M&P15-22 problems and issues
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whoppo
Member
Some of the low serial numbers had issues that S&W seems to have resolved with updated springs and a slightly improved magazine. Like all firearms that are relatively new to the market, there are minor issues. Overall, the 15-22 has proven to be an exceptionally reliable rimfire rifle which functionally comes closer to the true AR platform than any other on the market.
The magazines are demanding only in that you load them properly to ensure consistent staggering in the box. With proper loading, mag related problems are few and far between.
Ammo is ammo... some manufacturer provide better quality, some sell you junk. The preferred ammo among this community includes Winchester, Federal bulk (Walmart 550 packs), and anything CCI (Blazers, MiniMags). Generally avoid stuff like Remington RGB (Remington Golden Bobbleheads) and a few others. The 15-22 owners manual actually lists recommended ammo as well as stuff that has proven to be unreliable.
I personally have made the decision to stick with CCI ammo. The Blazer ammo (not copper washed) tends to get your hands dirty while loading mags, but fires reliably and consistently every time.. no perceivable variation in the *bang*. Blazers can be found on sale frequently at prices that come close to the Federal bulk packs. CCI MiniMags cost a bit more, but being copper washed are cleaner to handle... and just like their less expensive brothers, fire the same way every time. There are a variety of rounds that the 15-22 will gobble up reliably.. what works best for you will probably take a little experimenting.
I've had my 15-22 for a little more than a year with no problems, no defects and after MANY thousands of rounds it just seems to be getting better!
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 15-22 as a solid purchase... hope this helps and whether you buy one or not, welcome to the 15-22 sub-forum
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re problems
i have put 1000 rnds through mine so far and the only problems i have had was with Remongton Thunderbolt, ammo.
Other than that i've used WinchesterExpert .22 Hollow points and Federal Bulk Pak ammo both with no problems. Excelent gun
i have put 1000 rnds through mine so far and the only problems i have had was with Remongton Thunderbolt, ammo.
Other than that i've used WinchesterExpert .22 Hollow points and Federal Bulk Pak ammo both with no problems. Excelent gun
Great firearm for the price. Mine is a newer one, got in January, over 10,000 rounds and no problems (barring ammo selection) and any problems I have heard about are taken care of by S&W rather quickly. When you read other forums the picture of other products seems a bit bleak, in quality and price. Also you have this forum, full of great info, and people who make great add ons.
Unsp0kn
Member
About 2500 rounds here, no issues whatsoever. Used Winchester Wildcats (not recommended but they worked fine) and the American Eagles, copper. I really like mine, however it is one of those guns that you can easily drop a grand on in accessories! It's really hard not to go crazy on it.
Great gun, we have many thousands of round through ours. We started with CCI mini's and it was flawless, bought a couple of boxes of Winchester 333, didn't like it, have pretty much just used CCI, makes sense to me.. feed it what I know it likes, used some fed 550's, shot fine, just yukky on the hands with the goup on them..
I have had mine about a month. Buy lots of good ammo and maybe a couple of extra mags.
Big fun and you really wont want to stop shooting it
Big fun and you really wont want to stop shooting it
My Experience
I have had around 2000 rounds thru my 15-22. When I got it, I cleaned it really well out of the box and slightly lubed some wear surfaces.
I will probably jinx myself here, but here goes:
In no particular order:
Fed bulk
Remington golden bulk
Winchester Wildcats
CCI Blazers
CCI Tactical
Winchester 333
Aguila subsonic, 60 gr. {weird stuff}
Fed target performance
CCI Blazers
Wolf Target{expensive}
And not one failure of any kind! I guess I got uber lucky.
I clean it after every use, even tho there are those who say no need.
I load all six magazines correctly.
I've gotten it super hot. I've added some extra toys, and this is by far the best .22 LR rifle I have ever used or seen. We're not talk Anzungs{sp} here. Other people have had better luck with
Ruger 10-22's{ I own or have owned several and love them}, but the 15-22, used correctly is the tops.
I personally like copper plated bullets and, despite the price, think the CCI Tactical is the best thing since sliced bread.
I hope this helps someone.
Regards,
Mark
I have had around 2000 rounds thru my 15-22. When I got it, I cleaned it really well out of the box and slightly lubed some wear surfaces.
I will probably jinx myself here, but here goes:
In no particular order:
Fed bulk
Remington golden bulk
Winchester Wildcats
CCI Blazers
CCI Tactical
Winchester 333
Aguila subsonic, 60 gr. {weird stuff}
Fed target performance
CCI Blazers
Wolf Target{expensive}
And not one failure of any kind! I guess I got uber lucky.
I clean it after every use, even tho there are those who say no need.
I load all six magazines correctly.
I've gotten it super hot. I've added some extra toys, and this is by far the best .22 LR rifle I have ever used or seen. We're not talk Anzungs{sp} here. Other people have had better luck with
Ruger 10-22's{ I own or have owned several and love them}, but the 15-22, used correctly is the tops.
I personally like copper plated bullets and, despite the price, think the CCI Tactical is the best thing since sliced bread.
I hope this helps someone.
Regards,
Mark
Last of the Mohicans
Member
I finally made it out with mine (used, but new to me). I went through the better part of a box of Winchester 555s the other day. I had several failures to eject. I have begun to look at threads discussing such issues to see what I can do to rectify the issue. Accuracy, however, was very good. And, when it ran, it ran smoothly. It would go a few mags (unfortunately, neutered ones up here...although with the recent election results, hope burns eternal) before a malfunction occurred. They were relatively simple to clear, but annoying nonetheless.
Some of the low serial numbers had issues that S&W seems to have resolved with updated springs and a slightly improved magazine. Like all firearms that are relatively new to the market, there are minor issues. Overall, the 15-22 has proven to be an exceptionally reliable rimfire rifle which functionally comes closer to the true AR platform than any other on the market.
The magazines are demanding only in that you load them properly to ensure consistent staggering in the box. With proper loading, mag related problems are few and far between.
Ammo is ammo... some manufacturer provide better quality, some sell you junk. The preferred ammo among this community includes Winchester, Federal bulk (Walmart 550 packs), and anything CCI (Blazers, MiniMags). Generally avoid stuff like Remington RGB (Remington Golden Bobbleheads) and a few others. The 15-22 owners manual actually lists recommended ammo as well as stuff that has proven to be unreliable.
I personally have made the decision to stick with CCI ammo. The Blazer ammo (not copper washed) tends to get your hands dirty while loading mags, but fires reliably and consistently every time.. no perceivable variation in the *bang*. Blazers can be found on sale frequently at prices that come close to the Federal bulk packs. CCI MiniMags cost a bit more, but being copper washed are cleaner to handle... and just like their less expensive brothers, fire the same way every time. There are a variety of rounds that the 15-22 will gobble up reliably.. what works best for you will probably take a little experimenting.
I've had my 15-22 for a little more than a year with no problems, no defects and after MANY thousands of rounds it just seems to be getting better!
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 15-22 as a solid purchase... hope this helps and whether you buy one or not, welcome to the 15-22 sub-forum
Mine was loving the the winchester and CCI Standard pressure stuff (it was all I could find locally that wasn't complete junk as stated in the post quoted above).
Last of the Mohicans
Member
I'll check the magazine for staggering next time I'm out. But, which SN range should I be looking at in terms of a "problem' rifle? Thanks.
MPDC
Member
On another site where I read, a 15/22 owner reported that his stopped having problems after about a thousand rounds. Some weapons seem to need a break in period.
Only anecdotal since I don't have one but I know from other .22s I do have, ammo faults are common and often can be traced to the ammo itself failing to fire.
If it's any help, since the 15/22 mimics the larger ars in form, try running the bolt a little wet. It's big brothers like lots of lube.
Only anecdotal since I don't have one but I know from other .22s I do have, ammo faults are common and often can be traced to the ammo itself failing to fire.
If it's any help, since the 15/22 mimics the larger ars in form, try running the bolt a little wet. It's big brothers like lots of lube.
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