Serious issue with M&P 22? Help?

[diceman987]

Yesterday, I was out shooting my S&W M&P 22 handgun and was using CCI 22lr. I finished one magazine through the gun and I noticed that when I charged the slide, it had a hiccup and was stuck at the rear position, although it was not because of the slide catch (see pictures below) Trying to get it to lock forward, the entire slide actually came off of the pistol without the take down lever being engaged. I took it apart and noticed that the recoil spring is slightly deformed, but I don't think that this would be the cause. This is a serious problem and I wouldn't be surprised if it is dangerous to fire this pistol. If you have any idea on what the problem is or the best course of action to take would be greatly appreciated. Please check out these photos of the gun below. Notice that the takedown lever was never engaged:

 

[agksimon]

I have an M&P22 and I'm totally familiar with it. Without having the gun in front of me, it's really hard to tell from the photos, except that the grooves on the rear of the slide should be engaged on the rails of the frame. The rails look OK, is the slide missing its grooves?

 

[diceman987]

No, the guide rail for the slide is fine. It is just that the slide goes further than it should and fails to properly be seated on the lower frame.

 

[Hoz]

Do you have the spacer on the guide rod thats the only thing i could think that would make the slide go back further than it should

 

[Hoz]

I think the manual calls it a buffer look on page 24 i think
Also it looks like the guide rod in your 3 rd picture is not fully seated.
Try a field strip and make sure the g.r. Is fully seated
Hope that helps

 

[Rgoodwin]

I don't see the buffer in the last pick. Missing? Look in the floor where u stripped it.

 

[George9]

Yep something with the recoil spring buffer. Missing? On wrong? Hard to see it in your photos but the buffer goes on the guide rod first with the flat end to back of gun and front hollow end going to front of the gun so that the recoil spring sets right in the buffers hollow end.. Maybe you lost your buffer.Hope this helps! George

 

[M4mafia]

You are missing your recoil spring buffer.

 

[WBlacklidge]

I had the opposite problem the other day when cleaning my M&P 22. I field stripped, cleaned, oiled and put it back together and couldn't get the slide to come back far enough to drop down into place.

Turned out I installed the recoil spring buffer backwards.

 

[zeddic]

I had the opposite problem the other day when cleaning my M&P 22. I field stripped, cleaned, oiled and put it back together and couldn't get the slide to come back far enough to drop down into place.

Turned out I installed the recoil spring buffer backwards.

This happened to me the first time I field stripped and had me scratching my head... I finally got it on but don't remember exactly what I did... now I know, thanks for the tip

 

[Hoz]

Ya just wondering if dice figured out the problem with his .

 

[jaynick]

I don't see the buffer in the last pick. Missing? Look in the floor where u stripped it.

i did the exact same thing. the slide would lock back and if pulled all the way to the rear the slide could be removed without using the takedown lever.

took me 2 hours to figure it out.
i bought the gun used so i thought maybe the rails wore out lol.