Takedown pin spring and detent replacement

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jer6171

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I just purchased my 2nd M&P 15-22 and upon installing a Hogue grip, realized the cause of the issues I have had with my first M&P 15-22 after replacing it's grip. I never even saw the springs under the grip on my first 15-22, but the rear takedown pin was able to come completely out, where it had not prior to the new grip. Also, the safety does not stay locked in SAFE or FIRE anymore. Apparently I lost both springs when I removed the original grip and the detent pin for the takedown as well. How do I go about obtaining replacements? Also, while replacing the grip on my newest 15-22, both springs fell out and are different sizes. Does the smaller diameter spring go with the detent for the takedown pin and the larger diameter go with the safety? Also, the detent pin is rounded on one end and pointed on the other... which end faces the takedown pin, the pointed or rounded end?
 
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Contact S&W customer service for replacements.

The small spring is for the takedown pin, the larger for the safety.

The fact that there is no spring and detent for the safety is the reason it doesn't stay locked in position. IMO, that is an unsafe condition; others may disagree.

The flat bottom of the detent, in both cases, goes against the spring; the rounded portions towards the safety and the take-down pin.

Please don't be offended at the next statement, but this is the very reason one must be very careful when disassembling any new and unfamiliar firearm for the first time. It is so easy to lose small parts and you are neither first not the last to do so - I'm a charter member of that club. :)
 
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Thanks

I am not offended at all and appreciate the info. The M&P 15-22 was the first rifle that I've owned and I rushed the grip replacement. I would have never imagined that there would have been operational parts that were integral to the grip. My bad! That being said, how do I get replacements? The takedown pin is the least of my worries, but as you correctly stated, the safety is an issue.
 
jer6171 said:
That being said, how do I get replacements? The takedown pin is the least of my worries, but as you correctly stated, the safety is an issue.
Click to expand...

The first sentence in my reply ...

Call S&W customer service. They will send you replacements.
 
Duh... I guess I read as well as I replace grips! :) Thanks again!
 
Don't worry, I would've done the same thing, but I just happened to watch an install video for the slidefire. It wouldn't stand to reason there's anything important in a grip. Even still, my girlfriend lost them when I was at work. I got lucky and my local gun shop had replacements on hand. The 223 has a spring also, but only one. I believe it's the safety spring, but I could be wrong and it be the rear takedown pin, but Im pretty sure it's the safety spring so most LGS's should have it. A phone call would tell ya though
 
First time I changed grip, good to go. Second time, good to go. Third time.....couldn't figure out why my safety would be messed up, then my breakdown pin fell out. Really caught me off guard. I knew there were springs in there but I wasn't aware of the pins. Then I sat on the end of my bed and somehow found a spring and a pin....Then it all made sense hahaha. Couple YouTube videos and I was back in business. Just happy I didn't lose those parts. Lesson learned, schooled my buddy on that before he even physically had HIS new 15-22 haha.
 
thank you

I want to thank all of you for not making me feel like a complete dumbass... unlike my father. Honestly, he was better on me than I thought he would be. Truth is, he found one of the springs in our "gun room" after I had changed the grip and he went crazy thinking it came out of the pistol he had just disassembled... anyway, it knows he picked up the spring, but doesn't know where he put it. One last question; Am I better off calling S&W than emailing? I had emailed them when i got my 1st 15-22, about how I went about unpinning and re-pinning the stock (I live in NY!). I never got a response. I don't know if it was because it was through email or because of the legal ramifications. Thanks again!!!
:D
 
thanks anyway...

I am learning that everyone has an opinion on everything firearm related... right or wrong. Until I realized that the springs and pin were missing, I was told that I was cleaning it too much, using too much oil when I cleaned it, completing a full takedown to clean when it wasn't necessary, etc... Correct me if I'm wrong, a gun can NEVER be too clean?... It can be over-oiled, etc... but clean is never bad.
 
jer6171 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, a gun can NEVER be too clean?... It can be over-oiled, etc... but clean is never bad.
Click to expand...

To a point ...

In most cases, it takes a couple of dozen rounds before a barrel "settles down" to some particular ammunition. The phrase is "fouling shots" and is best known among the bench rest community. For this reason, sighting in and competitive shooting should always be done from a "fouled" barrel.
 
For what it's worth, from someone else who has lost a spring or two, common replacement parts for any AR will work perfectly to replace the ones you've lost. I replaced mine, just cuz I wanted to ;), and was able to order DPMS lower parts individually from Midway. It's a cheap fix, and now you know to look for them in the future. No big deal at all.
 
 
Sorry to necropost....

Can anyone + confirm... are the rear takedown pins the same size on a standard AR15 and the 15-22 or is the 15-22 shorter?
 
Take Down Pin

Mine was lost when a gun smith replaced the trigger. S&W sent a regular AR pin. It works fine, but is a little "sticky" when going in. It actually feels firmer than the original.:)
 
CDRJED said:
Mine was lost when a gun smith replaced the trigger. S&W sent a regular AR pin. It works fine, but is a little "sticky" when going in. It actually feels firmer than the original.:)
Click to expand...

You are talking about the actual takedown pin, not the detent pin...yes?

Just curious, how do you know you were sent a milspec AR takedown pin? I would think a gun smith would have an AR pin, so if you had to be sent one I wonder if it is in fact specific to the 15-22 which seems to have a lower that varies in dimensions than an AR, but then again, he did loose yours :)
 
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