New M&P 22 - First Trip to the Range

[Rufus]

I bought a couple of new guns last week - an M&P 22 and a Kahr MK 40. I finally got out to the range yesterday to begin the break-in. I shot a couple of boxes of 40s without a hitch. I switched to the M&P 22, and loaded a couple of mags of some CCI round nose ammo (not sure how many grains in the load because I dumped it in with other 22 cal. ammo) that I bought at Academy. I had to hand eject every shot in both the mags. I switched to some bulk Federal ammo, which the gun like much better. I probably put 150 rounds through the gun at that point. Here's the deal, I found that the first round in each new mag would eject just fine, but I had to hand rack the next round in the chamber. After that, the gun functioned just fine. This happened every time I loaded a new mag. I tried loading 10 rounds (it's a 12-round mag), five rounds, etc., but it still ejected the first round just fine, but failed to load the second round.

I know the gun is brand new, and I am going to continue the break-in of the gun, but this does seem strange. I have two mags, one came with the gun, and the other I got from 44 mag.com. I've got another on the way from S&W.

Has anyone else seen this?

 

[M&P Freak]

My experience with the M&P22 is that, from the factory, it was loaded-up with grease. Way too much grease. It needed a good cleaning right off the bat. Put your ammo to the side for awhile and run CCI Mini-Mag 40gn RN for a few hundred rounds or more. After it's worn-in a little you may have better luck with your existing ammo.

 

[Rufus]

I'll do that. I did give it a good cleaning prior to my trip to the range. After I got home, I took it apart and cleaned it again. I did notice that there was still "gunk" around the post that the spring fits over. I thought that I had all of that cleaned out before my trip to the range, but apparently The shooting drew more out. I'll go buy some 40 gn ammo and give it a try.

 

[raveneap]

I bought two 15-22's; one I bought when they first came out and one some time later. Gave the first one to me son & family who have put countless rounds down range. Both have gobbled up the cheap stuff; Federal bulk and Winchester bulk from WallyWorld. found as long as the mags were properly loaded all went well. A super fun little shooter.

 

[shield]

I bought two 15-22's; one I bought when they first came out and one some time later. Gave the first one to me son & family who have put countless rounds down range. Both have gobbled up the cheap stuff; Federal bulk and Winchester bulk from WallyWorld. found as long as the mags were properly loaded all went well. A super fun little shooter.

Interesting, but the OP is talking about the M&P 22 pistol, not the rifle (15-22).

I agree that more break-in should help. I'm currently shooting CCI Blazer bulk with good results. Very few FTE as compared to the Federal bulk which happened frequently.

 

[Batchs]

My M&P 22 is doing the same thing on Fedral bulk. Haven't tried CCI yet but I will very soon.

 

[warbird]

I recently traded away a Sig Mosquito for the same problems stated here. Have been researching the M&P 22 and was planning to buy one end of month. I had read good reviews. Now I see this.....it's giving me a headache!

 

[BBS1]

I recently traded away a Sig Mosquito for the same problems stated here. Have been researching the M&P 22 and was planning to buy one end of month. I had read good reviews. Now I see this.....it's giving me a headache!

Do not be distraught over a couple of bad initial impressions. Some guns just need to be wiped down, some need to be fed the good stuff then take bulk fine. Personally, I ran fed/win bulk right off the bat and two FTE's in about 1k rounds.

 

[Shooting Padre]

I had the same problem with first round ejection with Fed bulk. Not a problem anymore. It just needs break in time and plenty of lubrication. I tried Wildcats and they work better, more omph. Some ammo on a new gun doesn't seem to drive the slide back far enough to pick up a new round. This resolved itself with lubrication and round count. It is the most fun .22 pistol I have ever owned and I don't plan to get rid of it. Just shoot the daylights out of it and it will come in just fine. I never did shoot the "good" stuff because of cost, just and still run bulk ammo. It's a range gun and plinker for me.

 

[budrichard]

Last Saturday took a new in the box M&P22 I just got from Bud's to the range.
No cleaning, put 20 rnds Super-x 40gr rnd nose coated with only a failure to lock open on last round, may or may not have been my problem with thumbs. Then 50 rnds Wildcat, again no problems but one failure to lock open. I'm just going to keep shooting this pistol until it starts to have failures and then clean to get an idea of how many rounds between cleanings.
Problems with this type of 22lr is that they are made to sell at a low price point, are polymer botom, aluminum slide unlke my other 22lr pistols but they do give an approximate feel equivalent to a M&P for training but of course are much lighter. It's to bad they don't make these in steel but they have to sell at a lwo price point to match the competition.-Dick

 

[warbird]

Do not be distraught over a couple of bad initial impressions. Some guns just need to be wiped down, some need to be fed the good stuff then take bulk fine. Personally, I ran fed/win bulk right off the bat and two FTE's in about 1k rounds.

Now that is what I want to hear. I want the reliability of my Browning Buckmark in this type of 22 pistol. I have the M&P 45c and the M&P 40. I'm figuring that the M&P 22 will compliment these and at great cost savings on ammo.

 

[warbird]

I had the same problem with first round ejection with Fed bulk. Not a problem anymore. It just needs break in time and plenty of lubrication. I tried Wildcats and they work better, more omph. Some ammo on a new gun doesn't seem to drive the slide back far enough to pick up a new round. This resolved itself with lubrication and round count. It is the most fun .22 pistol I have ever owned and I don't plan to get rid of it. Just shoot the daylights out of it and it will come in just fine. I never did shoot the "good" stuff because of cost, just and still run bulk ammo. It's a range gun and plinker for me.

Range gun and plinker.....exactly my need.

 

[M&P Freak]

Now that is what I want to hear. I want the reliability of my Browning Buckmark in this type of 22 pistol. I have the M&P 45c and the M&P 40. I'm figuring that the M&P 22 will compliment these and at great cost savings on ammo.

You will not be disappointed in the M&P22.

 

[mag318]

I'll bet your malfunctions have something to do with all the preservative they smother the pistol in at the factory. I had to clean mine twice to get all the ooze out. I have 2 M&P22s and they are very reliable pistols from the get go.

 

[BBS1]

Last Saturday took a new in the box M&P22 I just got from Bud's to the range.
No cleaning, put 20 rnds Super-x 40gr rnd nose coated with only a failure to lock open on last round, may or may not have been my problem with thumbs. Then 50 rnds Wildcat, again no problems but one failure to lock open. I'm just going to keep shooting this pistol until it starts to have failures and then clean to get an idea of how many rounds between cleanings.
Problems with this type of 22lr is that they are made to sell at a low price point, are polymer botom, aluminum slide unlke my other 22lr pistols but they do give an approximate feel equivalent to a M&P for training but of course are much lighter. It's to bad they don't make these in steel but they have to sell at a lwo price point to match the competition.-Dick

If the slide were made of steel, I dont think the 22lr has enough power to slide it back. Aluminum it is!

 

[BBS1]

Now that is what I want to hear. I want the reliability of my Browning Buckmark in this type of 22 pistol. I have the M&P 45c and the M&P 40. I'm figuring that the M&P 22 will compliment these and at great cost savings on ammo.

Yep. Everyone hears one or two horror stories (i.e; m&p9 accuracy issues and sr22 takedown levers) then it snowballs into the manufacturer being incompetent!

 

[Rufus]

I have cleaned it twice now, and I will get my hands on some CCI Mini Mags before my next trip to the range. I'm pretty sure that it needs to be shot some with some good ammo during it's break-in. I have an M&P 9 and I love it, that's why I decided to go with the M&P 22. I'll updat this thread after my next range outing.

 

[ffiallo]

Had a few issues at the beginning as well (Mar '12). Go thru 200 CCI minimags, and in between feed some cheaper ammo and see how it does. Make absolutely sure you have cleaned thoroughly before shooting it and then lubricated. If you already shot it (manual says clean first), then do it anyways. If issues still persist, check to see if the feed ramp has some paint remainders on the very borders. A fellow poster reported that (cant remember where or find the post) and that was a little bit of my problem. I took it to a gunsmith and after 2-3 dremel passes, it has been basically perferct. Perhap 1,200 rounds already.
It gets better after about 400 rounds, and can get furstrating at 1st, but I think what made it great was the dremel pass.
No need to send to S&W for this. Great little gun, and much cheaper than shooting my 9mm, which is why I bought it in the 1st place. Good luck.

 

[budrichard]

If the slide were made of steel, I dont think the 22lr has enough power to slide it back. Aluminum it is!

Tell that to my S&W Model 41, Ruger Government Target and the myriad of Woodsman's and High Standard's out there made entirely of steel.-Dick

 

[etc1006]

I had the same problem with the first shot to second... Then it started to hang open ~1/4 on return on the silver arm riveted to the inside of the frame. Is actually leaving a score on the arm. Took back to the LGS and they suggested to return it to S&W. sending it off tomorrow.