[sargents1]

This is a cross post from Rugerforum.com.

Right then. My chamber Swage/Ironing tool came in the mail today (isnt that going to sound quaint in a few years when the postal service finially goes the-way-of-the-Dodo Bird) and I effected a repair.

But first, lets recap.

A while back I field stripped the gun for cleaning. When I re-assembled the gun, I accidentally let the firing pin retainer pin fall out of the bolt.
That would be this little pin shown sticking out of the bolt here:
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/FiringPinRetainingpin.jpg

I re-assembled the gun and test/dry-fired it a few times. All seemed well. McWife and I went shooing last weekend. My MkII started jamming badly after about one magazine full of CCI Mini-mags. So we put it up and proceeded to shoot my P85 and G20SF. Note: a Glock 20 10mm is not ideal for training new shooters. Neither is a 20+year old P85MKII that hits about a foot high and has a grip bigger than the G20...but she managed well enough considering we were under attack by a flock of mosquitoes (the Maine State Bird BTW).

When we got home I examined the MKII and found this:

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/ChamberDamageProtrusion01.jpg

No wonder the cartridges were hanging up in the chamber. There is a metal booger sticking down into the chamber caused by the firing pin shaped dent in the breach face. Nicely done Sargent....And Yes, I know the chamber was filthy.

So, I did some research on the Interwebs and found out about a chamber Ironing / Swaging tool that is supposed to be the hot ticket for fixing this kind of damage. Brownells gets about 22$ for this item and with shipping it came in under 30$. I figured that would be about the same as having a gunsmith do the repair and if I ever needed the tool again then it would pay for itself. I ordered on Tuesday and and it showed up today (Friday). Not bad for Ground shipping.

Tonight after putting the kids to bed and watching the news, I cleaned off the kitchen table and got organized.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/TheGoods.jpg

This is what you get for your 22$ + Shipping. You get This little proboscis thingy.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/SwageTool.jpg

So I read the directions. They were straightforward enough.
- Dab some oil on the tool to prevent galling.
- insert the swaging tool into the firing chamber taking care to put the flattened part of the too against the dimple (read: Damaged part) in the chamber.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/SwageinPlace01.jpg

- Rotate the tool a few times until the dimple gets pushed out so that it no longer obstructs the chamber.

This is what it looks like afterwards. There is still a dent in the breach face, but the material no longer protrudes into the firing chamber.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/RepairedChamber01a.jpg

and another view.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/Sargents77/MKII%20Chamber%20Repair/ChamberRepaired02a.jpg

I havent had a chance to try it out, so we dont know if this repair was effective. But, the chamber opening is round again and it Looks like it will work.

I hope to be able to try this out this weekend, being a long weekend and all. I should be able to post an update once I find out if this actually fixed the gun.

Cheers,

-S

[rcmodel]

It will very likely work just fine.

I accidentally let the firing pin retainer pin fall out of the bolt.
Don't do that again!

rc

[forindooruseonly]

Nice write up and good pics. I'm surprised how badly and quickly it was damaged. It sure whacked it!

[JohnM]

I suppose the swipe at the Post Office was some sort of attempt at humor? BS!

[sargents1]

I suppose the swipe at the Post Office was some sort of attempt at humor? BS!
Sad humor.

I happen to like the postal service but it does seem like there is an ever shrinking market for mailed letters and what with UPS and Fedex do a good job with larger pkgs, that leaves a smaller and smaller role for the USPS.

[sargents1]

Update.

The repair works correctly. I put 40rds of Federal bulk thru the MKII this morning and it worked fine. I had one round that didnt light off on the first try, but that is an ammo issue.

So, the Chamber Ironing Swage works as advertized.

Cheers,

-S

[Fishbed77]

To those surprised at the damage caused by firing without firing pin retainer pin, the Ruger manual clearly states that this will permanently damage the firearm. I'm glad the OP found a way to fix his.