M&P 22 Barrel Problems?

[Gorilla25]

I shot my M&P 22 for the first time today and when I went home to clean it, i could not pass my bore snake through the barrel. Upon looking closer it looks like there is led build up or some sort of build up that is preventing the bore snake from passing through. I cant even get my bore brush and rod through the barrel. I have a plastic cleaner kit for scraping residue and stuff with no luck of freeing whatever that obstruction is. Have any of you experienced this problem? Could anyone advise me on what to do? Thank you in advance.

Ammo used today: Blazer, I shot 378 rounds today

Pics of the build up/ obstruction:

 

[k31scout]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that. Must be a rough spot in the bore thats collecting lead from the Blazers. From the photos it looks like a smooth bore almost. That will take some work to get out of there, maybe a long soak in some good lead remover bore solvent. I'd call S&W and ask if you can send the barrel back by itself.

I have shot a couple hundred rounds without cleaning of mixed ammo from slow lead to fast copper plated and the bore looked good. I would have to say there is a defect in your barrel.

How was the accuracy? Any key holes on paper from tumbling bullets?

 

[Gorilla25]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that. Must be a rough spot in the bore thats collecting lead from the Blazers. From the photos it looks like a smooth bore almost. That will take some work to get out of there, maybe a long soak in some good lead remover bore solvent. I'd call S&W and ask if you can send the barrel back by itself.

I have shot a couple hundred rounds without cleaning of mixed ammo from slow lead to fast copper plated and the bore looked good. I would have to say there is a defect in your barrel.

How was the accuracy? Any key holes on paper from tumbling bullets?

Thanks for the quick response. The first half of the day It was shooting just fine. Perfect holes in the target, no tumbling bullets. I had decent grouping but no pictures, sorry. The second half of the day, I shot at a silhouette range shooting steel targets at 25 yards. I could not hear if I was hitting the targets many times because of the larger calibers firing close by.

 

[Jyezahn]

Pretty bad buildup in there. Use some solvent, and push the brush from muzzle to chamber to work it loose. Since the lead built up going chamber to muzzle, if there's something catching it, it'd be easier to work loose going the opposite direction.

 

[Gorilla25]

All my LGS are closed for the day. I'll pick up solvent tomorrow and give it a good soak and try that.

 

[Tinn-Can]

That is probably a lot of lead... Seems to be a not super uncommon problem. If you take the nut off the front and pull off the shroud bit, you can slide the barrel out the back for easier cleaning without getting solvent all over the rest of it.

 

[Gorilla25]

That is probably a lot of lead... Seems to be a not super uncommon problem. If you take the nut off the front and pull off the shroud bit, you can slide the barrel out the back for easier cleaning without getting solvent all over the rest of it.

It does look like a lot of lead. I have already taken the barrel out. I hope a solvent soak and bore brush will be sufficient.

 

[AJB1228]

Try a .17 brush. Their is a guy in the 15-22 section that had the same problem today with his 15-22. Kinda strange it's the same situation.

 

[arjay]

Wrap a little copper wool ( make sure it's all copper,not plated) like chore boy around a 17 caliber brush and have at it. It will shred it. Solvents really don't work on that much lead.

 

[Gorilla25]

Try a .17 brush. Their is a guy in the 15-22 section that had the same problem today with his 15-22. Kinda strange it's the same situation.

Thanks for the input. The Hoppies .22 rod its self does not fit into my 15-22's barrel either so i thought that was weird too. I'll pick up and try out the .17 tomorrow

Wrap a little copper wool ( make sure it's all copper,not plated) like chore boy around a 17 caliber brush and have at it. It will shred it. Solvents really don't work on that much lead.

Thanks for the heads up. Like mentioned above, i'll try out the .17 when i pick it up tomorrow.

 

[agksimon]

They've been having the exact same problem with Blazer 22 ammo in the new Ruger 22/45 Lite edition and the aftermarket models (Pac-Lite) a ring of lead near the front. Seems to be one spot in the gun that has more heat buildup than in the rest of the barrel. You will eliminate the problem after cleaning it out, by using only plated ammo. This was the cure in the Rugers anyway.

You can read about it here:

22/45 Lite leading theory - RimfireCentral.com Forums

 

[Lost Lake]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that....

What if a guy ran a couple hundred lead bullets then shot a copper bullet through it? Would the barrel deform? I'd send it in and see what S&W says. Or maybe email them the pictures. That's just wild.

 

[M&P Freak]

I've shot thousands of rounds of CCI Blazer without a problem, even gone through two "value packs" in one outing.

That's a lot of leading for < 400 rounds.

 

[Gorilla25]

Im going to get that .17 and give it some scrubbing, email smith& wesson to see what they say and next range time, i'll shoot plated ammo. I'll let you guys know of any update from myself or what smith & wesson says.

 

[Lost Lake]

I've shot thousands of rounds of CCI Blazer without a problem, even gone through two "value packs" in one outing.

That's a lot of leading for < 400 rounds.

That's what I'm saying... I've shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds and never seen anything like that. A lot of guys tell you to NOT clean a .22 because it does more harm than good.

Something is wrong to have a barrel lead up like that.

PLEASE let us know what you find out.

 

[Gorilla25]

Just sent them an email. I WILL keep everyone updated as I attempt to clean it later today and when I get a reply from S&W.

 

[Locked n Loaded]

thats insane, i will stay tuned for a answer ...

good luck

 

[Gorilla25]

***UPDATE***

I could not find a .17 rod and the .17 brush will not fit my .22 rod so i picked up a bottle of Shooters Choice firearms bore cleaner. The guy at my LGS said it was more aggressive than the hoppies bore cleaner. I told him about what had happened and he told me if I cant get the lead out to bring the barrel in and he would send it to S&W since I bought the firearm from his store.

I put some of the cleaner in and let it sit for a while then stuck the .22 rod (no jig or bore brush) in the barrel until it would not go in further. i then used a cloth to hold the barrel and used a hammer and gave the rod some hits. After a while it began to budge so i hit it a little harder. a little while after, the lead chunk falls out. I then spend the next 3 hours brushing, lubing, and swabbing the barrel. I just gave it my second seasoning of frog lube and am waiting for the hour time period before wiping, re-lubing, swabbing, and gun reassembly.

Here are some pictures:
*Note: the tack is just for size comparison to the chunk of lead that was stuck in my barrel.

Yes, the rod I used and hit with a hammer is now destroyed as well as the bore brush. oh well, those are cheap and i got the job done. I will still wait for S&W's response to see what they say and I will also tell them I was able to clean the barrel afterwards.

 

[arjay]

I have to wonder if there was leading and/or a rough spot from the factory.

 

[Gorilla25]

Im wondering the same but when I did the initial cleaning before I went to the range everything looked fine. Like others said, its way too much build up for less than 400 rounds regardless of the ammo type. Im just glad my barrel is clean and I will let everyone know what S&W says when they reply.