Leaving the 15-22 cocked?

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.50AE

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Is it ok to leave it cocked after I'm done shooting at the range?
If it isn't is there a way to uncock it?
 
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You could leave it cocked. You could buy a snap-cap or use a fired case to drop the hammer on. I have a .22 auto pistol that I use the fired case method on.
 
Gun unload and chamber empty, pull back on the charge handle to move the bolt back about a quarter inch or so, then pull the trigger.
 
I was shooting with a friend and he noticed I leave my weapons cocked. He believes you need to uncock your weapons, relax the springs. I am 51 yrs old now and I have never worried about it. He dry fire 22 rimfire weapons, I told him that is harder on them than leaving them cocked. After the debate he is going to do his way and I am going to do it my way, It hard to teach an old dog new tricks. :p
 
I would have to agree with Bulldozer8t that keeping any weapon cocked isn't going to do any harm even over long periods of time.
 
Good firearms safety practice usually specifies weapons are stored unloaded and uncocked. Won't hurt the rifle or springs either way. Nor is there a convenient way of determining the M16-type (and their clones) weapons are cocked or not, the days of external hammers on rifles are long gone other than a few nostalgia lever action and pump types.

I decock all mine. But it's not about the springs.

-- Chuck
 
Well the easy way to tell if my 15-22 is cocked is to flip the safety, if it goes to "safe" its cocked. Same thing on some of my other rifles too, hummm.....
 
jonrobertd said:
Well the easy way to tell if my 15-22 is cocked is to flip the safety, if it goes to "safe" its cocked. Same thing on some of my other rifles too, hummm.....
Click to expand...

shouldnt they be on SAFE anyway? hummmm
Uncocking ensures you have to clear the action before handling the weapon...

I was always taught 1) Guns are ALWAYS loaded; even when they are obviously NOT loaded 2) Do not EVER point a gun at anything you dont intend to KILL 3) mechanical safety devices are there for a reason--use them-- but dont RELY on them 4) the ONLY safe direction is DOWN ( either down range or down at the ground)
 
Mine stays cocked but once in a while I'll store it released. I just open the rifle up, pull the trigger with my finger on the hammer and just close it back up.
 
I don't believe there is any mechanical harm in leaving a weapon cocked.
That said,
I believe strongly in always putting a gun in a neutral condition (no magazine, no ammo, action closed,hammer down) before putting it away.
 
bulldozerd8t said:
I was shooting with a friend and he noticed I leave my weapons cocked. He believes you need to uncock your weapons, relax the springs. I am 51 yrs old now and I have never worried about it. He dry fire 22 rimfire weapons, I told him that is harder on them than leaving them cocked. After the debate he is going to do his way and I am going to do it my way, It hard to teach an old dog new tricks. :p
Click to expand...
Dry firing is a standard training regimen for competition shooters no matter what the caliber of the gun. And using snapcaps is a pain in the *** for those purposes. As long as the hammer in a rimfire does not hit the breechface then using snapcaps is not a real issue. Replacing a firing pin or FP spring is small price to pay for getting really good.
 
Note the position of the selector in the Semi or Fire position is no indication if the rifle is cocked or uncocked. In the Safe position it should be an indication it's cocked. Should being the operative word.

If the plastic M&P15-22 selector been forced onto Safe with the rifle not cocked it may become possible to fire the rifle in the Safe position. These are steel in the 5.56mm versions and won't do this, but the plastic M&P15-22 version can wear enough to allow enough trigger movement when cocked to release the hammer.

-- Chuck
 
I keep all my AR style rifles cocked in the safe.

If the SHTF I just slap in a mag and drop the bolt and I'm ready to rock n' roll.

-Masta
 
Redbulladdikt said:
mine seems to go into the SAFE position whether cocked or not...
Click to expand...

S&W will send you a new safety selector. The old one can't be fixed.

E-mail or call Kelley Rathman at S&W:

Smith & Wesson
Customer Service
Returns/Exchanges
Retail Export Support
Admin.
800-331-0852 X 3766

[email protected]

Tell her your what your safety does, you will have a replacement in short order.
 
Last edited:
Dragon88 said:
You've forced the selector to SAFE while uncocked too many times, and you need to get it fixed.
Click to expand...

I have never FORCED anything on ANY firearm and insulting my intelligence is not appreciated--i bought the gun used from a local dealer--meaning the moron who owned it before me probably forced the safety
And the earlier post "before somebody gets hurt"--if you follow Cooper's Range rules then nobody should be in the position for it to be an issue; those four rules back eachother up and should always be practiced

I will be having my Dad look at the lower this week--does anybody know if the steel components in the m&P 15 5.56 trigger assembly will work in ours>?
 
Redbulladdikt said:
does anybody know if the steel components in the m&P 15 5.56 trigger assembly will work in ours>?
Click to expand...

Any small pin FCG made for an AR will work on the 15-22, however, safeties made for an M&P 15 or any other AR will not work on the 15-22. The 15-22 lower receiver is wider than a standard AR lower, therefore the safety selector for a standard AR is not wide enough. The fire 'flat' on the safety, and the detent locations will not line up, therefore will not function, if installed in a 15-22.

Currently there are no after market AR safeties that work on the 15-22.
 
Last edited:
CPTBeaker said:
S&W will send you a new safety selector. The old one can't be fixed.

E-mail or call Kelley Rathman at S&W:

Smith & Wesson
Customer Service
Returns/Exchanges
Retail Export Support
Admin.
800-331-0852 X 3766

[email protected]

Tell her your what your safety does, you will have a replacement in short order.
Click to expand...

thanks--i emailed this morning straight away and my dad is expecting the lower and the parts when they arrive


I will also be having a chat with my local dealer when i stop in today to grab pistol ammo--the rifle has been in this state from day 1 and they need to be aware they sold me a rifle that should have been more thoroughly checked--no harm done but if S&W sends me a bill you can bet the dealer will be footing it
 
I have an early 15-22 and I have just been discovering some of the issues some of the other owners have had with the 15-22. If Im done at the range, and I remove the magazine and the weapon is empty. I press the trigger to fire and the weapon is uncocked, I am NOT suppose to be able to move the fire selection switch to safe? It has been this way since the day I brought it home.
 
I just got done checking my rifle. My safety selector switch is definately worn down. I am embarrassed that I didn't recognize/know this. I apologize for being a novice AR owner.
 
Wear on safety

You folks haven't used the allen screw pre-travel trick have you? If you have, you can bugger your safety doing that. If you haven't, then just don't try to safety the un-cocked gun....but you know this.;):)

Hobie
 
Redbulladdikt said:
I will also be having a chat with my local dealer when i stop in today to grab pistol ammo--the rifle has been in this state from day 1 and they need to be aware they sold me a rifle that should have been more thoroughly checked--no harm done but if S&W sends me a bill you can bet the dealer will be footing it
Click to expand...

That's your responsibility as well. A simple function check of the gun would have revealed the problem the first time you cleaned or inspected it.
 
Dragon88 said:
That's your responsibility as well. A simple function check of the gun would have revealed the problem the first time you cleaned or inspected it.
Click to expand...

It's the buyer's responsibility to verify all operations... especially when looking at a used firearm.

If you don't know what to look for, then contact a good gunsmith or buy new.

What's the saying... let the buyer beware....
 
crazykg85 said:
I have an early 15-22 and I have just been discovering some of the issues some of the other owners have had with the 15-22. If Im done at the range, and I remove the magazine and the weapon is empty. I press the trigger to fire and the weapon is uncocked, I am NOT suppose to be able to move the fire selection switch to safe? It has been this way since the day I brought it home.
Click to expand...

This below was sent out by S&W. It is located in the Notable Thread Index here at the top of the Forum page of threads.

------------------------------

Date: March 18, 2010

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OWNERS OF SMITH & WESSON M&P15-22 RIFLES AND M&P15 CENTERFIRE RIFLES

It has come to our attention that certain operating procedures detailed in the Safety & Instruction Manuals of our M&P15-22 Rifle (prior to revision date 03-22-10) and M&P15 Centerfire Rifle (prior to revision date 03-22-10) are inaccurate which could lead to damage to and/or improper functioning of your rifle. When operating your M&P15-22 or M&P15 Centerfire rifle, if the Safety & Instruction Manual calls for the placement of the safety selector into the "SAFE" position, and the safety selector does not easily rotate into the "SAFE" position, DO NOT attempt to force it into "SAFE." Instead, while keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your finger outside of the trigger guard and off of the trigger: (1) remove the magazine; (2) lock the bolt open; and (3) then rotate the safety selector into the "SAFE" position before proceeding. Going forward, for proper operating procedures, please refer to the sections on "INSPECTING YOUR RIFLE," "LOADING," "CLEARING MISFIRES," "UNLOADING," and "DISASSEMBLY – FIELD STRIPPING" in the revised Safety & Instruction Manual for your particular rifle. These revisions can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate link below.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P_1522_Rifle_Manual.pdf
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P15_Rifle_Manual.pdf

If you have any questions regarding any operational aspects of your Smith & Wesson firearm, please contact Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852 ext. 2905 before proceeding with its operation.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
--------------------------------------------------------

Here is a link to it and the Owners Manuals, as well as commmentray by our Forum members http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...5-m-p15-22-rifle-important-safety-notice.html
 
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