an inch. I then cleaned the gun again and went back out this morning to try it again. I put about 150 rounds through the gun with all the mentioned ammo. Not one single FTE. I did have 2 FTF's however. I am contributing the FTF's to the magazine. I do not believe it is the gun at this point.

I am now happy with the gun. I hope the problem stays corrected. I did a youtube video of the gun today after I had fixed it if you want to view.

YouTube - Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Review

 

[iflyfish]

Excellent Video! Thanks for the post. If mine does the same thing on Christmas AM I'll try moving the extractor.

 

[jdm-eg6]

Nice video, glad to see its working fine, i just picked one about for days ago and had about 200 rounds with mini mag and no problems

 

[n3cal]

Very nice video but I need to clarify one item. What you adjusted was the "ejector" not the "extractor". The extractor is located on the bolt. I beleive you ment to say the ejector was adjusted in-ward.

It's really easy to get the two terms mixed up. On my 15-22 the extractor actually came off / departed the bolt. I'd make sure your extractor is still there. I was actually able to adjust the ejector enough that the gun worked 75% of the time even without the extractor. I eventually ended up sending the gun back to S&W for repair.

Hopefully yours is good to go. Best of luck!

 

[UtahHunting]

You are correct. I meant to say I adjusted the ejector. The extractor is still on the bolt.

n3cal.....Was the extractor something you could have replaced yourself or does it require a gun smith?

 

[n3cal]

I'm not really sure if I could have replaced the extractor myself or not? It appears it is pressed into the bolt somehow with a spring behind it. My guess is yes. It somehow got knocked out during a FTF? This is the first gun I have owned that the manual didn't have a parts breakdown? Oddly enough my gun worked fairly well with it missing.

When my extractor went missing I called Smith & Wesson and they wanted the gun returned. Seems like it would have been easier and cheaper to just replace the bolt. Maybe they adjusted the ejector also?

The paperwork I got back from them after the repair only said the gun was updated to latest specs? Very vague.

 

[Jase3gt]

I bought mine at Cabela's a couple of weeks ago and I have the exact same problem. I might have to bending the extractor a little.

 

[UtahHunting]

I bought mine at Cabela's a couple of weeks ago and I have the exact same problem. I might have to bending the extractor a little.

I made a video on how to fix the ejector. Here is the link if you want to see it.

YouTube - Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Ejector (Extractor) Fix

 

[kennyb]

very well done video utah...welcome to the forum!

 

[Lynn]

Thanks for making this video. I hope you can take some constructive criticism though. Now please don't be offended.

The lighting, made it very hard to see, the most important parts. The ejector bar, when not hidden by shadow, was made nearly invisible by glare from your light source.

It is a great effort, and I thank you for making it. I wish you would make another one that is easier to see.

ducking for cover

 

[Crazy Ed]

I'm a new member here too. Wanted to say thanks for the video and information. I'll be getting my 15-22 on Christmas so not sure how soon the weather will allow for a shoot. I WILL have my needlenose pliers with me!

Thanks again for the info!

Ed

 

[CORPORAL PUNISHMENT]

utah, when it failed to eject was there a dent in the side of the round? Mine appeared to be caught between the chamber and the bolt and when i got the round out it had a big dent in the side. My .22 is on the way to smith. Just trying to narrow this down. Was using cci standard velocity

 

[Claimjumper]

another jacked up 1522

OK so I took my new one out today for its maiden voyage and to my surprise it would not shoot more than one round without an FTE. I tried CCI minimags and Federals and neither made a difference. So I took it back to Cabelas without a smile on my face and they are sending it in. Now that I have found this forum it appears this is a common problem. I really hope they fix it (and a couple of mags would be nice too!). It is a really cool little rifle. I am rabbit hunting with a buddy from work tomorrow, he too just bought a new 1522 (so far unfired), I will report back on its performance. At least I still have my old faithfull 10/22!

 

[UtahHunting]

utah, when it failed to eject was there a dent in the side of the round? Mine appeared to be caught between the chamber and the bolt and when i got the round out it had a big dent in the side. My .22 is on the way to smith. Just trying to narrow this down. Was using cci standard velocity

I didn't notice a dent in the side of the round.

 

[n3cal]

OK so I took my new one out today for its maiden voyage and to my surprise it would not shoot more than one round without an FTE. I tried CCI minimags and Federals and neither made a difference. So I took it back to Cabelas without a smile on my face and they are sending it in. Now that I have found this forum it appears this is a common problem. I really hope they fix it (and a couple of mags would be nice too!). It is a really cool little rifle. I am rabbit hunting with a buddy from work tomorrow, he too just bought a new 1522 (so far unfired), I will report back on its performance. At least I still have my old faithfull 10/22!

Sorry to hear you had issues first time out! Welcome to the club! Did you happen to notice if the extractor was still attached to the bolt or was it missing?

Mine has been fine since sending it back to S&W for repair. Have about 1000 rounds through it so far and it's been great.

 

[LTC]

I got mine to the range for the first time tonight. I didn't have much time so I only ran about 30-40 rounds through it at 50' indoors. Using the existing iron sights and sand bags the first five rounds were 1.5" right and about the same low. After 2 more 5 shot strings and adjustments I was on center but maybe .5" high. Sighting with my bad eye the groups were about 1.5". I loaded up the mag for a 10 round string and it started to chew out one hole in the target.

I took care in loading the mag each time and the 15-22 ran flawlessly for all rounds fired. Being in NJ the mag has been pinned and will only accept 14 rounds ( 15 rounds are legal in NJ ). I have ordered a red dot for it from Primary Arms today and hope to have it by mid-week next week.

I hope to go again tomorrow and give it a more through work out.

LTC

 

[maxicooper]

I got mine to the range for the first time tonight. I didn't have much time so I only ran about 30-40 rounds through it at 50' indoors. Using the existing iron sights and sand bags the first five rounds were 1.5" right and about the same low. After 2 more 5 shot strings and adjustments I was on center but maybe .5" high. Sighting with my bad eye the groups were about 1.5". I loaded up the mag for a 10 round string and it started to chew out one hole in the target.

I took care in loading the mag each time and the 15-22 ran flawlessly for all rounds fired. Being in NJ the mag has been pinned and will only accept 14 rounds ( 15 rounds are legal in NJ ). I have ordered a red dot for it from Primary Arms today and hope to have it by mid-week next week.

I hope to go again tomorrow and give it a more through work out.

LTC

Congrats on your new rifle.

 

[Claimjumper]

I did not notice if the extractor was still there, I took it from the desert straight back to cabelas. My buddy at work bought one and we tested it in the desert Friday. It works pretty well, although one round did go off before the round was fully chambered, causing it to rupture very loudly. I have a photo somewhere. I am going to mount a scope on mine as it has accuracy potential that it is not living up to with the iron sights.

 

[deanrowski]

THANKS UTAH HUNTING

Thank you SOOO much for your video on the extractor repair!! I just bought my 15-22 yesterday and went to shoot it today!! AAARRGGHH!! Every shot was a FTE!!! Luckily i spent a little time on this site this morn. and read up on some of the problems related to this firearm.
So I grabbed my needlenose leathermans and in about 2 min completed the mod. 300 rnds. later not one prob. Thank you for saving me the hassle of sending it back to Smith for a month!!!

 

[deanrowski]

OOPS EJECTOR

Sorry I meant the EJECTOR REPAIR!!