How to repair peened chamber in .22LR

[kpmtns]

I picked up a used TC contender with a .22LR match barrel. On closer inspection, I saw the chamber was peened a little from some nimrod dryfiring it. A fresh cartridge won't enter the chamber without a ton of force.

How can I fix this at home? Should I try to peen it back? Should I carefully file it down? I don't know if a chamber reamer would work, because it might take material away from the rest of the chamber rim that is not damaged.

Please help!

 

[Jim Watson]

Get the tool from Brownells, that will roll the peened area back into place, more or less, without removing any metal.
Their stock number 590-009-022 Menck .22 chamber ironing tool, $22.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...&title=.22+CHAMBER+IRONING+TOOL&s=21977#21977

 

[kpmtns]

Thanks--that's exactly what I was looking for, but I had no idea what it was called.

 

[jaybar]

Try a tapered punch

You can move the offending metal from the firing pin dings back to its appropriate spot by using a long tapered punch. Insert the the punch into the chamber, place the muzzle on a hard padded surface, keep the punch aligned co-axially with the bore and smack the punch with a light hammer. Wiggle the punch loose, rotate it 180 degrees and do it again. Go lightly with the hammer, remember what we are trying to do here is move the metal back into place, not rechamber the gun. I've used this technique successfully on a lot of High Standards and a few Ruger autos that had improperly fitted firing pins.

 

[kpmtns]

I fixed it this morning by inserting a drill bit shaft into the chamber, holding a screwdriver to the portion of the shaft just above the damaged portion, and tapping it with a light hammer. I tested it after each light blow to see when a round would chamber easily. It only took 4 hits to do it. Now, it looks nearly perfect.

Thanks for your advice.

Kevin

 

[Jim K]

You should take a bit off that firing pin as well so the same problem does not occur again should the gun be dry fired accidentally. There is no reason for a firing pin/hammer to hit the chamber edge on a rimfire gun, and the gun should be set up so it doesn't.

Jim

 

[kpmtns]

Good idea. Thanks

 

[gino]

A question for Jim Keenan,

If I were to take off a little bit of the firing pin on my Ruger Super Single Six, could I be taking away the hardened outer part, or are most/all firing pins hardened all the way through?

Thaks,
Gino