Broken slide on P22

[glockologist]

Hi, new to the forum and it looks great. I was out at the range last week and my son was shooting the 5 inch P22. The gun is about 3 years old and has about 2k through it. Two mags into shooting and the slide pops off. I pick it up,and its broken just behind the front sight. The orange paint looking stuff is in the metal, what it is I dont know but it should not be there. Ammo was all standard ,no hot stuff Looks like this one is going back to the factory.

[Chris J]

Looks like there was a micro-crack there where the orange stuff is, probably was there for some time, and the slide finally failed around it.

Call S&W?

[glockologist]

Thats what I was thinking. Thanks, and it is going back to the factory.

[1917-1911M]

I think it is another case of the end of the muzzle whacking into the stabilizer. I don't think the small increase in velocity of the 5" over the 3.4" barrel causes enough blowback to be the culprit. If that were so I would have cracked some by now. With the moly and the hammer pretty much sliding over the reduced breech block my slide hammers back and it's hammered back quite a few times. I will admit I don't fire anything more powerful than Min Mags. Have in the past, Stingers, still didn't break anything. Weren't accurate, cost too much, came up way short of a .45 anyway.

This slide whacking into the stabilizer is just one more poorly engineered part on the pistol. I will admit I've had just too much fun with my short barrel P22s both shootin and smithin. Mine is a keeper and I plan on having some around for a long time....keeping the MK series Rugers too. Every gun I've ever sold I wanted back except 1. M1911

[1917-1911M]

I think someone had a good idea regarding the slide whacking the stabilizer. I don't remember who but I think they suggested placing an "O" ring at the rear of the stabilizer to act as a buffer. Most of these slides are breaking right where you would expect them to, right above the recoil spring cup which hits the takedown lever. Both bottom sides of the slide take the most stress right there and whacking into the stabilizer is apparently causing metal fatigue to set in. I'm thinking an O ring that fits tight over the barrel sleeve and stays put. Prolly have to replace every 5,000 rounds. Might work..might not. M1911

[kobyp]

Add me to the list with this exact problem. Mine has been sent back to S&W, still under warranty so we'll see how they handle the situation.

[1917-1911M]

Originally Posted by kobyp

Add me to the list with this exact problem. Mine has been sent back to S&W, still under warranty so we'll see how they handle the situation.

Welcome kobyp, was your's a 5" model? M1911

[kobyp]

I had the 5" barrel kit on it.. When I put the kit on, I made sure to space the "compensator" away from the slide.

Before I sent it off, I removed the compensator to see if the slide had an evidence that it was hitting it... and it did not have any marks on it.

[combat45acp]

add me to that cracked slide list...$41 shipped to the door, but still!

[combat45acp]

will the P22 "Q" slide work on the regular P22? If so is it prone to breaking?? Thinking even with a new slide I'm going to be paranoid of it breaking again...