Customer brings you a the following rimfire carbine. He says it’s worked reliably for years, but recently it “doesn’t seem to want to kick out the brass”. He says it ejects some of the time, but not always, and the problem is getting worse. When questioned, he says he’s not sure if there’s a particular type of ammo this happens with, but he doesn’t think so.
1.How would you make this firearm safe to begin working on?
Keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction I would use the magazine release button to remove the feeding source. Next I would use the charging handle located on the side of the bolt and I would pull it to the rear and using the toggle by the trigger guard, I would lock the bolt to the rear. Finally I would both visually and physically inspect the chamber for the presence of ammunition.
2.If the ejector in this firearm needed replacement, where might you find a replacement and
how much would this component cost?
I found a replacement ejector bar on midwayusa.com for $3.99.
3.If, during the test fire, you discover that the problem the customer complained of persists
with multiple types of ammunition, what other parts do you need to inspect?
Assuming we are talking about already having replaced the ejector bar, the next likely part I would inspect is the extractor. It is possible that it has worn down and only partially grabs the rim of the round. This slippage of the rim during extracting may cause an issue with the ejecting of the casing as well.
4.Assuming your answer to question four were the cause of the malfunction, in a short
customer summary, describe the type of failure, what components caused the malfunction,
the components you removed/replaced, and the tests that were performed to verify
operation:
The type of malfunction you were experiencing was actually a failure to extract which also lead to the failure to eject you spoke of. This failure to “kick out the brass” was due to a dirty gun and a worn extractor. The carbon buildup that happens with these Ruger 10/22 rifles is a lot considering how small the ammunition is so the bore of your barrel was dirty enough to get casings stuck. Couple this with an extractor that has worn down over the years of use and we found your issue. After a detailed cleaning and having installed a replacement extractor the firearm works as intended again. Keep your firearm clean and it should run reliably for the next few years.
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