Why is the MP 15-22 picky about it's ammo

[Juvicator]

I think the majority of what everyone is saying is correct. The bolt face has to be clear of buildup or that prevents the round from seating properly causing light strikes.

As far as it being picky, I put all kinds of ammo through mine in the beginning to see what worked best for the price. That being said after trying all different kinds of ammo, I became picky not the gun. Wildcats leaded my barrel something aweful. Gold bullets fell apart and left pixie dust all over my fingers and gun, the sub sonics did have a few stovepipes.

I've also run some really old ammo, from the 80s and it ran fine. But like you said with ammo being hard to find you have to figure out what you feel ok running. I've passed up bricks of gold bullets because I don't prefer them, my 15-22 could care less.

Make sure the bolt is clean, even during your next outing. It can build up pretty quick, some ammo runs cleaner than others, and don't over lube your gun. It makes muck faster.

 

[hangnoose]

PIXIE DUST

AMEN! to that.

 

[rabbitrandy]

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

To set your minds at ease, I am not new to forums, just this one.

I keep the gun clean and when this became a problem only after trying some Remington Hollow Pts. and then some other brands besides the CCI's that were recommended, I did clean and make sure the bolt and firing pin were not gooed up and was clean.

I called a S&W customer service rep and he advised me that only shoot the recommended brands as listed in the manual.

He also stated that "there is a mexican sitting in a factory in Mexico making .22 ammo and he is not precise with how he makes the primers".

I suggested that the gun may need a harder hammer strike or the firing pin may be to short. He advised that was not the issue.

I can take the bolt out and push the firing pin from the back and it will protrude but dosent seem to protrude much! I know it doesnt take much but the firing pin hardly makes a dent in the primer.

I can take the unfired ammo and feed it into another semi auto and they fire.

The gun was purchased new. I not sure if it's a "Performance Center" model.

I have fired approx. 300 rnds. of CCI with no problem. Problem began with Remington Gold Hollow Pts., American Eagle and with other brands.

Hope this info will help with your answers and thanks for letting me into this forum.

randy

 

[Majorlk]

1. The info in the manual was outdated a year after it was printed. It's useless now.

2. Every semi-auto rifle is picky to one degree or another. 15-22s are no exception. In some, Remingtons work just fine and in others, not so much. Same with many other brands.

3. The comment about the Mexican making ammo is BS! There's good ammo coming out of the plant.

You will need to try several brands to find what your rifle likes best.

Finally, you can tell if it's a performance center model by looking at the receiver. If it's a PC model, it will say so.

BTW, do not lubricate the firing pin channel, that will just attract debris and gum it up.

 

[rabbitrandy]

3. The comment about the Mexican making ammo is BS! There's good ammo coming out of the plant.

thank you Major. I can only go by what the S&W rep. told me. He never said anything about the manual being outdated and he was the one that spoke of the mexican. Those were not my words.

 

[Majorlk]

thank you Major. I can only go by what the S&W rep. told me. He never said anything about the manual being outdated and he was the one that spoke of the mexican. Those were not my words.

I know that. The guy at S&W is a moron, IMHO. His words about the mexican ammo is nonsense. Aguila is among the best .22 ammo on the market. As for the manual, 90 percent of the ammo on the market today isn't mentioned in the list, which is over five years old. The list was made on the basis of customer reports, not any actual testing by S&W.

 

[Dino1]

What can you do to make this rifle not so picky about it's ammo choice? this is not a feed or jamming issue. It is a fail to fire issue.

I have other .22 semi-autos that function fine with any kind of ammo.

It seems that if it had a harder hammer hit or longer firing pin, it would shoot any thing put in it.

This gun is a disappointment considering the lack of availability of .22 ammo right now.

Is there a solution to the problem as far as getting the rifle to fire other brands as listed not suitable?

Sounds like your pissed because you can't find ammo. It's out their you just need to be a little more assertive in finding it.
I have put over 2,000 rounds of just about everything you can imagine through mine. The only ammo that gave me problems is M22. Failed to fire, but after reloaded it went bang. Around my area .22lr guns are starting to sell cheap because the ammo is a little hard to find and nobody wants one. I can buy a M&P .22 pistol brand new at a local gun shop right now for 299.00, that's a pretty good price. I went their to buy one but they had .223 Federal ammo on sale for 375.00 a case of 1000, so I walked out the door with that instead.

 

[rabbitrandy]

Sounds like your pissed because you can't find ammo. It's out their you just need to be a little more assertive in finding it.
I went their to buy one but they had .223 Federal ammo on sale for 375.00 a case of 1000, so I walked out the door with that instead.

Not "pissed" because ammo is not available. I have lots of .22 but the gun won't fire it. Not the right kind according to S&W.

Not in my schedule to be a Walmart stalker.

I am attempting to use this gun as a trainer for others who want to step up to a AR-15.

I reload my own .223 so no need to purchase them.

It appears that everyone has a very fine functioning M&P 15-22 on this forum.

i appreciate everyone's suggestions but maybe I'll send the gun back to S&W and have them take a look at it. they said they would pay the shipping. Can't beat that for service.

 

[cxwrench]

Given their excellent CS, sending it back may be the best call. They can check it out and fix anything they find.
I definitely agree w/ @Majorik's opinion of the phone rep at S&W...he's probably just providing answers that he's given. They should update the manual at some point.

 

[wlkjr]

We have 2 and they shoot everything. We specifically use standard velocity and save the high velocity for the pistols.

 

[ESW]

I have not shot my 15-22 in 6 months. I can't find any ammo and don't want to shoot what I have. I've spent many hours and shot 1000's of rounds through my M&P40, 645, PC 1911 RB and M&P 15x. I switched to Frog lube in every gun. I use the liquid in my barrels to clean and paste with a toothbrush on everything else. I shot the rest of my crappy golden bullets which always failed to feed before. I went through the entire 575 and did not have one fail to feed. The only change was frog lube, for what it's worth give it a try. Your guns will be easier to clean too.

 

[rabbitrandy]

Problem solved.

A lose hammer pin that holds the hammer and spring in place so the hammer hits squarely onto the firing pin. Hammer pin had worked lose and hammer was cocked off sided just enough to cause a fail to fire.

Cant wait to get it back from S&W and burn up some various brands of ammo.

I guess I am the only one that has had this happen to, hopefully this thread will be of help to the next guy who might encounter this problem.

 

[rhinoh]

I can take the unfired ammo and feed it into another semi auto and they fire.

Well it is highly unlikely you are hitting it in the exact same spot it was hit the first time when it didn't fire.
I've rarely, if ever, had a misfired .22 round fail to go off when hit again in another spot.
I think the process of putting the ring of primer into the case occasionally has a small area that is missed. Not the guns fault when that is the case.
Maybe someone needs to invent a dual firing pin system


Glad you got it fixed, and no you aren't the only one with the slipped pin, happens more often than it should it seems.

 

[rabbitrandy]

Well it is highly unlikely you are hitting it in the exact same spot it was hit the first time when it didn't fire.
I've rarely, if ever, had a misfired .22 round fail to go off when hit again in another spot.
I think the process of putting the ring of primer into the case occasionally has a small area that is missed. Not the guns fault when that is the case.
Maybe someone needs to invent a dual firing pin system


Glad you got it fixed, and no you aren't the only one with the slipped pin, happens more often than it should it seems.

Thanks Rhinoh, I am sure now that there was no problem with the ammo. I wish someone would have come up with slipped pin issue earlier. I just figure it was an issue with my gun only.

Maybe some other slipped pin victims will come forward!

 

[Faulkner]

Glad they found a specific issue that was causing your malfunctions. Like most of the others, mine fired all kinds of cheap fodder without any issues at all.

 

[NJM15]

Ammo for semi auto firearms

Just a comparison but I have tried many different brands in my Sig 9mm 226. I just installed the 22 conversion kit. and it is fussy over what it shoots I tried CCI mini's,, standard, Rem golden, thunderbolts the goldens work best but still a few missed recycles. Keeping it clean and well lubed (oil no grease) and wet seems to help

 

[rabbitrandy]

S&W has returned my rifle in a very timely fashion. They replace the hammer spring and pin. Havent shot it yet to see if it will hold up. Not sure how you can keep a pin in place in plastic. Do have to say that S&W is a good company that takes care of their customers but you have to be patient. Was told it would be about a 3 week turnaround.

Bottom line, if your gun doesnt shoot, you have a fail to fire that wont go away, check the hammer pin.

 

[Dezfan]

Good to hear that S&W took care of you.

My 15-22 has chewed through everything I've thrown at it.

The only issues with ammo I have experienced was with a particular bulk box of Rem GB.

Other boxes of Rem GB have been GTG for the most part, so I'm chalking it up to my being unlucky w/ that particular bulk box.

 

[brucev]

Extremely glad to read that the problem with the rifle was fixed. Rest assured you are not the only person who had had to deal with a problem with a 15-22. From time to time it happens not just with the 15-22 but just about any firearm available. We've all had things like scope mount screws and trigger guard screws get loose. I've had S&W revolvers where a ejector rod would back out a bit, etc. And don't get me started about Colts.

I appreciate your post and the comments. I have owned exactly one AR-15 and the one 15-22 that I now have. Threads such as this one have been most helpful.

 

[UKRsoldier]

The only rounds that ever failed to fire even with a strike were Golden Bullets. 1 in 20 used to be a dud. However, the gun was new. Now it's 1000 rounds in, and takes even those rounds and doesn't skip a beat. Kind of weird. Maybe the gun broke in or it was a bad batch. My brother and gf have 2 more 15-22s and neither one those has any issues with firing or feeding. I never had a single issue with CCI or Aguila. In fact, I was surprised that the Aguila SSS at 900 fps cycled the gun every single time over hundreds of rounds. I guess it's because it has more recoil than regular subsonics.