I have subscribed to Gun Tests (www.gun-tests.com) for the last 10 y or so. I really like the publication (they buy all the firearms/equipment they review) and read this reader comment in this months edition. I don't own a 15-22, but do own a couple 10/22's and an AR conversion. I have not had this problem, but I have seen bulged/ruptured brass coming out of GSG-5's and a CZ 22 upper.
Here is a direct link to the article, but not sure whether you need to be a paying subscriber to view it.
http://www.gun-tests.com/issues/22_3/firingline/Tactical-Style-LR-Carbines5784-1.html?type=pf
As published in Gun Tests - the Firing Line section
Safety Problem with M&P15-22? March 2010
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Re "Tactical-Style 22 LR Carbines: Ruger, S&W,
Legacy Duke It Out," February 2010
I respect the way Gun Tests conducts its business. I have had an experience that I just had to share with you as it concerns the safety of people that may use your test to select a firearm for younger shooters.
After reading your test of the M&P15-22, I was very interested in purchasing one for my son. Luckily, I had an experience at the range this last Sunday that put me off the idea. While at the range, I happened to notice that the guy next to me had a M&P15-22. He was running through ammo as fast as he could load the magazine.
Everything seemed to be going well, but after about 200 rounds, I started to be splattered with brass fragments. The chamber obviously was getting dirty and needed to be cleaned. I told the guy I was getting hit by fragments and he stopped using it. I noticed that the shell casings were completely shattered around the rim and forward for half the case length. This indicated that the rounds were going off with the round only half chambered and therefore, not supported. We investigated further and found that due to the dirty chamber, the rounds were not always going completely into the chamber and the bolt (blowback action) was permitting the hammer to strike the firing pin when the bolt was out of battery. I have had some experience in life with the design of blowback autoloaders, and the good ones have some sort of timing mechanism that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the bolt is not in battery. Examples of good ones are Winchester Model 77 striker fired with a timing rod that will not allow the sear to release the firing pin unless the bolt is within 1⁄16 inch of full battery. Other examples are the Marlin Model 60 and cousins that are hammer fired that have a similar mechanism built into the trigger system. All of the 22 LR self-loading handguns I have ever inspected are similarily constructed (like a Ruger Mark III). The S&W M&P15-22 does not appear to have this safety mechanism as part of its design. I was able to dry-fire the M&P15-22 with the bolt more than half open, with my finger on the bolt face and feel the firing pin hit my finger. With the bolt half open, the hammer should not have even hit the firing pin, let alone release from the sear.
I stopped into a local gun shop to talk to the gunsmith about this, and we pulled several brands of 22 autoloaders from the shelves to see how many had timing mechanisms. All the good brands had something that prevented the striker or hammer from falling unless the bolt was within 1⁄8 inch of full battery, except the Ruger 10/22. The Ruger’s hammer would fall when the bolt was still 1⁄2 inch from battery, but I could not get my finger into the chamber to see if the firing pin was hit. The gunsmith said he was going to do some more tests on this because I may have found the reason he has had some complaints from customers of exploded rims on some 22 LR ammo with the 10/22.
I would suggest that you adopt an out-of-battery check on your future tests of unlocked-breach weapons, and report this condition within the evaluation. I have found that all the 22 LR conversions for the AR-15 I have seen also have this defect. I am writing to S&W with my concerns as well.
—Charles Sears,
Mount Vernon, Washington
We didn’t experience malfunctions during our test of the M&P15-22, but we’ve asked Smith & Wesson to comment on Reader Sears’ findings.
I’ve forwarded your note to Smith & Wesson for comment. As soon as we hear back, we’ll report the company’s response. —Todd Woodard
Here is a direct link to the article, but not sure whether you need to be a paying subscriber to view it.
http://www.gun-tests.com/issues/22_3/firingline/Tactical-Style-LR-Carbines5784-1.html?type=pf
As published in Gun Tests - the Firing Line section
Safety Problem with M&P15-22? March 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re "Tactical-Style 22 LR Carbines: Ruger, S&W,
Legacy Duke It Out," February 2010
I respect the way Gun Tests conducts its business. I have had an experience that I just had to share with you as it concerns the safety of people that may use your test to select a firearm for younger shooters.
After reading your test of the M&P15-22, I was very interested in purchasing one for my son. Luckily, I had an experience at the range this last Sunday that put me off the idea. While at the range, I happened to notice that the guy next to me had a M&P15-22. He was running through ammo as fast as he could load the magazine.
Everything seemed to be going well, but after about 200 rounds, I started to be splattered with brass fragments. The chamber obviously was getting dirty and needed to be cleaned. I told the guy I was getting hit by fragments and he stopped using it. I noticed that the shell casings were completely shattered around the rim and forward for half the case length. This indicated that the rounds were going off with the round only half chambered and therefore, not supported. We investigated further and found that due to the dirty chamber, the rounds were not always going completely into the chamber and the bolt (blowback action) was permitting the hammer to strike the firing pin when the bolt was out of battery. I have had some experience in life with the design of blowback autoloaders, and the good ones have some sort of timing mechanism that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the bolt is not in battery. Examples of good ones are Winchester Model 77 striker fired with a timing rod that will not allow the sear to release the firing pin unless the bolt is within 1⁄16 inch of full battery. Other examples are the Marlin Model 60 and cousins that are hammer fired that have a similar mechanism built into the trigger system. All of the 22 LR self-loading handguns I have ever inspected are similarily constructed (like a Ruger Mark III). The S&W M&P15-22 does not appear to have this safety mechanism as part of its design. I was able to dry-fire the M&P15-22 with the bolt more than half open, with my finger on the bolt face and feel the firing pin hit my finger. With the bolt half open, the hammer should not have even hit the firing pin, let alone release from the sear.
I stopped into a local gun shop to talk to the gunsmith about this, and we pulled several brands of 22 autoloaders from the shelves to see how many had timing mechanisms. All the good brands had something that prevented the striker or hammer from falling unless the bolt was within 1⁄8 inch of full battery, except the Ruger 10/22. The Ruger’s hammer would fall when the bolt was still 1⁄2 inch from battery, but I could not get my finger into the chamber to see if the firing pin was hit. The gunsmith said he was going to do some more tests on this because I may have found the reason he has had some complaints from customers of exploded rims on some 22 LR ammo with the 10/22.
I would suggest that you adopt an out-of-battery check on your future tests of unlocked-breach weapons, and report this condition within the evaluation. I have found that all the 22 LR conversions for the AR-15 I have seen also have this defect. I am writing to S&W with my concerns as well.
—Charles Sears,
Mount Vernon, Washington
We didn’t experience malfunctions during our test of the M&P15-22, but we’ve asked Smith & Wesson to comment on Reader Sears’ findings.
I’ve forwarded your note to Smith & Wesson for comment. As soon as we hear back, we’ll report the company’s response. —Todd Woodard
