And after that Happy Ending post, went to the firing range three weeks later and the Ruger 10/22 Rifle failed to feed after nearly every shot. Had to snap the bolt to feed the next shot. New invention: fancy semiauto single shot rifle.
It did this with four different magazines, all Ruger. Ejected fine. Just wouldn't feed. One magazine had such a weak spring I returned it and got a refund. That left the original magazine and two extras.
The ammo is always CCI Mini-Mag which has a flawless reputation with the 10/22 from every source I've seen. Tried a couple other brands just to be sure, but all were equally frustrated.
So after more pondering, back home to take the bolt assembly out and scour behind that. Little bit of grit, not much. Back to the range. After an initial hiccup, the original magazine fed the next nine shots.
The two additional Ruger transparent 10-shot mags did better than before, but could never achieve more than a couple shots without failing to feed. Unfortunately, after around 45 shots total (three 10-round loads, three 5-round loads), it was back to overall failure to feed. All the time, all three remaining magazines.
Remember my extract from the 10/22 manual?
"On page 18 is a warning for the Magnum rifle that on page 26 is extended to the 10/17 as well: "Never fire more than 50 shots without scrupulously cleaning the chamber....An excess of dirt, powder residue, or oil in the chamber will cause malfunctions and may result in potentially dangerous cartridge case ruptures and release of hot gasses and case fragments when firing."
"I don't know about you, but I'm not buying any gun whose chamber has to be scrupulously cleaned every 50 rounds.
"Presumably potential buyers of 10/22 Magnum or 10/17 are somehow informed of this serious requirement BEFORE purchase."
I'm thinking maybe the new 10/22 Long Rifle is finicky enough to warrant the same excessive cleaning demands of the .17 and .22 Magnum versions.
In my experience, the Ruger new 10/22 Rifle is like a spoiled brat. Precious, but demands way too much attention. It looks gorgeous on a gun rack, but that isn't what I bought it for.
This morning I came to my senses and traded the 10/22 Rifle at a local gun show on a new Ruger Single-Six revolver with two cylinders -- .22 (every type of .22 shell) and .22 WMR. More fun, less aggravation.
So now my favorite .22 plinkers are Marlin 60 semiauto rifle, Browning Buck Mark .22LR pistol, and Ruger Single-Six .22/.22 Magnum.
Here's wishing you a great holiday season with the plinkers you have, and hoping Santa brings you any that are still on your wish list.
