w_houle
Member
How often should the this spring be changed?
Jennings .22 recoil spring lifespan?
- Thread starter w_houle
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w_houle
Member
How about at 6,000 rounds?
w_houle
Member
Seems like they just weaken rather than break, and that's what I don't know: What's too weak to be of use. If the spring is too weak, then the slide absorbs too much kinetic energy, leading to premature slide failure.
ozarkgunner
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- Nov 11, 2009
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- 250
Not to rag on your gun, but how long have you had it? I bought a Jennings 9mm, and it's junk. I barely got thru 50 rounds before it started to fall apart. The pin that holds the ejector claw works it self loose and up. The "cocked" orange pin indicator on the back of the slide pops out further than it should and almost falls out. both clips that came with it, it was new when I got it, don't lock in tight, so it jams every two or three shots. And now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure the recol spring is worn to death, with less than 150 round thru it. The slide will not seat all the way forward after being fired.
Any one need a paper weight?
Any one need a paper weight?
w_houle
Member
for a guesstimate of 3000 rounds, and I'd be tempted to take that paperweight off your hands.
MCgunner
Member
It's a crappy gun with a crappy spring. I have the same problem with a Phoenix Arms HP22. I like the gun for its accuracy considering its size, but the springs remind me of a ball point pin.
I wind up replacing it every 500 rounds. I was buying springs 5 at a time. At least they're cheap. But, don't really shoot it that much anymore. I keep it because it's a super little pocket gun when I go fishing or something. It's so bloomin' accurate that I can actually shoot squirrel with it to 20-25 yards with the short barrel. The longer barrel I have shrinks 25 yard benched groups from 3" to two! but, 3" groups from a pocket gun is pretty friggin' amazing and this thing is pretty reliable as a field kit gun. That's about all I use it for. I think I have one spare spring left. LOLw_houle
Member
That's pretty nice for a crappy gun. I don't think their crap, I just wish more was invested into them to make them better. I think I'll give it another 2 boxes of Remington Golden bullets, then order a new spring.
larryh1108
Member
Call the HP22 crap all you want but it is accurate and just plain fun to shoot! Isn't that what it's all about? I put 3000 rounds thru one and my buddy was so jealous of it he had to buy it (it still looked like new) and I went out and bought another and have 2000 rounds thru it so far and it is an excellent little gun. For $120 you can't beat it! I find that you have to replace the spring at 1500-2000 rounds or when you bend it putting it back together. Once you bend it you have to get another spring and it's easy to bend if you take a shortcut putting it back together.
makarovnik
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- Jul 8, 2006
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- 1,678
Every 1000-1500 rounds and remember to also change the firing pin and firing pin spring as it helps with recoil too.
They are kind of crappy springs in the first place and since the frame and slide are made of zinc/aluminum alloy they can't take a lot of extra pounding.
Being a .22 it should hold up though.
They are kind of crappy springs in the first place and since the frame and slide are made of zinc/aluminum alloy they can't take a lot of extra pounding.
Being a .22 it should hold up though.
MCgunner
Member
None of the following pertains to the Jennings in the OP, but cheap .22 pistols in general, perhaps. Sorry if I'm off topic a bit.
Well, crap is crap and anything zinc isn't high quality. LOL But, having said that, the little HP22 has its uses. I would NOT carry this thing as self defense! I like inexpensive guns, carry a Kel Tec a lot, but even I have my standards. LOL But, the accuracy of the thing astounds me. I cannot understand how a gun with a barrel that rattles around like the clapper in a bell can be so bloomin' accurate. It defies physics.
The accuracy of the gun gives it uses, though, and I like the hammer fired aspects of it. I even gave it a nice trigger job, fairly easy for the home smithing hack. Trigger is nice, now. I've yet to find a gun with this sort of accuracy that's this small. When I do find a steel one or aluminum alloy (with no zinc), I'll consider dumping the HP. The thing seems pretty reliable, too, probably would be even more reliable in .25ACP. I've owned crappier guns in .25ACP that were 100 percent reliable. .22LR really was never ment for small auto pistols. It feeds 'em well, though.
I had this thing with me fishing a 42 acre tank on a hunting/fishing club I was in once. This tank was full of water snakes. I had plenty of Federal on me, so I started shootin' 'em. I was hitting out to 25 yards on 'em, amazing. I bet I killed a dozen in one afternoon. This one crawled up on a limb, looked 3 " in diameter, BIG water snake. None of these were moccasins, just water snakes and they can be aggressive. I could see this one's body on that limb, about 20 yards. So I shot and rolled him off that limb. He started swimming toward the boat, head came out of the water a good 2 feet and I'm in a 10 ft flat bottom with 8" of gunnel, maybe. LOL He was weaving toward me, me shooting at his head. I fired probably 6 or 7 times at his head as he weaved. He got within 15 feet of me and I connected with his head. I was getting ready to pick up the paddle and go hand to hand. LOL!
That's the sort of thing I like this HP22 for, to have along when carrying my 4" small frame Rossi 511 revolver isn't convenient. I don't like IWB too much. I have taken to bringing it along in a fanny pack, though, on fishing trips. It's all stainless and very accurate. But, the little HP fits a pocket. It cracked the slide right after I got it, sent it in, had a new slide inside 2 weeks in the mail box with two spare mags for my troubles. Seems they redesigned a problem with it. Only problem I've had with it since is those recoil springs.
I don't know if the Jennings is as accurate, highly doubt it, and I doubt it is as reliable aas the same gun would be in .25ACP. But, if you like it, go for it. Just realize everything about that gun is CHEAP, no, not "inexpensive"....CHEAP is the word. LOL! That don't mean you shouldn't enjoy it if you find virtue in it, just realize its limitations and replace those springs when they go limp, nature of the beast. I hang on to that HP.22, but yeah, it's a cheap POS. ROFL! I ain't gonna deny that even though I have uses for the gun and even kinda like it. I have my Rossi revolver which SOME folks think is a cheap POS. I don't, not considering how it shoots and how it's built. I have a Ruger Mk2 and several other odd rimfires. Some are very accurate, most of 'em a little more accurate than the HP22, but none of 'em combine good accuracy with pocket size. That's what endears me to this, my only zinc gun.
Well, crap is crap and anything zinc isn't high quality. LOL But, having said that, the little HP22 has its uses. I would NOT carry this thing as self defense! I like inexpensive guns, carry a Kel Tec a lot, but even I have my standards. LOL But, the accuracy of the thing astounds me. I cannot understand how a gun with a barrel that rattles around like the clapper in a bell can be so bloomin' accurate. It defies physics.
The accuracy of the gun gives it uses, though, and I like the hammer fired aspects of it. I even gave it a nice trigger job, fairly easy for the home smithing hack. Trigger is nice, now. I've yet to find a gun with this sort of accuracy that's this small. When I do find a steel one or aluminum alloy (with no zinc), I'll consider dumping the HP. The thing seems pretty reliable, too, probably would be even more reliable in .25ACP. I've owned crappier guns in .25ACP that were 100 percent reliable. .22LR really was never ment for small auto pistols. It feeds 'em well, though.
I had this thing with me fishing a 42 acre tank on a hunting/fishing club I was in once. This tank was full of water snakes. I had plenty of Federal on me, so I started shootin' 'em. I was hitting out to 25 yards on 'em, amazing. I bet I killed a dozen in one afternoon. This one crawled up on a limb, looked 3 " in diameter, BIG water snake. None of these were moccasins, just water snakes and they can be aggressive. I could see this one's body on that limb, about 20 yards. So I shot and rolled him off that limb. He started swimming toward the boat, head came out of the water a good 2 feet and I'm in a 10 ft flat bottom with 8" of gunnel, maybe. LOL He was weaving toward me, me shooting at his head. I fired probably 6 or 7 times at his head as he weaved. He got within 15 feet of me and I connected with his head. I was getting ready to pick up the paddle and go hand to hand. LOL!
That's the sort of thing I like this HP22 for, to have along when carrying my 4" small frame Rossi 511 revolver isn't convenient. I don't like IWB too much. I have taken to bringing it along in a fanny pack, though, on fishing trips. It's all stainless and very accurate. But, the little HP fits a pocket. It cracked the slide right after I got it, sent it in, had a new slide inside 2 weeks in the mail box with two spare mags for my troubles. Seems they redesigned a problem with it. Only problem I've had with it since is those recoil springs.
I don't know if the Jennings is as accurate, highly doubt it, and I doubt it is as reliable aas the same gun would be in .25ACP. But, if you like it, go for it. Just realize everything about that gun is CHEAP, no, not "inexpensive"....CHEAP is the word. LOL! That don't mean you shouldn't enjoy it if you find virtue in it, just realize its limitations and replace those springs when they go limp, nature of the beast. I hang on to that HP.22, but yeah, it's a cheap POS. ROFL! I ain't gonna deny that even though I have uses for the gun and even kinda like it.
I have my Rossi revolver which SOME folks think is a cheap POS. I don't, not considering how it shoots and how it's built. I have a Ruger Mk2 and several other odd rimfires. Some are very accurate, most of 'em a little more accurate than the HP22, but none of 'em combine good accuracy with pocket size. That's what endears me to this, my only zinc gun.MCgunner
Member
Oh, concerning bending that spring on assembly/disassembly, I get around that one. When I clean the gun, I have the 5" barrel. I'll clean that one if I've shot it, pull off the 3" and clean what I can with the slide in place, replace the barrel with the 5", then clean the shorter barrel. Never have to take the slide off that way. I have noticed springs last a little longer that way.
CaptainCrossman
Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2009
- Messages
- 62
Old thread but must be revived.
My wife bought a little Jennings 22 about 20 years ago. Eventually it stopped ejecting and feeding properly. Here's the problem with them- the slide and bolt face are aluminum alloy, and softer than the barrel breech. The barrel breech pounds an impression into the bolt face/slide. The slide then closes further FORWARD on the frame, causing the extractor to move outward and not grip the case rim. You can file a groove in the side of the barrel/frame so the extractor once again can grip the case and extract it. BUT, this is what happens, eventually the slide gets so worn, the gun starts to chain fire, i.e. fire 2 or 3 shots with one trigger pull. The face of the bolt/slide gets so hammered, and moves so far forward, it starts to slam fire, even when you chamber a round hard from a fresh clip. The bolt face alone starts to fire the rimfire rounds, when the slide/bolt face gets worn enough, upon chambering a round.
The real and proper fix is, when it starts jamming and not feeding, get a new slide. They are not a lot of money, around $25 for a slide. And it's the sane, safe thing to do.
The problem isn't the spring. If you put too strong a spring on the slide, that's what makes the bolt/slide face slam even HARDER into the hardened barrel breech cone, and wears the slide out even sooner. You want as weak a spring on the gun as possible, to make it function correctly. Too strong a spring, means the little 22 round has to overcome that much more spring pressure, to extract/eject the shell, and the slide slams forward so much harder due to the extra spring pressure, you'll wear out the bolt face of the slide in no time.
My guess we ran about 2000 rounds through the J22 before it started to malfunction and no longer was a safe, shoot-able firearm. Now the slide is so worn, the side with the ejection port is starting to visibly bow out to the right slightly, and the top of the slide on the sight plane is dipping downward just above the ejection port. The snout of the slide starts to distort from use, it starts to bend upward and to the right, due to the weakness created by the ejection port cutout slot.
The slide metal just isn't hard enough. If they made it from good gun steel, they'd last forever. But that's why they were only $85 or cheaper guns brand new.
Be careful with a worn J22, like I said before, I had one slam fire on me TWICE when chambering a round, and then they start chain firing, firing 2 or 3 rounds with one trigger pull. At that point the gun needs repair, or to be destroyed, parted out, or otherwise disposed of. They can become dangerous due to accidental discharge and chain fire. To clarify and reiterate- the firing pin doesn't cause the accidental disharge and chain fire- what happens is, the distorted bolt face of the slide, starts to fire the rimfire rounds, upon slamming forward and chambering the rounds into the breech.
The malfunction is like taking a 22 cartridge and hitting the primer head with a chewed up hammer head, eventually the concussion may will ignite the primer and fire the cartridge, even if you are hitting it straight on. It happened to me twice while chambering a round in a worn J22. Fortunately the gun was pointed in a safe direction by instinct and habit, so the bullet just went into the ground.
I'd NEVER carry one of those cheap automatics with a shell in the chamber, trusting the safety. You risk taking a 22 slug in your leg, or worse. I have carried one in the front pocket often, but nothing in the chamber. That's why a revolver with one chamber empty, is the safest carry gun, or an automatic with a grip safety, like the classic Colt 1911.
My wife bought a little Jennings 22 about 20 years ago. Eventually it stopped ejecting and feeding properly. Here's the problem with them- the slide and bolt face are aluminum alloy, and softer than the barrel breech. The barrel breech pounds an impression into the bolt face/slide. The slide then closes further FORWARD on the frame, causing the extractor to move outward and not grip the case rim. You can file a groove in the side of the barrel/frame so the extractor once again can grip the case and extract it. BUT, this is what happens, eventually the slide gets so worn, the gun starts to chain fire, i.e. fire 2 or 3 shots with one trigger pull. The face of the bolt/slide gets so hammered, and moves so far forward, it starts to slam fire, even when you chamber a round hard from a fresh clip. The bolt face alone starts to fire the rimfire rounds, when the slide/bolt face gets worn enough, upon chambering a round.
The real and proper fix is, when it starts jamming and not feeding, get a new slide. They are not a lot of money, around $25 for a slide. And it's the sane, safe thing to do.
The problem isn't the spring. If you put too strong a spring on the slide, that's what makes the bolt/slide face slam even HARDER into the hardened barrel breech cone, and wears the slide out even sooner. You want as weak a spring on the gun as possible, to make it function correctly. Too strong a spring, means the little 22 round has to overcome that much more spring pressure, to extract/eject the shell, and the slide slams forward so much harder due to the extra spring pressure, you'll wear out the bolt face of the slide in no time.
My guess we ran about 2000 rounds through the J22 before it started to malfunction and no longer was a safe, shoot-able firearm. Now the slide is so worn, the side with the ejection port is starting to visibly bow out to the right slightly, and the top of the slide on the sight plane is dipping downward just above the ejection port. The snout of the slide starts to distort from use, it starts to bend upward and to the right, due to the weakness created by the ejection port cutout slot.
The slide metal just isn't hard enough. If they made it from good gun steel, they'd last forever. But that's why they were only $85 or cheaper guns brand new.
Be careful with a worn J22, like I said before, I had one slam fire on me TWICE when chambering a round, and then they start chain firing, firing 2 or 3 rounds with one trigger pull. At that point the gun needs repair, or to be destroyed, parted out, or otherwise disposed of. They can become dangerous due to accidental discharge and chain fire. To clarify and reiterate- the firing pin doesn't cause the accidental disharge and chain fire- what happens is, the distorted bolt face of the slide, starts to fire the rimfire rounds, upon slamming forward and chambering the rounds into the breech.
The malfunction is like taking a 22 cartridge and hitting the primer head with a chewed up hammer head, eventually the concussion may will ignite the primer and fire the cartridge, even if you are hitting it straight on. It happened to me twice while chambering a round in a worn J22. Fortunately the gun was pointed in a safe direction by instinct and habit, so the bullet just went into the ground.
I'd NEVER carry one of those cheap automatics with a shell in the chamber, trusting the safety. You risk taking a 22 slug in your leg, or worse. I have carried one in the front pocket often, but nothing in the chamber. That's why a revolver with one chamber empty, is the safest carry gun, or an automatic with a grip safety, like the classic Colt 1911.
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