Followup and more help needed on my Ruger Mark II

[rock jock]

Last year I related some problems I was having with a Ruger MK II Target Competition slabside model that I bought NIB.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12874&highlight=ruger

To briefly recap, I am having consistent feeding problems with all ammo, but especially any lead ammo. The only kind of ammo that gives even decent performance is copper-coated, like Winchester Super X and even that stuff hangs up at least once per mag. Anyway, I took the advice of posters from the previous thread and did two things: (1) polished the feed ramp with some metal polish and a Dremel tool, and (2) fed another seveal hundred rounds of Win Super X through it. Now, here's the deal. The the hangups aren't nearly as bad as they were before, and on the rounds that do hangup, the angle of the shaving?? is much less (before, there was a pretty deep gouge in the stuck cartridges). BUT, the problem still persists. In examining the feed ramp, I notice that there is a very slight lip (maybe 1/32") at the top of the feed ramp near the entrance to the chamber. This lip used to be more prominent before I did the polishing and I am theorizing that this little bit left is causing the remaining problems. I am thinking of getting out the Dremel and polishing that last little bit off so that there will be a smooth transition from feed ramp to chamber, but before I do this, i wanted to check with the experts here.

TIA for any advice, and sorry if I was long-winded.

 

[Old Fuff]

It is possible, but unlikely that the chamber is burred from dry-firing. A more likely cause is that the magazine lips need to be adjusted so that the cartridge noses higher or lower as the bullet enters the chamber. I doubt that the feed ramp is causing the trouble. An experienced pistolsmith can correct the magazine(s) and so can Ruger's excellent customer service department.

 

[Jim K]

Try feeding a round as slowly as possible and see if there is a hangup on the ramp. Also, if there is a lip, it shouldn't be there, and I would have no hesitation about polishing it down. But unless you have experience with the Dremel, I would put it away and use a small half round file or a piece of dowel rod with emery paper. Take it easy, as you don't want to cut into the chamber any more than absolutely necessary.

I would advise against doing anything except returning it to Ruger, except that your work so far has probably voided the warranty, so a bit more can't hurt.

Jim

 

[Nick96]

You might try posting on the Ruger Forum - Rimfires Long & Short. Lots of folks with Ruger .22's there that could probably offer an opinion.

Typically, the magazine lips are the culpret with Ruger .22 FTF's. A fairly simple fix with a pair of needle nose pliers. Ruger .22 magazines are as common as flys on cow dung. You could get another most anywhere for under $20 to try out.

But then, my old Ruger will digest hundreds of the cheapest rounds I can find without a catch - then choke on one of every 30 rounds on the next outing from the same box of ammo. Go figure???

 

[Standing Wolf]

You might want to think about a Clark barrel, although it might take a few fractions of a nanosecond to get over missing the traditional Ruger so-called "safety message" stamped into the steel.

 

[rock jock]

Thanks, I think I will send it to Ruger.

 

[ksnecktieman]

Rock? May I suggest? buy a new mag first, and try it? there is no such thing as too many mags anyway,,,,,, if it fixes your problem you have not been without your gun, if it does not,,,, then it is time to send it in. You did not say if you had tried more than one mag?

 

[rock jock]

Sorry, I tried both mags that came with the gun. But that is a good idea, and I will pick up another today if I can find one.

 

[bountyhunter]

I notice that there is a very slight lip (maybe 1/32") at the top of the feed ramp near the entrance to the chamber.

First, there should be no lip at the top of ANY feed ramp in an autoloading pistol. It will cause exactly this kind of problem.

I would use 400# then 600# sandpaper and oil to polish down the lip (BTW, 1/32" isn't very slight in my book). I would also recommend very lightly rounding over the top of the ramp as it goes into the chamber just to make sure it's smooth there.

You can use a small drill bit. Wrap the sandpaper around the smooth end of the bit and tape it. Apply oil, and hand polish going front to back direction. I have polished the feed ramps on all my autos including my Mk II. With 400/600 paper it's just about impossible to remove much metal, but don't go crazy with it.

I recommend putting your Dremel in the closet and setting a bowling ball on it anytime you are working on a gun.