10/22 primary and secondary ejector?

[diegocn]

To my knowledge the Ruger 10/22 has 2 ejectors. The primary ejector is the edge on the magazine feed lip. The secondary ejector is the ejector on the trigger group. Normally the case is ejected by the primary ejector. But when the magazine is not present in the gun, the secondary ejector kicks the case out.

I'm dealing with a problem where my 10/22 stovepipe every once in a while. Research suggests a few ways to address it:
1. Replace extractor
2. Eliminate the mag wobble so that the mag ejector hits the case consistently.

It got me thinking why does Ruger design an additional ejector on the magazine which can cause problem due to variations of magazine fit. Will the rifle function if I shave off the magazine ejector completely and rely on the secondary ejector in the trigger group? Has anyone tried this before?

 

[gunrunner100]

If your extractor doesn't work correctly, it's dropping the case ahead of any ejector. Try a new extractor first before second-guessing Ruger's engineers.
Also, ensure the chamber is clean. Oil, dirt and powder fouling will slow extraction.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

There is another problem which I never expected in the 10/22 family. I have had one for decades. It was one of the first new guns I ever owned, and recently bought a second much newer but used one. After reassembling the newer one, it repeatedly failed one function or another. CRAP! So I took a known good part off the old one, and swapped it in. Success! Ok, will the newer part function in the old gun? Yes. No further problems.

You may be working at the edge of a perfectly acceptable design tolerance.

 

[Mad-Dog]

If your extractor doesn't work correctly, it's dropping the case ahead of any ejector. Try a new extractor first before second-guessing Ruger's engineers.
Also, ensure the chamber is clean. Oil, dirt and powder fouling will slow extraction.

Agreed. The same applies to the 10/22 mags. They need to be kept clean to work efficiently.

 

[IanC]

Butler creek magazines dont have the little bump in their magazine....I never knew what it was for thanks.
As for failing to eject it may be the ammo. I find many bulk ammo brands to have inconsistent charges.

 

[diegocn]

Yes I do intend to try another extractor. I was more curious about why Ruger put in the extra ejector in the mag given the mag itself can vary due to fit.

I will try to borrow a bulter creek mag to see if ejection works.

For background info the bolt assembly was transplated from a factory 1022 with less than 1000 rounds into a tuf 22 receiver. The bolt assembly worked perfectly in facotry 1022 but start giving occassional stovepipe in the tuf22. So I think it has more to do with the magazine wobble than the extractor. Butheck, extractor is not expensive so I don't mind trying a new one.