10/22 bolt stop pin stuck. Any ideas?

I finally decided to take my 10/22 apart and do a proper cleaning. After much effort and driving them out with a brass rod, I got the two trigger group pins out.

The bolt stop pin is being as stubborn as an old mule. So far I've tried:

- pushing it
- tapping it with a hammer/punch
- hitting it with a hammer/punch
- using penetrating oil and letting it sit overnight
- chucking a bit backwards in my small drill press and trying to press it out
- heating the receiver with a heat gun in combination with all of the above
- excessive use of foul language with all of the above

Right now it's in the freezer (don't tell my wife!) in hopes that I can hit the receiver with the heat gun and create enough of a temperature difference that the pin will be shrunken and the hole in the receiver expanded.

If that doesn't work, I don't know what I'll do. Maybe I can rig up something to work with my Jeep's ball joint press!

I go it new. The buffer is definitely metal.

I've seen some of the plastic ones, like the tuffer buffer. I can't imagine they could be any harder to get out than this thing.

I might have to do that. Then again, I could contact Ruger and see what they say. I'll see if this freezer/heat gun combo works first.

I finally got it out!

I'm not sure if it was the contrast between hot and cold, or the fact that I turned the heat gun up, or the fact that I heated it at the same time I had it in the drill press, but it did finally come out.

I'm going to be taking some sandpaper to those holes for sure.

I've heard that a lot when researching the issue. I saw a number of youtube videos where the pins just fell out.

I actually cleaned up both the pins and the receiver and then hit them both with 220 grit and then 600 grit sandpaper. Now they don't quite fall out but I can push them out pretty easily. I also made sure to put a light coat of CLP on it when I put it back. Hopefully I won't have to deal with this again.

I've shot a lot of Federal, Remington, and Winchester brick ammo (the stuff that comes in 500+ round boxes), but not a lot of hyper velocity stuff. I think I did get one box of hyper velocity CCI rounds a while back but I wouldn't think 100 rounds could do that.

I'm curious, what exactly does the plastic bolt stop pin do for you? It doesn't seem like a .22LR needs anything to absorb recoil from the shooter's perspective. Does it make for less wear on the parts?

Velocet, I really just wanted to take it out to clean the rifle.

Maveric223, Now I'm really curious. How does one make them? Can you just buy nylon stock in the right diameter and cut it to length?

Polyurethane is some great stuff. I'm actually more familiar with it as bushings for Jeep leaf springs and control arms. We also use it at work but that is molding parts out of a two part mix.

I would think it would hold up for quite a while. Besides, you could always cut some extras and keep one (or the original steel pin) in your cleaning kit.

I've got a dial caliper on my reloading bench and a micrometer kicking around here somewhere. I'll have to look into this.

I would have to check, but I think that one is a roll pin. You will probably need the proper size of punch to get that out.

You might be able to rig up something by taking a nail or piece of metal coat hanger and turning it down on a grinder till you get the right diameter. It's ghetto, but I think it could work. Of course, that assumes you have access to a grinder, or at least a dremel.