Tumbling Bullets

Re3iever

Re3iever

Regular
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Location
Newfoundland
Hi All, was at the range last night shooting my single action .22lr revolver. Everything was fine until I had a 'jam' i.e. during reloading I did not push the cartridge (newbie) in far enough and when I rotated the cylinder to load the next chamber it jammed. I fiddled with it for a bit and eventually was able to get the cylinder out of the gun , removed the cartridges, made sure everything was clear and put the cylinder back in and reloaded.

From that point forward is when the problem started, it would fire the first round fine ( nice round puncture in the target) but all subsequent rounds were 'tearing' elongated holes in the paper target which is what makes me assume they are tumbling. I had another shooter fire a handful of the same cartridges just to make sure the problem was not with the ammo and they shot just fine for him, no tearing.

So my conclusion is the problem is with the gun, but what the problem is or how to fix I am at a loss. I kind of think it's probably alignment between the cylinder and the barrel, if this is the problem can it be fixed and how expensive?

Thanks, Roger
 
This is a tough question.

I would take it to a registered gunsmith and have them give it a once over - any advice other than that is probably not in your best interest.

However, I often get ragged holes in regular, printed off a printer at work kind of targets, as well as round holes. If the paper has nothing behind it because the board is shot out the holes 'tear' more than puncture quite a bit. IF you are using regular printer paper or not, bring some cardboard with you, and staple your target onto the cardboard first. If you get nice round holes, you are good to go. If you get what look like sideways profiles of bullets, something is wrong.

All that said, I've had that type of jam a few times in my single six, after lots of rounds the chambers are dirty and the brass just don't want to drop in nice. Clean it and good to go again.

22 is notoriously 'dirty'
 
Possible timing issue - shaving lead because the cylinder isn't aligned.

Maybe pull it apart and reassemble to be sure it's not something minor. Otherwise see a Smith.

That's my first guess.
 
I had this problem with a Heritage roughrider keyholing at 3 to 5 yards clean. The cylinder was misaligned and it was fixed by IRG under warranty.
When clesning the barrel i used to push out a chuck of lead from just past the forcing cone.

Sounds like it's a timing issue. I'd see a gunsmith if you have no recourse from the manufacture.
 
Halifax1977 said:
I had this problem with a Heritage roughrider keyholing at 3 to 5 yards clean. The cylinder was misaligned and it was fixed by IRG under warranty.
When clesning the barrel i used to push out a chuck of lead from just past the forcing cone.

Sounds like it's a timing issue. I'd see a gunsmith if you have no recourse from the manufacture.
Click to expand...

I recently bought one of these from IRG and right out of the box it jammed on two of the cycle points. The cylinder just got super tight and it was tough to force the trigger. I never shot it. I sent it right back. Haven’t got an update but hope it comes back in perfect shape.
How long have you had yours and does it cycle smoothly? How long before you got it back from warranty?
Thanks
 
I agree with the people who have suggested that it is a timing issue.
It really sounds like the bullet is getting distorted and leaving the barrel out of balance.
 
Don't know what revolver you're using, but I had a similar experience with my Ruger Single Six - when I forgot that I had left the .22 mag cylinder in the gun and started shooting .22 LR. Just about every bullet keyholed. Put the correct cylinder in - all was good.
 
fire@will said:
Don't know what revolver you're using, but I had a similar experience with my Ruger Single Six - when I forgot that I had left the .22 mag cylinder in the gun and started shooting .22 LR. Just about every bullet keyholed. Put the correct cylinder in - all was good.
Click to expand...

You might be on to something, I'll check when I go to the range next time.
Thanks
 
Re3iever said:
From that point forward is when the problem started, it would fire the first round fine ( nice round puncture in the target) but all subsequent rounds were 'tearing' elongated holes in the paper target which is what makes me assume they are tumbling. I had another shooter fire a handful of the same cartridges just to make sure the problem was not with the ammo and they shot just fine for him, no tearing.
Click to expand...

Maybe I am reading that bit wrong but if it DID NOT keyhole for another shooter IS it the gun?????
 
With an empty case in a chamber and the gun at full #### if you carefully push a tight fitting cleaning rod down the muzzle does it slide into the case or hang up on the rim of the case?
Please be sure the gun is completely empty before trying this. If it hangs up on the case rim you may want to look a little further at what is causing the misalignment.
 
greywolf67nt said:
Maybe I am reading that bit wrong but if it DID NOT keyhole for another shooter IS it the gun?????
Click to expand...

It was the gun, which is what I presumed what I didn't know was why it was doing it - looks like fire@will had the answer - I must have been shooting 22lr out of the 22mag cylinder. When I went to the range last week I made absolutely certain it was the 22lr cylinder in the gun and no tumbling bullets.
 
fire@will said:
Don't know what revolver you're using, but I had a similar experience with my Ruger Single Six - when I forgot that I had left the .22 mag cylinder in the gun and started shooting .22 LR. Just about every bullet keyholed. Put the correct cylinder in - all was good.
Click to expand...

Nailed it! Made sure to check the cylinders when I set up at the range last week - used the 22lr cylinder no more tumbling bullets. Thanks fire@will
 
jojo said:
I recently bought one of these from IRG and right out of the box it jammed on two of the cycle points. The cylinder just got super tight and it was tough to force the trigger. I never shot it. I sent it right back. Haven’t got an update but hope it comes back in perfect shape.
How long have you had yours and does it cycle smoothly? How long before you got it back from warranty?
Thanks
Click to expand...

It took about 3 months and it worked perfectly. Round count is under 200 still but no finish or firing issues with 22mag or 22lr.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom