.22LR Chamber Damage From Dry Firing

[deadin]

Grndpndr,

Thanks for the example of the fact that, believe it or not, guns do sometimes just plain wear out.

 

[Regolith]

Quick Update: I bought the chamber ironing tool (from Midway - it was slightly cheaper than at Brownell's, and it got to me in less than three days). I ran into a few problems using it, as the flat side of the tool was in the wrong position and its impossible to turn the L handle 360 degrees in that action. But I think the chamber is "more round" than it was before. I have yet to take it to the range, but I think I will do so in the next day or two. Then I get to see how well it worked.

 

[fatelk]

I have come across this problem a couple times and have done exactly what Jim Keenan described, very carefully using a small half-round file. I do have training as a machinist and did not damage anything. The one time it was an old beat up single-shot .22 that was not worth even having a gunsmith look at. I filed off the burr and it has worked great ever since.

I'm not saying that filing is the proper method, just saying it worked fine for me. I've also seen a lot of stuff ruined by people who don't know how to use the right tool.

 

[Regolith]

I tried filing, but I couldn't find any decent files in town. The one I bought either couldn't remove any material or was having material removed from it (not hard enough). That, and I'm not so good with delicate work, as I tend to get impatient and remove too much material or damage areas I didn't want damaged. So I decided to try the alternative method.

Still haven't had a chance to take it the range. I think I will make a point of doing so either later today or Sunday. If it still has problems extracting, I'll have another go at it with the ironing tool.

 

[Regolith]

Heh. I didn't get to the range with it until March. Just remembered this thread today.

I fired at least 20 rounds through it with no jamming, so I think the problem is fixed, and should stay that way so long as I don't dry fire it any more.