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Posted

Right after my son was born in 2011, I bought him a .22LR AR15. The upper is polymer and is made by Chiappa Firearms. The lower is an American Tactical Imports.
Recently we were shooting it and the bolt failed to return to battery. So I broke it down and saw the bolt main spring was crimped. No big deal. Went inside and ordered 2 new ones straight from the website..
After the new ones arrived, I was studying the bolt assembly and realized why the spring was crimped. The bolt spring rod is threaded on both ends and threads into the bolt block. The bolt block is made of zinc or Pot Metal as I like to call it.
So I go back to the website to order another bolt rod and bolt block, only to find out that the rod is out of stock.

Next I start searching for another supplier... NOTHING!! But what I did find was very interesting. It seems that there are hundreds of reports of this failure with this particular bolt assembly design. I lost count of how many people reported this on different forums. And here I thought I'd have my son's rifle back up and running next weekend.

This morning, I found a number for Chiappa, since it isn't listed on their website, and called them. The individual I spoke with said that they no longer make the bolt rod and that I'll have to go through a dealer to order the entire bolt assembly. The cost is under $60. But my issue is that if there are so many reported failures, there should be a recall of the upper assembly.

I think I'm going to cut it into pieces so it can't be used. And save the lower to build him a nice custom AR. And in the meantime, go buy him a new 10/22 since they are a proven rifle in the industry.

After doing some more research, I learned they are based out of Italy.
I got a reply back from the email that I sent them last night. They explained that when parts are ordered for the website inventory, they are shipped from Italy. So this explains a lot.
I don't mind paying $60 for a new bolt assembly. But after all of the reported failures, I'm not sure I want to put another dime into it.

Posted

That is what a machine shop is for. They could easily make you what you needed. Granted it would cost more then 60 bucks, but it would still be cheaper then a new gun.

Posted

I considered having a new bolt made at a friend's machine shop. And also having a stainless rod bolt made. But it's not really worth putting the money into this upper. I've lost count of how many times I've found a complaint online about Chiappa from other individuals. And they experienced the same failure.

I bought him a Ruger 10/22 over the weekend. And I found a deal on a Remington 541T also. So he is set as far as .22 rifles go..

  • 3 years later...
Posted

I also have a Chiappa M4 .22 and have been firing it for about 6 years and finally wore out the barrel . I experienced a problem with the bolt spring as well . The small guide rod had broken on it . I found a cheap screw driver of the same diameter cut it down and fashioned a new one . The one end of the rod has a pin to hold it to the block and the other is just over sized to keep it in place . For the fat end I put a roll pin over the cut down screw diver  drilled a hole through the roll pin and the rod using a drill press and then pinned the two parts together . This worked so well I made a spare but have never needed to use it . Pictured  below . Maybe if you send me some pic's we can come up with a similar fix . The .22 I have has been a great little rifle and I will probably replace it soon

20190621_050151.jpg

20190621_050201.jpg

  • Like 1
  • 4 weeks later...
  • Super User
Posted

Manufactures recalls don't usually happen unless forced by the government.  Then it pretty much has to be a health or safety issue.  That's why these manufactures can make this cheap junk and get away with it.  They do what I call consumer engineering.   They design something, market it, and let the failure rates paid for by the consumer determine if they have design defects and if they need to make a change or not.  If it's too bad, they just drop that model because it develops the reputation as being junk, make the changes they want and just market it under a different model number.

The all do it, automobiles, appliances, you name.

 

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