New 15-22 Sport with a cruddy barrel

[rbh350]

I bought a brand new S&W 15-22 Sport at my LGS yesterday afternoon. I didn't have a chance to really play with it until this morning. I took it down to my work shop for a good cleaning as I do with all brand new firearms.

It was obvious that the factory had test shot it as the bolt face was dirty. I don't know what S&W uses for their protective product on new rifles but….. the barrel was filthy and I had a hell of time getting it clean. I used Hoppe's bore cleaner and cotton patches, between a couple of runs with a brass brush, then repeat. I probably used at least 25 patches that started out dark brown/black and gradually lightened up. I worked on the barrel for probably almost an hour. I've never experienced that kind of problem with any other firearm I've bought and I've owned quite a few, much to my wife's chagrin. Whatever that stuff is, it's horrible.

The manager of the LGS is a friend of mine who special ordered the Sport into the gun shop for me. I'm not worried that maybe the shop had a little target practice with it before I picked it up.

It's going to be my rifle host for a suppressor currently in ATF jail waiting for my Tax Stamp.

Just thought I'd share my experience with you folks.

Regards, Bob

 

[sithlord]

Clp and a bore snake.

Patches are so 1980 imho

 

[FWG]

I will be picking up a 15-22 Sport this week, will post here if it is also overly gunked up.

I have Hoppes no.9 and patches along with CLP and a bore snake. Sounds like the OP would have to use multiple snakes to clean the barrel. Easier to keep using fresh patches on new barrels, YMMV.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I just have a hard time believing S&W has so much time that they are gonna shoot hundreds of rounds thru a gun for a test shot. I can shoot 200 rounds & my gun is not terribly gunked up. A quick clean of the bolt plus 2 passes with a bore snake is all it takes. Neither of my 15-22s had much, if any protective product. Nothing that required any special cleaning.

So for a gun to be that dirty, I wonder the gun was prior owned. I'd be real curious what the LGS sold you, even if they were a friend.

 

[rbh350]

I just have a hard time believing S&W has so much time that they are gonna shoot hundreds of rounds thru a gun for a test shot. I can shoot 200 rounds & my gun is not terribly gunked up. A quick clean of the bolt plus 2 passes with a bore snake is all it takes. Neither of my 15-22s had much, if any protective product. Nothing that required any special cleaning.

So for a gun to be that dirty, I wonder the gun was prior owned. I'd be real curious what the LGS sold you, even if they were a friend.

I forgot to mention my use of my bore snake, ran through twice besides all the brass brush use. The bolt cleaned up with a couple of passes of an oily patch. There is no wear on the rifle, trigger group looked brand new. It's just whatever preservative product they use. I could see this stuff on the barrel exterior through the hand guard. It came off sticky & brown using a q-tip.

You can slam the gun shop if that makes you feel better. It's part of a four store chain in my area. My friend is the manager & fellow gun club member. We have done business and shot together for about 20 years.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

You can slam the gun shop if that makes you feel better. It's part of a four store chain in my area. My friend is the manager & fellow gun club member. We have done business and shot together for about 20 years.

I didn't slam them as I have no idea who they are. All I'm saying is none of my 15-22s or my friends has had any such preservative on it so if S&W doesn't use such gunk, it had to come from somewhere. Maybe someone else who has made a recent purchase can state how their gun arrived.

 

[FWG]

In a couple of days I should be able to make it to the LGS. There waits a 15-22 Sport that was ordered from Budsgunshop.com for $368.00.

Will post here the good or bad.

 

[Bigkilla]

I didn't slam them as I have no idea who they are. All I'm saying is none of my 15-22s or my friends has had any such preservative on it so if S&W doesn't use such gunk, it had to come from somewhere. Maybe someone else who has made a recent purchase can state how their gun arrived.

I just got a 15-22 Sport friday the 11th and it came clean as a whistle.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I just got a 15-22 Sport friday the 11th and it came clean as a whistle.

I think that should tell the OP that what he is seeing is not some preservative product, assuming of course other new owners have the same clean guns. No logical reason I can think of where S&W would treat some guns but not all. Curious if the specific LGS orders direct from S&W or since it is a chain, does another store do the ordering or does it come from a wholesaler?

Being an impartial observer (not slamming anyone), my bet is still, somewhere along the supply chain, that gun was used & returned.

 

[Chuck Finley]

I just got a 15-22 Sport <snip> and it came clean as a whistle.

Same here, looks like it had never been fired.

 

[rbh350]

I think that should tell the OP that what he is seeing is not some preservative product, assuming of course other new owners have the same clean guns. No logical reason I can think of where S&W would treat some guns but not all. Curious if the specific LGS orders direct from S&W or since it is a chain, does another store do the ordering or does it come from a wholesaler?

Being an impartial observer (not slamming anyone), my bet is still, somewhere along the supply chain, that gun was used & returned.

Thanks for all the responses. I called the LGS this morning. The rifle was ordered in from their distributor. He reminded me he cut the tape on the box in front of me, I'd forgotten that. He had no real explanation other than occasionally they get in new guns that are real dirty. He suggested I call S&W and register my displeasure.

I called S&W customer service next. The representative was very nice but again offered no real explanation. Asked if I'd shot it yet, replied, no. He said there is the lifetime guarantee & if after shooting it, if there are issues, they will take care of it.

I really don't know where to go from here but shoot it this weekend & see.

Regards, Bob

 

[P'cola]

I really don't know where to go from here but shoot it this weekend & see.

Shoot it, and if it functions fine, enjoy the hell out of it!
If it doesn't function correctly (if maybe it had been used, and returned for a reason) S&W will no doubtedly make it right.
It's unfortunate to receive a dirty new firearm (I have) but face it, you were gonna get it dirty and have to clean it anyways.

 

[FWG]

rbh350, Bob, you made me curious so I went to the LGS one day early and picked up my new 15-22 Sport (yoo-hoo!)

It also had what looked like Cosmoline, or a newer version of it, totally covering the outer barrel. Cosmoline is a wonderful rust preventer. But it attracts dust and lint like all get out

If I remember correctly, S&W had Thompson Center making barrels for these rifles originally. It's possible that the current barrel manufacturer while possibly making 1,000 or more at a time, dips or coats them to prevent rust.

 

[FWG]

Bob I'm back, had to take a phone call. Cosmoline is always a pain to remove, some people use baby wipes. I do not want alcohol on the bluing, so no baby wipes for me.

My rifle was shot at the plant. I have never shot one round and then looked down the barrel, but the barrel was fouled. The bolt face had a small powder burn smudge that was wiped off with my finger.

If, Cosmoline or similar gets into the barrel at the barrel manufacturer and then that barrel is shot even one time, well we have a project on our hands to get it ready for our first shot.

Do not over think this, you got it clean, get some ammo that it likes and have at it!

 

[rbh350]

Bob I'm back, had to take a phone call. Cosmoline is always a pain to remove, some people use baby wipes. I do not want alcohol on the bluing, so no baby wipes for me.

My rifle was shot at the plant. I have never shot one round and then looked down the barrel, but the barrel was fouled. The bolt face had a small powder burn smudge that was wiped off with my finger.

If, Cosmoline or similar gets into the barrel at the barrel manufacturer and then that barrel is shot even one time, well we have a project on our hands to get it ready for our first shot.

Do not over think this, you got it clean, get some ammo that it likes and have at it!

Thanks, that was exactly the way I found my rifle. Yes, it was a huge pain to get it clean.

Regards, Bob.

 

[rbh350]

I shot the rifle over the weekend. I put 100 rounds of CCI through it with no issues. Rifle worked great, so I guess all ends well. I hope none of you buying a new one run into my dirty barrel problem.

Regards, Bob

 

[hoc9sw]

I was talking to the S&W guys about that one time. It seems that they test fire all the guns, but a few get pulled for more extensive testing. And they do not clean them after testing.

When I mentioned a really dirty gun after a trip for repairs, the response was that it meant they really did test it (and his repair report indicated that). He suggested I should see it as a very good thing.

 

[micocyco]

I think that should tell the OP that what he is seeing is not some preservative product, assuming of course other new owners have the same clean guns. No logical reason I can think of where S&W would treat some guns but not all. Curious if the specific LGS orders direct from S&W or since it is a chain, does another store do the ordering or does it come from a wholesaler?

Being an impartial observer (not slamming anyone), my bet is still, somewhere along the supply chain, that gun was used & returned.

Funny you say that , as you may remember my first 15-22 had problems right out of the box & but the gun shop was good enough to do a buy back & let me pick another one.
The first one was sent back to S&W for repairs & my guess is when they got it back in there hands they sold it as new , just a guess.
Neither one was even close to that dirty new.