Took my new 22A to the range for its maiden voyage. I had heard about the constant jamming issues so I went with very low expectations on how the pistol would perform. It's a good thing I did, because it FTE'd almost EVERY ROUND for 90 rounds. I know that it was an ammo problem- but also found out that my gun runs better with lots of CLP at the feed ramp. I almost never lube up my guns due to the sludge of carbon and oil that results. Well, this gun functions better that way apparently. After I got through the two boxes of American Eagle 40gr LRN, I wondered what CCI minimag would do... Ate them up! I also had a bunch of Federal bulk champion 36gr HV HP's for my 10/22, so for S&G's tried those in the 22A... Ate them up too! All said and done I fired a little over 200 rounds in the initial session and I'm more than pleased with the accuracy. We were plinking wiffle balls at 20 yards against a hillside and the pistol is pretty darn accurate out of the box! I didnt get to try the Federal Auto Match ammo yet due to time constraints- so I'll update as we break-in this gun.
New 4" 22A-1: Breaking in period
- Thread starter Scooter14
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I personally don't know of a break in period because my 22A-1 functioned fine right out of the box. Just did a basic cleaning and that's all it needed. Mayby others will chime in on that question.
BTW, after 2500 plus rounds, she still functions fine. The only thing I have to be vigilant on is to make sure the mags are clean.
It does not want to feed the second round if the mag is dirty.
BTW, after 2500 plus rounds, she still functions fine. The only thing I have to be vigilant on is to make sure the mags are clean.
It does not want to feed the second round if the mag is dirty.
My wife had the exact same problem as Scooter14 in post #1 with the American Eagle 40 grain LRN's (FTL constantly) but it also performed flawlessly when switched to CCI mini mags.
Whenever I get a new 22 auto I will run 300 to 500 rounds of Mini-Mags through it for my break in period before I try the cheaper stuff.
I like to run CCI Mini-Mags in all my 22 auto's. I save the bulk stuff for the revolvers.
I like to run CCI Mini-Mags in all my 22 auto's. I save the bulk stuff for the revolvers.
JimZ1006
Member
I don't own a 22A1, but from my experience with my Browning Challenger III and a few other 22 autoloader pistols, they don't like un-jacketed bullets. As long as I shoot jacketed bullets, don't matter what brand, the Browning runs without a glitch. If I try to run LRN bullets through it, it jambs about every other shot. I just keep the LRN bullets for my 10-22, it'll fire anything I run through it without a hitch!
Well, as I reflect on what happened saturday, most commonly- the extractor was not grabbing and pulling the case out of the chamber with the American eagle ammo. I forgot to check the spent case mouth to see if the case length was deformed (checking for spent case length being longer than chamber). It almost seemed that the spent casings were "stuck" in the chamber... I had almost NO feeding issues with AE ammo, it was Failure to Eject every round. Anybody else have any experience with the 22A and case lengths?
Well I have good and bad news... Good news is that my new 22A shoots CCI minimag 36 grain HP's AND Federal Champion Bulk pack 36 grain HV HP's, but the bad news is- Federal Automatch gave me the exact same issues as the American eagle I mentioned in the first post. Something in this pistol hates ejecting 40gr LRN's at any velocity... Here's my round count from today's range trip: 100 CCI mini mags, 213 Federal Champion HV HP's, and struggled through 170 Federal Automatch. It NEVER fails to fire- but ejecting and feeding LRN's is not happening without LOTS of oil on the feed ramp and chamber.
I just took my 22a-1 out for its maiden voyage, as it came from the factory, with bulk CCI (wax covered 40gr. LRN). The only failure was 1 bad mag from S&W (and my forgetting to bring a screwdriver with to adjust the sights. they key for the lock worked in a pinch). I'd estimate about 150 rounds without a hiccup. This is the first new (or new to me) semi-auto I've ever been able to say that about.
I'll be heading back to Duhnam's to get another 1050 for $30 now that I know they work for me.
ETA; my 22a is a 7" model. Maybe the extra barrel helps up the pressure for better ejection?
I'll be heading back to Duhnam's to get another 1050 for $30 now that I know they work for me.
ETA; my 22a is a 7" model. Maybe the extra barrel helps up the pressure for better ejection?
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Scooter.. I don't know what I was thinking but my wife's 21A is a Beretta Bobcat 21A not a S&W.
And it shoots flawlessly but it can't hit the broad side of a barn!
And it shoots flawlessly but it can't hit the broad side of a barn!My 22A-1 is currently boxed up, and will b riding the Fedex jet back to the factory Monday, its second return for the jamming problem it has exhibited since new, and which was not fixed the first time it was returned. It will fire one round, extract the empty casing, but does not feed the next round, or even start to move it in the magazine. It seems to short cycle the slide. When this occurs, the slide cannot be opened more than 1/4", apparently hitting a solid obstruction somewhere on the frame. It takes 5 to 15 minutes of tugging on the slide to open it again. When I got it back from the factory the first time, guess what happened on the first shot - that's right, the exact same jam. I got the slide released after only 5 minutes of tugging, then it fired 37 rounds before repeating the same jam. Managed to get the slide open after another 5 minutes of tugging, sure enough, it did the same thing on the first shot (the other mag, equal opportunity jam with both mags). I am extremely disappointed, and very frustrated, with this gun. I'm hoping they actually fix it this time, but I won't hold my breath.
310pilot, sorry you are having such a hard time with your gun... I would send mine back, but it fires Mini mag and Federal Bulk pack HP's flawlessly. I was ringing an 8" gong at 50 meters pretty much every shot and out of the box the sights were set only a bit high. The accuracy of this pistol is amazing- especially when I'm running bulk pack ammo through the 4" barrel. I was expecting less.
Tyrod
Member
A manufacturer who shall remain nameless. What the hell, no it won't, it's ISSC. Has written in their manual this recomendation for feeding problems in their M22 Glock clone. Put the 22lr ammo in a plastic bag, spray the ammo with a light dose of oil and mix thoroughly. I do not recommend this for you or anyone else.
This is right up there with Hi Point Firearms recommendation to ship firearms back to the factory for repair using priority mail.
This is right up there with Hi Point Firearms recommendation to ship firearms back to the factory for repair using priority mail.
morgan3054
Member
I'm glad I wasn't the only one with the problems.I have the talo style, great looking but FTF or jam up or not cycle. After the third trip to the range and 400 rounds still had a problems. One last chance before it made a trip to Maine,took it apart polish the ramp ,clean paint off of face of barrel, oil everything. Back to the range 300 rounds 5 diffrent brands" low cost" and 1 box of mini mags. That so far has done the trick 2 FTF"s reloaded them and 1 FTF after that.That shell had 4 hits and still not fire. Also found I'm was hitting the mag release,also causing some of the problems. Hope this help solve the head aches,
Honestly, if the gun only ate mini-mags I'd send it back to S&W, but it also shoots the Federal Bulk Pack HP's without a problem so I can deal with that. If I ever got into a match that required LRN's or Standard Velocity rounds... It might be a big problem. My intent with the 22A-1 4" was to get a cheap plinker pistol to shoot cheap plinker ammo. It has done this, so I'm happy.
morgan3054: The paint on the face of the barrel was also a concern of mine... But now after about 650 rounds (some rapid fire to heat it up) and some intense brass brushing- it's almost all gone. I do think that will inherently fix FTE issues if your extractor wasn't fully grabbing the rim. Also, Gotta get in there with a dental pick to clean the bolt behind the extractor hook. I do that with all of my 22's.
morgan3054: The paint on the face of the barrel was also a concern of mine... But now after about 650 rounds (some rapid fire to heat it up) and some intense brass brushing- it's almost all gone. I do think that will inherently fix FTE issues if your extractor wasn't fully grabbing the rim. Also, Gotta get in there with a dental pick to clean the bolt behind the extractor hook. I do that with all of my 22's.
Florida Guy
Member
I've maybe shot 200 rounds of 4 or 5 different types of ammo in mine to see if one performed better than another. A few misfires and fte, but not bad for a new gun imo.
I've found the bulk pack or CCI mini mags, or Remington Goldens all functioned well.
You just have to experiment until you find an ammo that makes your gun happy.
I've found the bulk pack or CCI mini mags, or Remington Goldens all functioned well.
You just have to experiment until you find an ammo that makes your gun happy.
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S&W 22A-1
Hey guys, I've read your threads about the 22A-1. I recently purchased this gun and took it to my buddys for it's trial run along with a 550 round box of Federal cooper coated 36 grain hollow points shot about half the box without a single problem. I brought the gun home and installed a Konus compact 1x20 red/green dot scope on it and took it to the range the next day and finished off the remainder of the shells with only one misfire, not a single ejection problem. After I got the scope sighted in I had no problem hitting a 2 1/2" duraseal spinning target at 25 yards every time, not to mention 6 out of 10 rounds in a quarter (coin) size bullseye also at 25 yards. Hopefully it will perform the same way with different ammo. Great gun I love it.
Hey guys, I've read your threads about the 22A-1. I recently purchased this gun and took it to my buddys for it's trial run along with a 550 round box of Federal cooper coated 36 grain hollow points shot about half the box without a single problem. I brought the gun home and installed a Konus compact 1x20 red/green dot scope on it and took it to the range the next day and finished off the remainder of the shells with only one misfire, not a single ejection problem. After I got the scope sighted in I had no problem hitting a 2 1/2" duraseal spinning target at 25 yards every time, not to mention 6 out of 10 rounds in a quarter (coin) size bullseye also at 25 yards. Hopefully it will perform the same way with different ammo. Great gun I love it.
I have two 22A's. With the wrong ammo, they will make you nuts, but if you feed them Mini-Mag's, they will go all day long without a hitch.
HOWEVER, a brand-new 22A can have a couple of issues:
1. There is thick paint everywhere, including inside the muzzle and all over the barrel breech face. The muzzle paint shoots out with 20 rounds, but the breech paint doesn't disappear until after about 1000 rounds. The gun feeds much better after all the paint is off!
2. The feed ramp and throat ON THE 4 INCH BARRELS need to be smoothed with 400 grit and polished. I even go a bit further and lap all the breech surfaces. If you buy a 5.5" barrel from S&W, it will come with a good finish.
The 22A really gets smooth and accurate after a few thousand rounds. For under $300, they just aren't going to finish all the parts as well as you might like.
HOWEVER, a brand-new 22A can have a couple of issues:
1. There is thick paint everywhere, including inside the muzzle and all over the barrel breech face. The muzzle paint shoots out with 20 rounds, but the breech paint doesn't disappear until after about 1000 rounds. The gun feeds much better after all the paint is off!
2. The feed ramp and throat ON THE 4 INCH BARRELS need to be smoothed with 400 grit and polished. I even go a bit further and lap all the breech surfaces. If you buy a 5.5" barrel from S&W, it will come with a good finish.
The 22A really gets smooth and accurate after a few thousand rounds. For under $300, they just aren't going to finish all the parts as well as you might like.
+1. Never had a break-in period or new gun issue with my 22a. Worked perfect first shot, and that was with 25 year old Remington HV ammo. As I recall, I did clean the gun before shooting it, though. Used a brand of .22lr that the gun didn't like AT ALL, but darned if I can remember what it was. Might've been old Winchester super X HP or something. Now use CCI MiniMag, and I haven't had a problem.
My Taurus PT22 compact is another story - close to 500 round "Break in " period. Even had a few failure to fires today at the range, but it's DAO so you just pull the trigger again and it always works.
Some guns just seem to need a BIP, and others don't. That being said, .22 semi autos that eat every brand and type of ammo are rare indeed.
