MP 15-22, a good buy?

[KRRS]

I just bought one a couple of weeks ago, but haven't taken it to the range yet. I go later this week. It is an amazing looking 22. Cannot wait to shoot it. I'll keep you posted on the results.

 

[TxShooter2k9]

best of luck with it!!! Ive sure enjoyed mine since its return from s&w.

 

[LifeInPa]

You are better off having S&W look at it. The first time my 15-22 broke the extractor, Gander Mountain fixed it with parts from another in stock 15-22. The extractor lasted less than a month before breaking again. I sent it to S&W for repair and now the gun works great.

I just hope they find the problem, right now I am worried that they won't find a problem with it and when I get it back it will still be screwed up.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I just hope they find the problem, right now I am worried that they won't find a problem with it and when I get it back it will still be screwed up.

Don't worry so much.

S&W will get your rifle working again... probably. I bet it will fire at least three rounds before it begins jamming. Just kidding of course.

I would rest assured that S&W knows exactly what poblems there are with their product and how to remedy. I suspect that S&W was well aware of the issues before they shipped the first rifle out.

 

[LifeInPa]

Don't worry so much.

S&W will get your rifle working again... probably. I bet it will fire at least three rounds before it begins jamming. Just kidding of course.

I would rest assured that S&W knows exactly what poblems there are with their product and how to remedy. I suspect that S&W was well aware of the issues before they shipped the first rifle out.

Then why not recall the rifles before selling them? It doesn't make sense.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Then why not recall the rifles before selling them? It doesn't make sense.

Profit. Widget companies are always faced with balancing costs/sales/reputation.

What would not make sense to me is that for a company like S&W to be clueless as to how their shipped products will perform, and that includes shipping less than perfect products.

 

[27 Beck]

I just hope they find the problem, right now I am worried that they won't find a problem with it and when I get it back it will still be screwed up.

Well, mine had broken parts, so it was easy to find the problem. It was fixed, tested, and now shoots great.

Don't worry so much.

S&W will get your rifle working again... probably. I bet it will fire at least three rounds before it begins jamming. Just kidding of course.

I would rest assured that S&W knows exactly what poblems there are with their product and how to remedy. I suspect that S&W was well aware of the issues before they shipped the first rifle out.

I don't think S&W was aware of the issues. They could not have tested and shot all the brands of ammo that are sitting in buyers homes. And, .22 ammo varies between lots of the same manufacturer. As first buyers, we are actually testing the guns for them. They are very quick to fix the problems that have occurred.

Then why not recall the rifles before selling them? It doesn't make sense.

Not all the rifles have a problem. One poster on the forum has shot over 6000 rounds thru his with no issues. If it breaks, S&W is taking care of it with no cost shipping both ways.

And, no, I don't work for S&W. They did send me two free magazines since my 15-22 got to take a ride on the FedEx truck.

 

[LifeInPa]

Profit. Widget companies are always faced with balancing costs/sales/reputation.

What would not make sense to me is that for a company like S&W to be clueless as to how their shipped products will perform, and that includes shipping less than perfect products.

Makes sense but if they put out a bunch of bad rifles that can't be good for their reputation. They can be good about fixing the rifle and how they treat the customer but not many people are going to be happy about losing their rifle for a month.

Well, mine had broken parts, so it was easy to find the problem. It was fixed, tested, and now shoots great.



I don't think S&W was aware of the issues. They could not have tested and shot all the brands of ammo that are sitting in buyers homes. And, .22 ammo varies between lots of the same manufacturer. As first buyers, we are actually testing the guns for them. They are very quick to fix the problems that have occurred.



Not all the rifles have a problem. One poster on the forum has shot over 6000 rounds thru his with no issues. If it breaks, S&W is taking care of it with no cost shipping both ways.

And, no, I don't work for S&W. They did send me two free magazines since my 15-22 got to take a ride on the FedEx truck.

I don't think the problem is with the ammo, how can I fire Federal Spitfire like most other people and have these problems? I just wish I got the M&P 15-22 that lasted for thousands of rounds. Don't worry I believe that you don't work for S&W but I just really miss my rifle right now, never before in my life did I have such an urge to shoot something.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I don't think S&W was aware of the issues. They could not have tested and shot all the brands of ammo that are sitting in buyers homes. And, .22 ammo varies between lots of the same manufacturer. As first buyers, we are actually testing the guns for them. They are very quick to fix the problems that have occurred.

I don't mean to be argumentative, but I'm pretty sure a company like S&W has the resources and testing capacity exceeding that of a couple guys making a YouTube video in the woods with a variety of currently manufactured ammo in retail stores.

Since I have no first-hand knowledge of S&W manufacturing, testing and quality control, I'd be interested to hear from those who do. I'd be surprised to hear that S&W has no significant and robust testing of newly designed and manufactured products, and that S&W is clueless about the operation of their products absent consumer feedback. Though, it would not be the first time I find myself being surprised.(grin)

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Makes sense but if they put out a bunch of bad rifles that can't be good for their reputation. They can be good about fixing the rifle and how they treat the customer but not many people are going to be happy about losing their rifle for a month.

Yes... it isn't good for reputation. Since we don't know what evil lurks in the minds of S&W... we can only guess. I suppose it's possible that S&W calculates that a recreational shooter isn't worth the quality control, or has minimal impact on reputation? Who knows....


If I was reading about reliabilty issues with a firearm that I intended to rely on for self defense I would never purchase it, period, regardless if S&W stands behind their product or not. Who needs such issues when there are so many other proven products to chose from. On the other hand, I'd purchase a toy like the 15-22 even after reading about all the troubles.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

And, no, I don't work for S&W. /QUOTE]

Rumors about you and TxShooter (grin)

 

[27 Beck]

And, no, I don't work for S&W.

Rumors about you and TxShooter (grin)

Deny, deny, deny.

 

[LifeInPa]

Yes... it isn't good for reputation. Since we don't know what evil lurks in the minds of S&W... we can only guess. I suppose it's possible that S&W calculates that a recreational shooter isn't worth the quality control, or has minimal impact on reputation? Who knows....


If I was reading about reliabilty issues with a firearm that I intended to rely on for self defense I would never purchase it, period, regardless if S&W stands behind their product or not. Who needs such issues when there are so many other proven products to chose from. On the other hand, I'd purchase a toy like the 15-22 even after reading about all the troubles.

I understand where you're coming from, but this is quite an expensive toy to break down so quickly.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

this is quite an expensive toy to break down so quickly.

Absolutley.

For that matter, any priced S&W firearm should be expected, with rare exception, to function properly. And there should be no need bring a bag to the shooting range to collect items breaking off.

All that being said, this particular firearm is somewhat of a bird of a different feather. The 15-22 is clearly a product that was produced with form (looks) in mind, and secondarily designed to function within the form. That's part of what makes it a toy, IMO. Umarex/Walther/Colt did the same thing when producing a .22lr copy of the M4. They have had functioning problems with their rifle as well. Then there's the Ruger SR-22. Unlike the Umarex and S&W, the SR-22 form was built around function. And.... it works. But, I don't like the looks of that functional scrawny magazine (wink). So there it is... as a consumer I went with form over function. I think I got what I paid for.

 

[LifeInPa]

Absolutley.

For that matter, any priced S&W firearm should be expected, with rare exception, to function properly. And there should be no need bring a bag to the shooting range to collect items breaking off.

All that being said, this particular firearm is somewhat of a bird of a different feather. The 15-22 is clearly a product that was produced with form (looks) in mind, and secondarily designed to function within the form. That's part of what makes it a toy, IMO. Umarex/Walther/Colt did the same thing when producing a .22lr copy of the M4. They have had functioning problems with their rifle as well. Then there's the Ruger SR-22. Unlike the Umarex and S&W, the SR-22 form was built around function. And.... it works. But, I don't like the looks of that functional scrawny magazine (wink). So there it is... as a consumer I went with form over function. I think I got what I paid for.

Oh now I see what you're getting at, I can now understand why you classify it as a toy. When I bought this rifle I was looking for form and function and I thought thats what I got. The SR-22 is just function, under the skin it's just an expensive Ruger 10/22.

 

[LifeInPa]

Update:

So today I contacted S&W to see the status of my rifle. They didn't have too much detailed information but here is what I learned:

- The rifle is on it's way to shipping, so it's heading back to Gander Mountain. However they didn't tell me what was wrong with it, or what they did to fix it. I am concerned they didn't properly troubleshoot the rifle and I will get it back in the same condition.

- Gander Mountain sent the rifle out with a live round in the chamber, the stupidity is amazing.

- They couldn't tell me when my rifle will arrive for pickup or how long it will take to ship it.

Hopefully the problem has been resolved and I will be shooting my rifle soon. I just hope when I get the rifle back they include a written explanation of what was wrong with the rifle and how they fixed the problem. I also hope they loaded the clip with 25 rounds and emptied the clip to prove that the rifle functions properly. More updates to come as I learn more.

 

[Thomas_H]

Don't expect a lengthy description. If your lucky, you will get a "updated to current specs", if your unlucky, you'll get a "unable to reproduce problem".

Most likely, they will have updated your rifle and it will be good to go.

 

[LifeInPa]

Don't expect a lengthy description. If your lucky, you will get a "updated to current specs", if your unlucky, you'll get a "unable to reproduce problem".

Most likely, they will have updated your rifle and it will be good to go.

Here's hoping because if I get a broken rifle I will go from disappointed to angry very fast.

 

[27 Beck]

Don't expect a lengthy description. If your lucky, you will get a "updated to current specs", if your unlucky, you'll get a "unable to reproduce problem".

Agree. Hope they fixed your rifle.

 

[TxShooter2k9]

when i got mine back, on the paperwork they told me what they fixed. Also, after Academy sent it off, i called s&w quite a bit. The last time i called they told me it had been returned, and gave me the tracking #. Best of luck.