Wrong Way said:
A: How hard are they to take apart?
CLEANING MAGAZINE'S
The Factory Ruger 10/22 magazines (BX-1) can malfunctioning due to lack of cleaning, and have difficulty feeding rounds (the rotor isn't rotating). Disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the Ruger 10/22 10-round rotary magazine is very simple, provided you have the right tools (you will need a 9/64" Allen wrench), some manual dexterity, and a few minutes of time.
Disasembly
Step 1: Pre-disassembly magazine. Ensure that the magazine is unloaded.
Step 2: Using hex wrench or pliers, loosen the round side with the hex-wrench socket -- to loosen, turn the screw head counterclockwise. Do not completely remove it yet. While doing so, push in on the screw head. You will notice the hexagonal piece on the opposite side of the magazine poking out. You may also notice the wall on the far side of the magazine popping out as well. For now, press the wall back into place so the hexagonal piece sticks out like so.
Step 3: Remove the hexagonal piece
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Step 4: Remove the screw.
Step 5: Remove magazine wall.
Step 6: Remove the rotor. Note that one vane on the rotor is longer than the others. Keep this in mind. There's generally no need to remove the spring from the rotor hub.
Step 7: Remove the metal feed lips. Note the angle it's at, which side is "up", and the different sized nubs on each end.
Step 8: Magazine is disassembled. Clean magazine thoroughly with a good solvent. I used Break-Free CLP, patches, and q-tips to remove fouling. Clean the vanes on the rotors, the feed lips, the removeable wall, and the main cylindrical body of the magazine. Be sure to wipe everything dry after cleaning.
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Reassembly
Step 1: Disassembled (and cleaned) magazine.
Step 2: Replace metal feed lips. Insert rotor. Note there are two ends to the rotor -- one with a small "shelf" where the vanes end, and one with a long "shelf". The long side goes in first and should fit into a depression in the magazine. Turn rotor clockwise until long vane is inside feed lips.
Step 3: Insert screw into the hole at the bottom of the magazine. While this can be done before Step 2, I did it in this order. Doesn't really matter. This prevents the rotor from falling out of its little depression. Note alignment of rotor vanes with long vane inside feed lips.
Step 4: Examine the small hexagonal piece. Observe the small hole. Then examine the spring sticking out of the partially-assembled magazine. Note the small bit of spring that's vertical. Do nothing for now, just note their existence.
Step 5: Replace magazine wall. Ensure it fits properly on feed lips and that the spring protrudes from the hole in the center.
Step 6: Align the small hole on the hexagonal piece and the small vertical spring bit. They should fit together like so.
Step 7: Note that the hexagonal piece has six flat sides. Start with the spring untensioned, then rotate it four to six (usually six)notches clockwise. When properly tensioned, use your finger to press the hexagonal piece into the hexagonal depression in the magazine wall. Then, while holding the hexagonal piece in place, use your hex wrench to tighten the screw on the other side. Ensure it's tightened firmly, but do not strip the threads or screw head. (tighten screw [with 9/64" Allen], back-off by 1/8 of a turn, so as not to bind the rotor.)
Step 8: Magazine is reassembled. Verify spring tension and proper functioning by loading and unloading rounds. Ensure that each round springs smartly into position. Some magazines may require additional tensioning (perhaps to eight or nine notches, rather than four or six). If so, partially disassemble, adjust, and reassemble as described above.
