Just bad ammo or bad firing pin?

[CarolinaJack88]

Hey guys,

I feel like this question has probably been asked but I couldn't find it.

I have a Westernfield Model 832 (it's the same as the Mossberg 341) 22LR bolt action rifle, probably made in the 70's. I have recently shot Remington subsonic (because it's cheap) and CCI Minimag out of the gun. I get anywhere between 1 to 4 FTFs per 7 round mag. Usually, if I try the round again it will fire. I havent noticed any distinct difference in the strike made by the pin on the primer of fired vs. unfired rounds.

Do you think that it's just the ammo I'm using or is it my rifle?

 

[brickeyee]

Might be time for a complete cleaning if the firing pin and whatever channel it is riding in.

 

[MtnCreek]

Do you think that it's just the ammo I'm using or is it my rifle

Sounds like the rifle. Pick up a good box of ammo from another source and try it again.

Check the firing pin for wear and also look at the barrel at the location where the firing pin hits.

 

[MtnCreek]

Might be time for a complete cleaning if the firing pin and whatever channel it is riding in.

Very good point!

 

[Furncliff]

If you are getting those results with both brands of ammo then the problem is in the striker, striker spring or gunk in the channel.

Many here have poor regard for Rem ammo, it can be the problem. The mini mags are generally excellent.

 

[CarolinaJack88]

Thanks for the responses guys. Would it be worth it for me to take it to a gunsmith to have it cleaned thoroughly and checked out?

 

[BrocLuno]

Should be able to do some of that yourself? Pull the bolt out of the rifle and clean the striker area with brake clean and cotton swabs/old tooth brush. Put it back and fire some test rounds. If it improves, you are onto the right track. At that point, it might be worthwhile to have your smith look at it as dissembling a pinned bolt can be frustrating. Clean the snot out of it and lube with premium gun oil, reassemble and have at it

 

[osprey176]

The first thing a smith will do is clean the rifle.With .22's,this will fix a bunch of failures to feed and fire.You should be able to find an exploded diagram at Numrich Arms for a buck or two.You can dissasemble as far as you are comfortable,then go to it with brake cleaner.Scrub with toothbrushes,Q tips, pipe cleaners,ect.Reassemble and shoot it.If it still won't shoot right,find a smith.

 

[Screamin'Eagle]

When you get a FTF, do you eject the round and inspect the rim to look at the pin strike? That will tell you what's going on. Compare it to a round that went off. If the strike looks like it is not as deep, then you need to clean the gun thoroughly. If they are the same, then it could be ammo, but I really doubt it if you are having problems with a range of ammo, especially with the CCI minimags. Those things seem to work in almost everything.

 

[CarolinaJack88]

When you get a FTF, do you eject the round and inspect the rim to look at the pin strike? That will tell you what's going on. Compare it to a round that went off. If the strike looks like it is not as deep, then you need to clean the gun thoroughly. If they are the same, then it could be ammo, but I really doubt it if you are having problems with a range of ammo, especially with the CCI minimags. Those things seem to work in almost everything.

I need to take my magnifying glass to a spent round that has been struck twice. My vision is pretty good and I can't tell much, if any, of a difference between the strikes. I guess that doesn't really mean much with the naked eye.


I scrubbed the gun pretty well today and paid special attention to the bolt and firing pin. I'm on an ammo freeze right now (yeah, even just for .22s) until my wedding is over and these matrimony expenses are out of the way. As soon as that's done I'm gonna pick up some more of the CCIs and give it a whirl.

 

[kozak6]

It's also possible that the striker spring is tired, or that the firing pin is deformed from peening the chamber.