10-22 fail to fires

W

Willy Tincup

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Recently my 10-22 [200th year of Liberty model] is failing to fire on an irregular basis. Have had it apart, wasn't overly dirty but cleaned and lubricated the striker, everything looks good, no burrs, bends etc. It will shoot 10 rounds just fine and then maybe on the next clip it will have 1 or 2 fail to fires where there is no evidence of a hit on the shell rim and yet the hammer drops and sounds normal. Very baffling. Has anyone experienced any similar issues? Or have any ideas on the likely cause. Have used a couple different lots of Winchester bulk .22's but being as there is no evidence of being hit can't see it being an ammo issue.
 
Willy..
If there is no strike mark on the shell casing, then your firing pin is not coming forward all the way or it's lifting before impact.
Does the firing pin move pretty freely back and forth in the bolt?
Have you had the pin out and cleaned the crevice it sits in? (especially near the bolt face when crud tends to build up)
 
I agree with wham-o and would check the pin sliding in the bolt.

Does it have a Hogue stock?
Had one that would do that only when a Hogue was on it. Factory stock it was fine. Never figured out why.
 
It has the original wooden stock on it. Like the OP says.....I've had it apart, had the striker out, cleaned the channel [wasn't very dirty] lubed it, re-assembled it. Weird part is that it will shoot maybe 15 rounds just fine and them get a fail to fire with no evidence of a hit....... tried 3 or 4 different brands of ammo. Thats why its so puzzling.
 
Overlubing a .22 causes more problems than not enough lube. .22 ammo is dirty with lots of powder residue, and that will mix with a wet lube and form thick tarry crap that will increase friction enough to impede operation. Run it almost dry, or with dry graphite lubricant.

If it were mine, I'd clean it, then soak the entire mechanism in powder solvent overnight and blow it dry with air the next day. Light touch of graphite spray in the friction points. Bet the problem goes away.
 
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I'm experiencing longer intervals between the need to clean since I switched to a dry graphite spray. Before, using a light oil, the bolt was gumming / gritting up in the action. You could feel the grit accumulating after just 500 rounds.
 
I have ordered a tune up kit [new striker, extracter and spring] from Volquerson so will see [a]if they are allowed to ship and if it solves the problem. Thnaks for the input guys....wTc
 
Update #1:
Volquerson won't ship a firing pin to Canada. A CGN member forwarded me the name of a Canadian distributor so have contacted them and now waiting to hear back.
 
loose firing pin

It may be that the firing pin is too loose in the bolt. If you take the firing pin and push it forward, then push down on it at the back of the bolt, will it go up high enough to miss the round? This is a fairly common problem and the true fix is to pin the bolt at the front to keep the firing pin from raising at the front. I add a little material to the firing pin at the back about 1/4-3/8 from the back of the bolt. I usually add a very small amount of weld, or I have used jb weld for the same job. Add material to the bottom side of the firing pin near the back where there is a flat surface under the pin, then file or grind it away until it fits again and slides just freely. Always has worked for me without issues. Good luck.
 
question about that graphite spray : I,m completely unfamiliar with this product, where do you buy it? any online stores? any brands to reccomend??
 
Hey 10mark22,

Doesn't the charging handle hold the pin down when it's all assembled?

I remember jamming some solder in that groove to hold the firing pin down when I had his problem, but then thinking the pin can;t come up when it's all assembled.
 
Just going to throw this out there...is the bolt fully closing on the breach? Perhaps give it a wiggle after each shot and see if the problem goes away.

my .02
stretch
 
in theory

Yes Drillbit, in theory the charging handle is supposed to hold it down. But if the action is loose enough, it can still happen. Later.
 
UPDATE:
OK: Volquerson would not send me a firing pin so I got a new one from a real nice guy near Rockwood, Ont........great price and great service.
Checked the trigger assembly and it was clean. Put in the new firing pin and went to the range today. It went 40 for 40 so things are looking good. The firing pin can however lift up and I can see were it might possibly lift high enough to miss the rim of the 22 casing. Will monitor that as we move forward but for now it appears like things are back to normal and good to go. Thanks to everyone who responded with helpful information and suggestions. Just another one of the reasons this is such a great site. Till next time...wTc
 
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