10/22 target gun problem

yonson

A good friend is working up a 10/22 target gun, no mods to the action but has installed 20" match barrel & some other goodies, has been trying different kinds of ammo for best accuracy. Eley Sport (1085 fps) works the best so far but Federal 711B (1080) and Aguila Match Rifle (1080) don't cycle the action every time. He would like to continue experimenting with standard velocity ammo but is concerned about the occasional malfunctions. Any suggestions?

charliemeyer007

Buy a recoil spring and lighten it to work with light loads.

beantownshootah

Generalizing here, match barrels use match chambers, which are by design tight, and .22 ammo tends to run dirty. If you want the best possible accuracy in a semi-automatic platform, sometimes you have to give up a little bit of reliability to get there, or alternatively you may need more maintenance (ie cleaning) to keep the gun running 100%.

Edit: Also, like any .22 auto gun, some rifles will just run better with certain ammo types. Under "ordinary" circumstances, I'd say just stick to ammo you know works, but I understand that right now circumstances are NOT "ordinary" so you have to use whatever .22 ammo you're lucky enough to get.


Before we can address the specific problem, we have to know exactly what it is. What sort of malfunctions have you been seeing?

Failure to eject? Failure to load? Failure to fire off a chambered live round?

FTE: Make sure the chamber and breech are completely clean, and after cleaning everything apply a small amount of lube to the bolt rails. Also, make sure the extractor itself is clean and not worn/bent. I'd suggest also upgrading to a high quality aftermarket hardened steel extractor. These are easy to install and relatively inexpensive (IIRC under $20).

Also, as an aside, some people drill a hole in the rear of the receiver so that they can access the breech/chamber far easier for easier cleaning without having to break down the gun. Edit: IIRC there is some jig/kit designed to drill the perfect hole for this you can buy.

FTL: If you're using an aftermarket magazine, ditch it and get a factory one. Again make sure everything is clean and lightly lubed. This is where a new bolt-handle/recoil spring assembly may help too. I don't think these are available in different spring weights (or if so, I've never seen this) but if the old one is worn it may not return with enough "juice" to properly load/seat a tight round. This is also a cheap part. . .I think its $10 or so for a standard bolt/spring assembly.

FTF: Again, make sure the chamber and especially breech are clean. Any dirt that prevents a round from seating all the way can reduce reliability. Make sure there are no burrs or abnormalities in the breech area. Upgraded firing pin can't hurt with ignition, and again, these are relatively inexpensive and fairly easy to install. Its also probably possible to reshape the existing firing pin nose to get a little pit of a "sharper" strike, if you were so inclined.

llama

quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
Buy a recoil spring and lighten it to work with light loads.


Polish the guide rod as well.

rsnyder55

When I switched to a target barrel, it came with a Benz chamber and no longer cycled with ammunition that wasn't target.

yonson

Beantown: I have talked to my friend & he says the problem is basically FTL. He asked me to thank the guys for all the info, is going to be more diligent on chamber cleaning for now, ammo is in short supply here in MN as it is everywhere else so experimenting is iffy. He has been a competitive shooter for more than 60 years but primarily with bolt actions so this is a new ballgame.

RCrosby

My old 10-22 was crazy accurate with Winchester Power Points. You may not want to limit yourself to the high price stuff which may or may not prove most accurate in this particular rifle.