Ruger 10/22 Upper Receiver Failure
- Thread starter aerobeast
- Start date
At first I thought maybe someone fell on the rifle at some point and it finally came apart in your hands. However, I re-read your post and question the effect of removing the barrel 20 times and re-installing it with no torque wrench. You say the rifle only has 2000 rounds fired through it? Many guys go that long with out a cleaning. It is curious....
Lol Indeed. I clean it every time I shoot it... My carbine model had a mechanism where the front half of the stock folds back, and unlocks the barrel without tightening those two front screws. Makes it easy to fit into a backpack camping etc. I've only ever tightened those screws 3-4 times. The stock and front mechanism was manufactured by butler creek, and that front folding half was not sitting quite right. That's why I bought the new stock and the right locking part. I've put about 1000 rounds through it in the past two years. Not sure about my dad though I only guessed
wayupnorth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Alberta
ive never heard nor seen of a break like that.
truly a new one for me.
i would agree with what was said above, probably a weak pour that finally gave up the goat.
truly a new one for me.
i would agree with what was said above, probably a weak pour that finally gave up the goat.
Lol Indeed. I clean it every time I shoot it... My carbine model had a mechanism where the front half of the stock folds back, and unlocks the barrel without tightening those two front screws. Makes it easy to fit into a backpack camping etc. I've only ever tightened those screws 3-4 times. The stock and front mechanism was manufactured by butler creek, and that front folding half was not sitting quite right. That's why I bought the new stock and the right locking part. I've put about 1000 rounds through it in the past two years. Not sure about my dad though I only guessed
Can you provide a picture of the old stock it was wearing. If it is the stock I am thinking of it has no support for the barrel. The lug would be taking all the force.
Lol... cleaning a ruger 10/22 that's fired only 2k rounds is like changing the oil in your car every 2k kms.... I'm not very nice to my 10/22's but they work great and I love them....
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The discolouration around the screw holes is curious. Looks to me like the fracture started at the threads when they were cut and oil or cleaning solution seeped into the crack.
FWIW I have only pulled the barrel on mine once in about 60, 000 rounds.
FWIW I have only pulled the barrel on mine once in about 60, 000 rounds.
Yes willisjake you are correct. I think it is the stock you are thinking of. No there is no support for the barrel, and the stock was not sitting nice anymore. That's why I wanted to change the stock to something more secure. And yes all the force of that mechanism was on that lug. However the break did happen mid-tap, not at the end of those screws, but you are probably on to something.
Pic as requested of old stock assembly, broken lug and all:
And that barrel would come out nice and easy by folding back the stock 180deg, making it compact for camping, travelling etc. That's how I have taken the barrel out so much in the past...
Yes willisjake you are correct. I think it is the stock you are thinking of. No there is no support for the barrel, and the stock was not sitting nice anymore. That's why I wanted to change the stock to something more secure. And yes all the force of that mechanism was on that lug. However the break did happen mid-tap, not at the end of those screws, but you are probably on to something.
Pic as requested of old stock assembly, broken lug and all:
I do think this stock had something to do with it.....
Edit: For those that miss what is going on in this picture, this is a early takedown mod that was discontinued years ago by Butler Creek.
It replaces the conventional v block for a block clamp. This allows you to remove the barrel as if it we a take down. Hence the OPs comments about removing the barrel 20 times. This is setup puts a lot of energy directly into the vbloc lug. My opinion is now 100% fail due to the stock.
Last edited:
I think you are right. I took the picture almost immediately after it happened, and my first reaction was that the discolouration was stress/metal related. This morning the color has seeped over almost the entire cross-section of the break. I think it is oil, and you may be right that it was seeping before either due to the fracture or the porous cast.
- Location
- saskatchewan
thanks for the pics
never seen a stock like that before
pretty much a lever on the end of the barrel lug so its not surprising it finally broke
never seen a stock like that before
pretty much a lever on the end of the barrel lug so its not surprising it finally broke
I had a receiver fracture just behind the breech. I was out shooting it and accuracy was terrible so i brought it home and tore it apart. On first inspection i thought wow that looks like a crack. I flexed the receiver just to see and it broke right in half. I contacted Ruger and sent pictures. They then forwarded me to Snapshots who had me send in the entire rifle. I removed any modded parts i had and shipped them the complete original rifle. A few weeks later they sent me back my rifle with a new receiver. If i recall right they paid for the shipping too. If i were you i would put everything back to stock take some photos and send an email to Ruger that doesnt have too many details in it other then the fact you were very happy it did not break while shooting and nobody was injured.
I would think you will have the same results as me.
If all else fails and they dont take care of you it looks like it could be a very good test for JB weld.
I would think you will have the same results as me.
If all else fails and they dont take care of you it looks like it could be a very good test for JB weld.
Last edited:
Thank you all for your valuable input. It seems that this strange stock design may have had a role to play in this upper receiver's failure.
I will contact Ruger and see what they say, and keep you all posted.
Once again thank you all for your interest in helping me sort out this bizarre failure. I definitely know where I am turning to for any future firearms related inquiries.
I will contact Ruger and see what they say, and keep you all posted.
Once again thank you all for your interest in helping me sort out this bizarre failure. I definitely know where I am turning to for any future firearms related inquiries.
