Smith and Wesson MP15

[Hoosier1961]

Hello everyone, I just purchased my first AR. Smith and Wesson M&P15. Was considering shooting wolf ammo for practice but I saw a notice on there web site that follows.
?WOLF ARMS UPPERS Click Here?? ? ? ??ADVISORY

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ADVISORY

*** Advisory Warning - June 8, 2017 ***

WOLF Performance Ammunition has received notifications relating to Smith & Wesson M&P-15 rifles that are discharging out of battery which is evidenced by a lack of damage to the chamber and barrel extension. This shows that the rifle?s bolt did not lock into the barrel, yet the hammer was still able to strike the firing pin to detonate the cartridge and cause a failure.

These failures can cause major damage to the firearm and bodily injury. As a result, WOLF Ammunition does NOT recommend using our ammunition with any Smith and Wesson M&P-15 rifles until this issue is resolved. Moving forward, WOLF?s 100% Performance Guarantee will not cover any damages associated with Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle
My question is does anyone know if that issue was resolved? The notice is 2 and a half years old. Anyone else with a M&P shoot wolf ammo? Thanks for any information

[ghettodub]

I don’t shoot any steel through ARs. Too finnicky with ammo. I’ll shoot anything through an AK, but not an AR

[whitewalrus]

if a gun is discharging out of battery, it doesn't matter what brand of ammo you are shooting. I know they had a recall on their MP15-22's for firing out of battery, but they fixed that one.

[ray1970]

I may need some educating. I didn?t think the AR could fire out of battery? I thought that until the bolt was pushed back on the cam pin that the firing pin couldn?t protrude past the breach face?

[whitewalrus]

I may need some educating. I didn?t think the AR could fire out of battery? I thought that until the bolt was pushed back on the cam pin that the firing pin couldn?t protrude past the breach face?

They aren't supposed to, as you mention the firing pin wont come out unless its in battery (or really close). And the BCG would catch the hammer instead of the firing pin, so even if it were to go fully into battery due to the hammer strike, shouldn't be enough to ignite the primer...you would just have it snap into battery.

[ray1970]

Yeah. That?s sort of what I was trying to say. Basically, until the bolt is locked into the barrel extension lugs (in battery) it is pretty much impossible for the firing pin to strike the primer.

[BPTactical]

I have seen 3 that fired OOB. Technically in battery but the bolts were unlocked. 2 were select fire and the auto sears were worn severely, likely causing the hammer to release just a hair early.
The other was a Bushmaster that had debris (brass) wedge the firing pin forward, essentially making it a fixed firing pin weapon.
In all 3 instances the weapons were destroyed.

[ray1970]

Thank you for the professional insight.

I guess I?m never too old to learn something new.

[Gman]

I have seen 3 that fired OOB. Technically in battery but the bolts were unlocked. 2 were select fire and the auto sears were worn severely, likely causing the hammer to release just a hair early.
The other was a Bushmaster that had debris (brass) wedge the firing pin forward, essentially making it a fixed firing pin weapon.
In all 3 instances the weapons were destroyed.

In the case of the Bushmaster, isn't that considered a 'slamfire' situation?

[jreifsch80]

Here's some interesting reading

Product Improvement Test of Cartridges, 5.56-mm, Assembled with Steel Cartridge Cases

A March 1970 report from the Army Infantry Board, Fort Benning, Georgia. The purpose of the test was to determine suitability of the 5.56-mm steel-cased cartridges to replace standard brass-cased cartridges, and to determine the physical and technical characteristics of the 5.56-mm steel-cased cartridges. Specific test phases to which the steel-cased cartridges were subjected were physical characteristics, safety, cartridge-weapon compatibility, adverse conditions (60-day open storage period), reliability, and human factors. There were no deficiencies and one shortcoming found: the susceptibility of the test cartridges to rust. There were 47 incidents of split cases out of 21,642 steel-cased rounds fired. However, these split cases did not adversely affect the operation of the weapons. There were 71 malfunctions with weapons firing control cartridges and 53 malfunctions with weapons firing test cartridges. All malfunctions, with the exception of three, were either weapon- or magazine- caused. The blast, flash, noise, and felt recoil produced by the test cartridges were comparable to those of the control cartridges. The test cartridges ejected farther to the rear and right than did the control cartridges. It was concluded that the steel-cased 5.56-mm cartridges were compatible with the M16A1 rifle and were suitable for US Army use under intermediate climatic conditions.