S&W M&P22 Compact - 22 Fun

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S&Wtinkerer

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I really like this little pistol. It shoots well, mimics the full-size guns I carry and came with a threaded barrel. Its a lot of fun and keeps training affordable and a lot quieter (which the neighbors appreciate). However, I have fallen into a common pitfall (at least for me).

It all started with an old Ruger Standard in 22lr. I shot the snot out of that thing and I loved it. Then one day, I got the bright idea that I should detail strip it for cleaning. I don't think the gun had been apart since the '70s truth be told. I never got that damn thing back together despite all the YouTube videos, guides, and other materials. I hung my head and took it to a gunsmith for reassembly.

i have done a lot more work since then. Woodworking, light fabrication/metal work, parts and components replacement.

I then did the same thing with this M&P. The internal hammer was resetting, but the sear wouldn't release it when the trigger was pulled. I though it wouldn't be too bad to pull the pins, take our the sear block and see if a spring was loose or something. I had about 4,000 rounds on the pistol at this point. When that sear block came out.... oh boy. It came out. I managed to get most of it back together but I am feeling stuck again.

My question is this: have any of you dealt with this? This pistol has almost NO exploded diagrams and parts are oddly hard to find. This is the new version made in American, not the one made under license by Walther. Any tips for reassembly?


If not, does anyone know a decent gunsmith in the Yadkinville/Wilkesboro area who won't laugh too hard when I bring in a bag-o-gun?
 
mostly22lately said:
I assume you saw this video:



great thread on this pistol


you'll find a lot of knowledgeable folks on that forum as well as the 'blue' S&W forum

this guy is the purported expert, he is said to actually be able to make the trigger nice
originally from NC but is not local

Home

triggerwork.net triggerwork.net
Click to expand...



I had seen that video but I will watch that again this evening. My problem is, that sear housing itself is what was causing problems. One of the springs had come off or needs to be replaced. When I broke down the sear block itself is where things went sideways. I am sure if I watch the video a few times and check out that thread I can get it. I will NEVER take apart a Ruger 22 pistol again. Unless its one of the new ones where that retention pin in the back is no more.


Thank you for posting this! I found it hard to believe that getting info was difficult on this little pistol as it seemed popular. Its a lot of fun to shoot too.
 
I also have a Ruger Standard, had to learn the 'trick' to reassembling it. It's a display pistol now, doesn't get used hardly at all, since all the Mk IV 'pushbutton' models showed up here.

Regarding your S&W M&P Compact 22, it IS reasonably popular - but not so much so that it has tons of aftermarket support and shared knowledge base. It's the only pistol we've ever had in the collection that we disliked so much we sold it. Had a lot of terrific attributes that made us get it in the first place. But, oh man, that trigger.
 
Wait till you take apart a buck mark. The grips actually hold some of the springs etc in place. Aka. Take the grips off and parts fall in your lap. Fun first experience. You can do it.
 
mellocollins said:
Wait till you take apart a buck mark. The grips actually hold some of the springs etc in place. Aka. Take the grips off and parts fall in your lap. Fun first experience. You can do it.
Click to expand...

Someday I will get there! I have never had the chance to shoot a Buckmark, its on the list for sure
 
Well, good and bad news. I got the sear block back together thanks to some patience and rewatching the video to see how things go together. Problem is, I am having the same issue I did before, pulling the trigger doesn't release the hammer.


There is a bar on the right side of the trigger that extends back along the frame. That bar is supposed to push on the sear, which releases the hammer. When I hold the pistol normally and attempt to fire... nothing. The bar moves back but it slips off the sear and fails to release the hammer. But a little inboard pressure on that same bar, same trigger pull, and the hammer consistently goes off. This is the fault that happened before I broke it down.

Looks like I am off on another learning adventure. This has been very helpful and I appreciate everybody's replies!
 
Bend the trigger bar in enough so that it slides against the frame and also engages the sear?

I don't know how that particular pistol works but other than a slightly longer pull, I would think taking the side to side play out of the trigger bar would be the fix?
 
S&W has gone back and forth on selling parts for their full size guns, none for the .22s is not surprising. I've emailed them and they sent me parts, other times they've told me to send the gun, I never have, but understand it's fairly painless.
 
Trevillian said:
Bend the trigger bar in enough so that it slides against the frame and also engages the sear?

I don't know how that particular pistol works but other than a slightly longer pull, I would think taking the side to side play out of the trigger bar would be the fix?
Click to expand...

That is most likely what I will try before calling and asking for another part. I have put quite a few rounds through it now that I think about it. There is a little piece of spring steel that acts as a way to maintain retention on the trigger bar... I will take a few pictures and post them tomorrow to let you all know how I make out.
 
Bent the trigger tab as well as the trigger bar inboard to try and see if that would help engagement with the sear. It did not, it still slips off. I will try to actually bend the end of the rod ever so slightly and see if I can help it engage more effectively with that little ledge. Whenever I try to fire the pistol now, the bar slips off to the side of the ledge before the sear releases the hammer.
 
I don't know if anyone has any interest in this but I have identified the fault with the pistol. I have now COMPLETELY disassembled it. Springs look okay, it was very, very dirty in some places but otherwise nothing looked out of spec. Not sure if repeated use just made something out of place or not. I will reassemble it one last time and see if that makes it work. Otherwise, I will call S&W to order a new trigger/trigger bar assembly.
 
Note to anyone who takes these apart, the little tiny itsy bitsy springs that act as a little retention mechanism for some of the pins... are very easy to lose. I highly recommend some black construction paper or just taking them off and putting them in a secure space while cleaning/disassembling. I cleaned the pistol this weekend very very thoroughly an went through the parts to make sure nothing looked out of place (deep scratches, bends, cracks, breaks, etc). I don't exactly have a spec sheet but I have a sneaking suspicion that something is off on the trigger bar and/or trigger spring maybe. Once its reassembled I will let everyone know.
 
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