Ruger 22/45 MkIII - Oops. I think I broke it.

[WNC Seabee]

Went to the range with a friend yesterday and ended up going home with his 22/45 MKIII. Just like any other auto I've ever owned, I figured cleaning it after shooting was a good idea. Apparently not.

I had the manual open to take it apart. But of course I'm smarter than the manual and just plowed ahead. After slicing my finger open on the bolt, and tearing my other finger open on the housing latch, I've successfully managed to render the weapon inoperable.

I never actually got the housing off; I couldn't locate the rubber hammer. At this point, I can pull the bolt back and it will just stay there without the bolt catch engaged. If I push on the bolt, it will 'spring' forward. I'm fairly certain the hammer is cocked but the trigger won't release it (with empty mag inserted).

The housing will come out about 1/2" and then just stick.

Insert/Remove magazine requires some force.

So....did I bring home a salvageable weapon or just a sinister looking paper weight?

BTW....asked said friend about it this morning and his response was, "I never stripped it. Total PIA and the dealer said to just boresnake it."

There are <200 rounds through it total.

Anybody have a clue before I pack it off to Ruger? The best suggestion I found on line was to pull the trigger and smack the barrel on the floor to see if the hammer would come forward. That did not seem to have any effect.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

At least next time RTFB. Suggest you go here:

http://www.guntalk-online.com/

and search for similar problems on the troubleshooting section or join and log in and post the circumstances. Bullseye will help you out. Good ruger site.
Joe

 

[WNC Seabee]

Thanks Jolly, that's where I got the "smack it on the floor" suggestion...I joined that list last night and am eagerly awaiting my log-in credentials so I can post there.

 

[tlen]

Read it and weep........ Simple once you disassemble a couple of times.

http://www.guntalk-online.com/TroubleshootingPage.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYHJm2P4kP0&feature=related

 

[presspuller]

If you can't get it take it down to Rex's and they will put it back together for you. You will not be their first.

 

[fineredmist]

I have had the same experience a while back and I don't remember what I did to fix the problem, sorry. I will tell you that you clean out the bore in the normal way and use brake or carburator cleaner for the rest. Spray it in from both ends of the bolt and then use Q Tips to do detail cleaning. A drop or two of gun oil on the slide is all you need, they work better with a light oiling than with too much oil.
I will never try to disassemble mine for routine cleaning and if it needs repair it goes back to Ruger.

 

[WNC Seabee]

presspuller...Rex's is where I was shooting yesterday. They aren't too high on my list right now. Seems that if you're not one of the good ol boys they aren't too enthused about lending a hand. Cost them ~$900 last week when I drove to Collector's Paradise in Waynesville to buy my AR. I stood at the counter at Rex's looking over their selection for 15 minutes without a word being said to me. I would have preferred to buy local.

I'm speaking strictly of the shop, not the range.

But back to the topic at hand...I'll be trying out the links and suggestions mentioned above tonight. If I can't get it I'll likely send it off to Ruger.

Lesson learned.....RTFM.

 

[presspuller]

I know exactly what you mean about Rex's. I have gotten to where I don't care to go in there. The old man is the only friendly one there.
I don't need my butt kissed when I go there but it is nice to be treated like a human.

 

[Bullseye57]

WNC Seabee

I approved your membership at Guntalk-online.com early this morning. You can log in anytime. If you did not receive confirmation in your e-mail then check your spam filter to see if the message got sifted out.

I will be glad to assist you. It would be better if you came over to the other forum as we may be communicating back and forth a lot.

R,
Bullseye

 

[WNC Seabee]

Thanks Bullseye...several posters have gone out of their way to say how helpful you are. I did find your site a great resource.

I somehow, I have no idea how, got it working this evening. Absolutely no clue what eventually got things in working order.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Ok...now read the book and tear it down 3 or 4 times so it sticks in the memory banks. Thats how I learned to do it. Makes perfect sense now..I can see the steps (I visualize them)and understand why they have to happen.
Joe

 

[Bullseye57]

Thanks, I try to help where I can. Happy to hear that your 22/45 Mark III is working again. Here's a page you might not have found yet. http://www.guntalk-online.com/2245detailstripping.htm

Lots of 22/45 related material on that web help page. It should come in handy when you decide to clean again. Don't let a little hang-up set you back. Sooner or later you're going to need to tear into it.

I see you found your way over to the other forum. If you need any help just drop a note and I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye

 

[WNC Seabee]

Will do Bullseye, was lurking there last night. Great info.

 

[IdahoLT1]

thanks to all involved in posting info. I was about ready to send my own MKIII into the smith because of the same thing.

 

[bigfatdave]

Reading the manual made all the difference for my MKIII as well.
Make sure you doublecheck before moving on to the next step as well, my manual has a lot of directions in each paragraph, I've tried to move on with the magazine in/out improperly a few times.
Also, you may want to invest in a non-marring hammer, or a small rubber mallet. A chunk of 2x4 can probably serve, but the non-marring hammer seemed to make it one firm tap every time, making the process go smoothly.

 

[Bullseye57]

Did you get it working yet? If not the same offer stands for you.

R,
Bullseye

 

[RickW]

There are videos on Rugers site and Youtube that is of great help with tearing down and reassembling the MK series Rugers.

Of course Bullseyes site is THE site to go to for the MK Rugers.

 

[Floppy_D]

+1 Jolly Rogers. Do it a few times until you know it by heart. Then, when you are sitting around with some buddies and feel like making some money, start placing bets on who can do it the fastest.

 

[rocinante]

Don't let these guys rag you because I too have battled a new mark iii and came up FRUSTRATED. I got it where I couldn't get the housing spring to move so I sent it back to Ruger. I got it back and it shoots fine but my plan is to do nothing but clean the barrel and that part of the chamber I can reach and not attempt to field strip it until it stops firing altogether. It is a weird ass little gun. I can field strip my S&W 915, bersa, 1911, P38, revolvers etc but that little ruger has me spooked.

 

[Jacob]

I had the same problem with mine the first time I stripped it down, but it got easier every time. I even detail stripped it once, which I would not have attempted without Bullseye's page.