Hello all , my friend from work brought a sure shot .22 . While we were plinking around I noticed the fired brass was bulged on the head stamp . The flat spot were the stamp is is rounded . After we noticed that we also noticed the bolt moves forward enough to make space between the bolt handle and the reciever, even when a round is in the chamber . My first instinct is to think it's worn out , but maybe there all like that ? What do you all think?
Excessive headspace?
- Thread starter drill702
- Start date
That's a common problem with those rifles. The bolts or the receiver surfaces where the bolt handle acts as recoil lug wears and headspace increases. Usually it isn't a dangerous condition. Most I've seen actually just wear to the point the firing pin will no longer be able to ignite the priming in the rim.
It's a pretty simple issue to fix. A couple of minutes at a shop with a TIG welder to resurface the receiver and the back of the bolt handle where they contact each other is all it takes.
That being said, depending on the cost per hour of a competent smith, it may be just as cost effective to purchase another single shot rifle.
If you can do the work yourself or get a competent welder to coat the worn faces so you can stone them for proper fitment, then it's well worth doing.
It's a pretty simple issue to fix. A couple of minutes at a shop with a TIG welder to resurface the receiver and the back of the bolt handle where they contact each other is all it takes.
That being said, depending on the cost per hour of a competent smith, it may be just as cost effective to purchase another single shot rifle.
If you can do the work yourself or get a competent welder to coat the worn faces so you can stone them for proper fitment, then it's well worth doing.
It is probably still safe to shoot... eventually excessive headspace on a rim fire will lead to misfiring. You can also fit and solder a spacer on the locking area to make the bolt fit tight again.
The vast majority of .22's with a lock up like this, the bolt has no forward movement when closed on an empty chamber.
The vast majority of .22's with a lock up like this, the bolt has no forward movement when closed on an empty chamber.
