S&W M&P15 Problem

[labotomi]

New Rifle, never fired.

The Safety is very difficult to move from fire to safe position unless the rifle is charged (then it's free to move either direction). I'm afraid to force it for fear of damage.

Is there anything I could check before contacting the dealer or S&W?

[Aragorn]

If the hammer is down it's impossible to switch the selector from Fire to Safe. It can only be switched to safe if the hammer is cocked, ie. the weapon is charged. Seeing how the AR is an auto loader, if the hammer IS down and you cannot put it on safe, you can be all but guaranteed that the chamber is empty. Still, it's ALWAYS best to check your chamber visually.

[Optimus Prime]

Yup, needs to be cocked to place on safe.

[4SRecon]

I have an M&P15 and that's exactly how my rifle works, if the weapon is not charged- the saftey selector will not engage to "Fire" mode. I haven't fired every AR-15 out, but I'm sure any quality AR-15 functions like the way you described it. I think you should actually get a feel for how your weapon responds to how you hande it while it's "Engaged" and "Dis-engaged".. Of course while it's not loaded with ammunition. Knowing your rifle before shooting it is just as important as knowing it during/after shooting it. The saftey selector is probably one of the most important part of your rifle that you should be fimiliar with. On another note, GREAT CHOICE! I love my M&P15: http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad119/4SRecon/n1123538439_30192575_3318206.jpg

[labotomi]

This is my first AR, but I have experience with a couple others and this is the first that's behaved this way. I'm not saying it's wrong, just different. That's the reason for the concern.

[Optimus Prime]

If you can get an AR or M16 to go to safe while uncocked, something is probably wrong with it. If the hammer is not cocked, but resting on the fired position against the firing pin, the selector lever will only move about a quarter of the way to safe before meeting resistance. When the weapon is charged, then the selector lever will have it's full range of movement.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6152/safetyselector.jpg

That's the farthest any of mine will go unless cocked. Works fine.

[Quib]

As mentioned above, if your weapon can be placed on SAFE with the hammer forward, then there is something mechanically amiss with the FCG.

What your current weapon is exhibiting by NOT going to SAFE with the hammer forward is normal for the AR15/M16 design.

If the hammer is forward, and you are trying to force the safety into the SAFE position, there will be a bit of slack to take up, and the safety selector will move slightly. But anything more than that would begin to cause damage internally.

This is Step One in the procedure to clear the weapon.....


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/4565459520_64a413dbe2_o.jpg

[Quib]

If you are without an Operators Manual, here's a link to the S&W M&P15 version. See Page 12......

http://http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P15_Rifle_Manual.pdf (http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P15_Rifle_Manual.pdf)

[labotomi]

Ok, thanks everyone. It just seemed counter intuitive to me as I would think that un-cocked and on safe would be the best way to store the rifle as it's how all my other ones (non AR) are placed when not in use.