New 15-22 MOE Failure to lock

[skiphreak]

Just picked up a new 15-22 MOE and shot it for the first time today. First off I must say I am addicted already. This is my first rifle.

Put 200 rounds through. 7 of 8 times it did not lock back on the last round. I was also not round-counting so it caused me to dry fire after the last spent round. I know a rim-fire is not to be dry-fired but have been told that is more critical with a bolt action or a revolver and that when a gas gun is dry-fired that yes the pin slams against the breech face but that it pushes the action back so it does not cause damage? I also had one failure to feed to a a nose-dive in the mag.

Thanks for any input!

 

[Majorlk]

Failure to lock back can be due to any of several things, from a dirty firearm to dirty magazines, to weak magazine springs to an overly-energetic bolt release spring or a lack of any lubrication on the bolt catch itself. Also, make sure you are not using the magazine as a forward grip; this is a common cause for failure of the bolt to lock back because you are unconsciously pulling the magazine slightly out of alignment. Actually, this is one of the more common causes of the problem.

As for dry-firing, there is no real evidence that dry firing does any more damage to the average rimfire as it does to the average centerfire. All of my rimfires - pistols and rifles - have been (and are still) dry fired over the years with no noticeable effect upon the firing pins.

BTW, welcome to the most fun addiction you can legally have.

 

[w0ady]

congrats on the new moe! like major said, holding the mag or resting it on the table when shooting is 1 of the more common causes.

 

[Ghost_Soldier]

When you put a mag in the firearm give it a slight tug downward to make sure it's seated properly, other than that I think major pretty well covered it.

Dry-firing will not hurt an AR, it's actually good practice for trigger control. We used to do it a lot in the army and I still do from time to time.


On a side note, after roughly 9,000 rounds the bolt on my 15-22 has always locked back on an empty mag and I've even tried knocking it around a little bit to see if the bolt would release and it held strong. The only time it hasn't went back all the way was on weaker .22lr rounds but just a rack of the charging handle and its good to go, only happened 2 or 3 times.

 

[Juvicator]

The firing pin doesn't protrude past the step cut in the bolt where the rim of the round fits, the pin won't hit the face of the chamber.

How many mags do you have? If your answer is one, then that sir is the problem. Get more mags, lots and lots of mags, and pounds of rounds.

 

[Majorlk]

Get more mags, lots and lots of mags, and pounds of rounds.

Well Said!!!!!

 

[Hobie1]

Greetings,

The advice above is solid as usual. Good things to look at. I have a couple suggestions also.

What are you shooting for ammo? Have you tried other brands/types such as CCI Stingers. If you're shooting standard velocity, it may not have enough giddy up and go for your new, un-broken in gun. Also, is the gun clean and lubed correctly?.

Hope you get it figured out soon.

Hobie

 

[skiphreak]

Thank you all for the replies! I may have been guilty of using the mag as a forward grip a few times but I don't believe that was always the case upon occurrence. I'm glad to hear that dry-firing is not too big of a deal. To be honest I was even a bit adamant about buying one that had not been on display since it was a rim-fire. I am one to worry too much. I had just been using the mag that came with the gun. I believe I have everything properly lubed up. I had been using and plan to shoot 500 rounds of CCI mini mags through before switching to the federal bulk. That is what I have done with my other rim-fires in order to loosen them up.

 

[Majorlk]

If you only have one mag, you have no idea if the mag is the problem or not. You need to try at least a couple more magazines.