M&P 22 Assistance

[trafficman337]

Hello out there in Smith and Wesson Land,
Hoping someone can give me some insight and or advice. I have owned the M&P 22 for the last three or four months. I love the weapon. I came up with the bright idea to upgrade the sights. I purchased a set of Williams Firesights. I had them installed by my Gun Dealer. Keeping in mind, the weapon never jammed, misfed or failed to eject, I went to the range today. The weapon continously jammed, misfed and failed to feed. Also, I consider my self to be an average to above average shooter, today, all of my rounds were low-left. I am thoroughly disgusted now and need some advice. I am wondering if the slide was damaged, and if I should go back to the original sights and order a new slide and factory sights. Help!!!!

 

[mkbruce]

Using the same ammo as before?

I have had certain brands of ammo (can't quite recall exactly what it was) that had about a 25% failure to eject and feed the next round.

Low and left (for a right handed shooter) indicates trigger control problems - generally too much finger on the trigger and anticipation of recoil, but since you didn't have these issues before, that doesn't seem likely.

Field strip the pistol and make sure the slide is lubricated properly and check that all the parts are installed in their correct orientation - particularly the guide rod and its bushing. The cup of the bushing should face forward so that the recoil spring sits inside of it.

The M&P22 slide is aluminum and it is possible that the smith deformed it somehow while installing the new sights.

Does the slide rack smoothly?

 

[trafficman337]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. The slide racks very smoothly. I have used this ammo prior and it ran flawlessly. I will break down the weapon tonight and clean and oil it up. I am hoping I put it together correctly the last time I cleaned it, or now that I think about it, the Smith had it apart to put the sights on it. I will look at this, thanks. One more thing, if I may. Where can I order a new slide and a factory set of sights if these are damaged?

 

[agksimon]

I changed out the sights on several M&P22's, including my own and never had a problem. Being as the slide is aluminum, the sights use set screws more than swedging to hold them in and come out rather easily compared to centerfire M&P's with a steel slide. If the slide was bent, even a few thousandths, you would think it would not cycle properly or easily. It is possible that the gunsmith did not align them to shoot to point of aim. That's why I always use masking tape and mark the original sights center and install the new ones to the same exact spot. As for ammo not cycling, are you using the same ammo as before? I have found that Federal, American Eagle and Winchester do not function well in a lot of the M&P22's. CCI Mini-Mags and Remington Golden work very well.

 

[Thump-boom]

Sound like who ever installed the sights may have tweaked the slide in his vice

 

[bigb0r3]

I would suspect ammo too. Here is an experience I just had:
M&P .22 FTF,FTE,FTF. A story about ammo. - RimfireCentral.com Forums

I know you said the slide is fine but I would suggest trying it again without the slide return spring installed. You will get a better feel for how it tracks.

 

[George9]

You get back the same gun? Should have nothing to do with the sights at all. Take it down as you would for cleaning, clean it lube it maybe something up there make sure the shock buffer is still in the gun and installed right. Spring going inside the buffer and then slid onto the guide rod buffer and spring ending up next to the takedown lever when all is installed.. George