Maybe a bad purchase

[GrandRoyal]

First time poster - great site. However, I wish I would have found this forum earlier and here's why -

I picked up a 15-22 at a local gun store this past weekend. I got home and found this site and low and behold it looks like I got one of the "bad ones". The serial prefix is DSX. The extractor is not bent inward towards the bolt and the mags only say 22lr with the red/orange load assist.

Before I packed it up and mailed it to Smith I decided to clean it and run some rounds through it tonight. I was shooting Federal lightning ammo. 100 rds through the gun (4 fully loaded mags) with no problems at all. I was even expecting it to jam up on me - fired both rapid and slow.

My question is this - do you think I should send it back to get it fixed even though it has not failed on me yet? Should I run a couple hundred more rounds through it to see if it does?

As a side note this gun is amazing - I could have shot it for hours if I didnt have to get back home. Already spending way too much money online buying accessories (bipod foregrip, scope, case, rail covers etc).

Any input you can provide would be great. Thanks

 

[Brett248Vista]

Not even close to a bad purchase.. Shoot it.... enjoy it... If and when it breaks, S&W will take care of it with no cost to you.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Redwood69]

I have one of the very first ones made, and I have over 1500 rounds threw mine with no problems. If I were you I would just keep shooting yours and if you have a problem then send it in. It seems like if your gun is going to break it would do it right away. Just my opinion.

 

[GrandRoyal]

Thanks for the quick replies -

just an edit - I meant ejector not extractor.

 

[ledman]

I would say put another 4-500 rounds through it and see how it performs, I mean, you can probably expect 1 or 2 FTE, I would say that would be acceptable, so, you would be GTG I say.

 

[DasFriek]

I don't understand all the people ive seen lately who buy the gun and then read the site and then think they should send the gun to S&W for repairs on a working weapon?

Sure i understand you spent a ton like i did also, And want a perfect product out of the box. The thing is it is a "perfect product" until it breaks and then send it to S&W.
Odds are you never will have too.

Just don't EVER use Remington .22lr ammo no matter what flavor it is.
I wouldn't even use it in any gun after i bought my first 525 count bulk box and the bullets looked like bobble heads on top of the cases.

Ive had a few failures to feed with my gun all attributed to loading the mag incorrectly as im always in a hurry to pull the trigger. Those are easy to pick out as they will lodge a live round on the top of the mag and push it to the end and smash it and you have to pry it out.

Seriously someone make a mag loader for this gun!...

 

[twinkey]

how long will they honor fixing the 15-22

 

[Evile]

I have used the remington ammo the only issue ive had with them were standard velocity. after i did the ejector fix on mine I have had zero issues. also an important thing is how you load the ammo go one at a time and after each one make sure they point up

 

[Dragon88]

Just keep shooting it until it blows up in your face. Will that be this weekend, 10 years from now, who knows? Hey hopefully you won't loose an eye or injure someone next to you, but don't worry S&W will send you a free shipping label when it happens. Just blame all the "out of spec" ammo being sold these days, or yourself for loading it incorrectly, blame anything but the rifle.

Seriously it's amazing to me how people defend this plastic gun endlessly despite the problems. I hope a recall happens before someone gets seriously injured by this thing. To the OP sorry to rant in your thread, I hope you are very happy with yours and it works without a hitch. But all the positivity in this forum over the 15-22 needs to be tempered by advice to new buyers on what exactly they are buying and the problems they will encounter with it. It fires OUT OF BATTERY. This is not acceptable in a firearm......

 

[Evile]

It fires OUT OF BATTERY. This is not acceptable in a firearm......

Im willing to bet this is ammo related not the gun it self

 

[Brett248Vista]

Just keep shooting it until it blows up in your face. Will that be this weekend, 10 years from now, who knows? Hey hopefully you won't loose an eye or injure someone next to you, but don't worry S&W will send you a free shipping label when it happens. Just blame all the "out of spec" ammo being sold these days, or yourself for loading it incorrectly, blame anything but the rifle.

Seriously it's amazing to me how people defend this plastic gun endlessly despite the problems. I hope a recall happens before someone gets seriously injured by this thing. To the OP sorry to rant in your thread, I hope you are very happy with yours and it works without a hitch. But all the positivity in this forum over the 15-22 needs to be tempered by advice to new buyers on what exactly they are buying and the problems they will encounter with it. It fires OUT OF BATTERY. This is not acceptable in a firearm......

Sorry if I don't agree that it's an Out Of Battery issue. I believe the round is actually chambered and I think the heavy primer hit from the firing pin ruptures the rim/side of the case if the casing is on the thin side of the specifications. I think when the case ruptures it probably unseats the bolt a little and it throws the ejector out, but I'm pretty sure the bullet has already gone down range like it should have.

To me, Out Of Battery would be if the round never chambered and exploded.. Yes that could be catastrophic and it's happened before in all types of guns from all types of manufacturers.

Just my $0.02 and I do agree that S&W ultimately should do something about it...

 

[Evile]

Sorry if I don't agree that it's an Out Of Battery issue. I believe the round is actually chambered and I think the heavy primer hit from the firing pin ruptures the rim/side of the case if the casing is on the thin side of the specifications. I think when the case ruptures it probably unseats the bolt a little and it throws the ejector out, but I'm pretty sure the bullet has already gone down range like it should have.

To me, Out Of Battery would be if the round never chambered and exploded.. Yes that could be catastrophic and it's happened before in all types of guns from all types of manufacturers.

Just my $0.02 and I do agree that S&W ultimately should do something about it...

So whos at fault here the gun for hitting the casing to hard or the bullet maker for making a bullet not to specs?

 

[Dragon88]

You can call it whatever you want, a round detonates in the gun. That is not good. Also, why are all the other 22 guns in the world shooting this "out of spec" ammo just fine? Duds and less accurate loads are common to all 22, but rounds blowing up? Come on, trying to blame the ammunition is ridiculous. A firearm should be able to fire every type and brand of factory ammunition out there safely, that is why we have SAAMI specs. It would seem that something about the 15-22 does not meet this requirement.

Remington had an OOB problem with their 17hmr 597 and recalled all the rifles, buying them back from owners if necessary. I'm sure that was expensive to them but it was the right thing to do. How long will S&W let this one go unfixed? Until a child gets hurt or looses an eye?

 

[Brett248Vista]

You can call it whatever you want, a round detonates in the gun. That is not good.

Isn't that what all guns do?

Remington had an OOB problem with their 17hmr 597 and recalled all the rifles, buying them back from owners if necessary. I'm sure that was expensive to them but it was the right thing to do. How long will S&W let this one go unfixed? Until a child gets hurt or looses an eye?

There are other rifles from other manufacturers that I've seen do the same thing to the casing (recently). As for the HMR .17 recall, yeah I saw how they generously offered to buy them back, not for what the owners paid for them though.

 

[51reva]

Just shoot the rifle. As mentioned earlier, S&W will fix it, if it breaks. Mine runs fine. I have put 2500rd. thru it. I love this little black rifle! Now, go to the range and enjoy your new gun!

 

[chuck s]

The M&P15-22 uses controlled feed which means the cartridge rim slips under the extractor as the cartridge exits the magazine. It's held tightly against the face of the bolt during feeding, firing, and extracting until it hits the ejector. Next time at the range ease the charging handle forward and watch the feeding.

The hammer can drop when the bolt reaches about half way closed. The firing pin can reach the primer -- held tightly against the face of the bolt, remember -- before the bolt is fully closed. This is an out of battery (OOB) discharge. And appears common with these rifles. The case ruptures because it's pressurized with part of it sticking out of the chamber. Dirty, undersized chamber will prevent full chambering as will oversize or defective cartridges. The angles of the hammer and firing pin at the back of the bolt allow the hammer to strike the firing pin with the bolt slightly out of battery.

The M16 rifle feeds differently. It just stuffs a cartridge in the chamber and snaps the extractor over the rim as the bolt fully closes. the M16 firing pin is also too short to reach the primer until the bolt is fully closed and rotated into the bolt carrier.

-- Chuck

 

[raveneap]

First, welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of good folks here, lots of good info, and lots of good natured ribbing. As to your 15-22, don't send it back unless it malfunctions. If it ever does Smith will fix it. If there were a serious safety issue, I'm pretty sure that Smith would be the first one to notify owners. I got mine a month or so ago, only had a chance to take it out once so far - put 100 rounds downrange w/oi a hiccup. I was using Federal bulk and Winchester bulk. I concur with the advice on not using Remington. I tried Remington Golden in my Ruger Mk III when it was new and could hardly get two rounds in succession w/o a problem. Called Ruger and they flat out said the Mk III doesn't like Rem Golden. Anyway, enjoy your 15-22 - it's a fun gun.

 

[Skidder]

Dragon I am one of those who hasn't had a problem after 1000 rounds and will continue to praise MY rifle right up to the point I have a problem but until then why would I complain? Nothing has gone wrong. Maybe those that are having problems should just send it back. Seems simple to me. If ya like it fine if ya don't ya know what to do. Sorry but mine is running fine. I feel for those that have problems. But like life nothing is perfect and I will not say a bad word until I have issues cause I don't know what ammo others are using or how they load or clean the rifles or anything else they do. I do understand that if you have a safety issue it is very important to contact S&M about it and get it resolved though.

 

[eztarget]

i have to say, this is the best purchase i have had yet.
Beretta NEOS - good purchase
Taurus 24/7 9mm - so so purchase. love the gun, hate the trigger
M&P 15-22 - great purchase. everyone wants to shoot this one. i need another mag. my fingers are getting worn out reloading a magazine every 60 seconds.

 

[avery53]

You can call it whatever you want, a round detonates in the gun. That is not good. Also, why are all the other 22 guns in the world shooting this "out of spec" ammo just fine? Duds and less accurate loads are common to all 22, but rounds blowing up? Come on, trying to blame the ammunition is ridiculous. A firearm should be able to fire every type and brand of factory ammunition out there safely, that is why we have SAAMI specs. It would seem that something about the 15-22 does not meet this requirement.

Remington had an OOB problem with their 17hmr 597 and recalled all the rifles, buying them back from owners if necessary. I'm sure that was expensive to them but it was the right thing to do. How long will S&W let this one go unfixed? Until a child gets hurt or looses an eye?

I agree, Smith needs to address this problem.
I am afraid they will wait until someone gets seriously injured before doing a recall.
Mine has been fine so far, but still concerning.
avery