Rising Concerns

[urlawyer]

I bought the 15/22 because "Gun Tests", that seems to give honest evaluations on guns, rifles, etc, highly recommended the 15/22 however "Gun Tests" after receiving information about failures and case brass fragment shattering have asked S&W for Comments on these concerns.

Although, I only had about 5 failure to feed in the first 300 rounds fired on my first trip to the range and none on the second 200 rounds I fired on the second trip to the range, I am now, also, getting concerned.

The concern deals with the fact that the 15/22 does not appear to have a "safety mechanism as part of its design" "that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the bolt is not in battery".

This causes the rounds to go off with the round out of the chamber thereby causing the round to blow up because the firing pin is striking the primer before it should. This leads to extractor blow out, stuck cases in the chamber, and brass fragment shattering.

Note: I have not had this experience nor am I saying that "Gun Tests" is saying that S&W has a problem. I am only saying that S&W has been asked by "Gun Tests" to comment. However, many owners have posted comments, here, stating that they have had the stated problems with the 15/22.

 

[~tc~]

While I was initially concerned, research on here and talking to other owners has shown pretty well to my satisfaction that if you use quality ammo and load the magazine properly, the risk of OOB is extremely limited.

 

[Thomas_H]

The concern deals with the fact that the 15/22 does not appear to have a "safety mechanism as part of its design" "that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the bolt is not in battery".

I could probably count the number of .22 lr firearms that has such "safety mechanism as part of it's design" on one hand. The last thing we need is another mechanism that can fail on us. I'd be more concerned as to why it's out of battery at all. Besides, it's not clear at this point whether the hammer is striking the firing pin while out of battery, or if the bolt is coming out of battery too soon after the firing pin stikes a fully chambered round.

 

[urlawyer]

You make a good point, in fact a couple. One of the theories is that as the barrel gets dirty the case is not pushed all the way into the chamber by the bolt when the firing pin is released thereby causing detonation of an unsupported case. But than what do I know.

So far my AR 15/22 has been providing a lot of fun at the cost of $35.00 for 500 rounds of .22s instead of $40.00 for 100 rounds of 5.56.

 

[Brett248Vista]

$35 for 500? Ouch! Just picked up 1100 rounds for $30

(Fed Bulk 550 is my friend!)

 

[27 Beck]

So far my AR 15/22 has been providing a lot of fun at the cost of $35.00 for 500 rounds of .22s instead of $40.00 for 100 rounds of 5.56.

CCI MiniMags? I don't feed mine steak very often, mostly hamburger (Federal Bulk).

 

[Smith357]

CCI MiniMags? I don't feed mine steak very often, mostly hamburger (Federal Bulk).

Just be glad your rifle does not like Eley Tenex @ $18.00 per 50.

 

[chuck s]

Winchester 333 is working for my lil critter. Roughly 3¢ a shot.

-- Chuck

 

[cal1]

Winchester 333 is working for my lil critter. Roughly 3¢ a shot.

-- Chuck

My OOB fire was with Winchester wildcats, is this the same as the 333? I'm trying to figure out if the ammo type makes a difference or if it was just time. I had been firing Fed without any issues. Now I'm gun shy (pun intended) about using the rest of the box. What do you think design or manufacturing flaw or ammo problem?

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

My OOB fire was with Winchester wildcats, is this the same as the 333? I'm trying to figure out if the ammo type makes a difference or if it was just time. I had been firing Fed without any issues. Now I'm gun shy (pun intended) about using the rest of the box. What do you think design or manufacturing flaw or ammo problem?

15-22 seems to operate quite well with Fed and CCI. Has a history of OOB reported here with Winchester and Remington.

 

[chuck s]

The Wildcat is a lead bullet; the Super-X and 333 is copper washed. Only differences I can determine and strictly by looking at them. We always used Super-X as kids. Says Super right on the box!

I've no clue what cartridge blew out my extractor back before Christmas as I had a good half dozen brands at the time. I ain't paying a dime a round for CCI, though, if I can help it.

Since the quick repair at S&W I have about 500 rounds of Winchester 333 thru the rifle with few problems. Two (2) failures to feed out of a complete box a couple of Sundays ago. Hope this ammo continues to work well as I still have 3000 rounds of it on hand!

-- Chuck

 

[Catskinner]

Has any one had problems with the bolt not locking back on the last round? I have three ten round mags with the blue follower and one twenty five round mag with the orange follower. I have tried to switch them up but none seem to work. Also had a two round burst. I only have about 500 rounds of CCI thru it. Called Smith and now they are sending me a UPS shipping label.

 

[ArcaneFlame]

Has any one had problems with the bolt not locking back on the last round?

I haven't had any issues with mine not locking open on empty and I've shot a few thousand rounds though it. It seems very reliable in that sense using any of my four 25 round mags. I did have it fire two rounds on one trigger pull but only once and that was a while ago and was some crappy low power ammo. Hopefully sending it in to S&W will get it working correctly for you.

Were you by any chance using standard velocity or subsonic ammo? If so it may not have had enough recoil to lock it in the open position. Just a thought. I now almost exclusively use the Federal Bulk 550 packs from Walmart and it's worked wonderfully with that.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Has any one had problems with the bolt not locking back on the last round? I have three ten round mags with the blue follower and one twenty five round mag with the orange follower. I have tried to switch them up but none seem to work. Also had a two round burst. I only have about 500 rounds of CCI thru it. Called Smith and now they are sending me a UPS shipping label.

These 2+ round bursts are being reported here lately. They never were before (at least not that I have read since Oct 2009). Wonder what's up with this? Just a guess.... but it sounds like it might be one of S&W's 'updated to latest spec' on the assembly line ??

To answer your question - Yes, when my rifle starts getting dirty (around 800+ rounds) it will frequently not hold open on last round.

 

[chuck s]

I'm not certain there's more than one (1) report of a 2-round "burst." And not certain it's a burst at all.

-- Chuck

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'm not certain there's more than one (1) report of a 2-round "burst." And not certain it's a burst at all.

-- Chuck

But you were quite certain there was no Winchester Break Free, right?

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'm not certain there's more than one (1) report of a 2-round "burst." And not certain it's a burst at all.

-- Chuck

In just one thread-
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/126439-anyone-having-double-fires.html

"Just got out to the range after getting my rifle back from S&W. No failures to feed/fire/eject/extract (went through about 250 rounds) but every once in a while it'll fire a 2 round burst. Anyone have any ideas? Doesn't really bother me as long as it's not another OOB."

"My DTUxxxx is doing the same thing, called Smith today and the are sending me a UPS return label. I only have about 500 rounds of CCI thru it Ron"


"Mine was having the same problem, probably due to the Bill Springfield trigger job. It's at s&w now being repaired."

 

[chuck s]

OK, we have two (2) reports of doubling.

I'm not real concerned as we're getting questions like "Should I clean it before I fire it" questions. Gummy disconnector can cause hammer follow and doubling for example. Not the fault of the rifle.

I can get many rifles to burst fire but I'm technically pulling the trigger for every shot.

-- Chuck

 

[wildfowl]

I bought the 15/22 because "Gun Tests", that seems to give honest evaluations on guns, rifles, etc, highly recommended the 15/22 however "Gun Tests" after receiving information about failures and case brass fragment shattering have asked S&W for Comments on these concerns.

Although, I only had about 5 failure to feed in the first 300 rounds fired on my first trip to the range and none on the second 200 rounds I fired on the second trip to the range, I am now, also, getting concerned.

The concern deals with the fact that the 15/22 does not appear to have a "safety mechanism as part of its design" "that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the bolt is not in battery".

This causes the rounds to go off with the round out of the chamber thereby causing the round to blow up because the firing pin is striking the primer before it should. This leads to extractor blow out, stuck cases in the chamber, and brass fragment shattering.

Note: I have not had this experience nor am I saying that "Gun Tests" is saying that S&W has a problem. I am only saying that S&W has been asked by "Gun Tests" to comment. However, many owners have posted comments, here, stating that they have had the stated problems with the 15/22.

Ummm, anyone else get the impression this is a troll?
Maybe even an ambulance chasing attorney looking for business?
The jargon is pretty obvious and add in there are only 4 posts to this user........

 

[Thomas_H]

These 2+ round bursts are being reported here lately. They never were before (at least not that I have read since Oct 2009). Wonder what's up with this? Just a guess.... but it sounds like it might be one of S&W's 'updated to latest spec' on the assembly line ??

To answer your question - Yes, when my rifle starts getting dirty (around 800+ rounds) it will frequently not hold open on last round.

I have a sneeking feeling that the rifles that are allegedly doubling have had some trigger work done (one of them for sure), and are experiencing disconnector failures.