Ruger 77/22 ejection

[Eskimo Jim]

Hello,
I hope everyone has had or is having a safe and happy Independance Day.

I took out a Ruger 77/22 in 22lr earlier today for my Independance Day celebration and noticed that it had trouble ejecting the empty casings. I put a little more oil on the bolt where the bolt holds onto the cartridge rim and it did improve somewhat.

Any suggestions on if anything is mechanically wrong or could it be that the ejector was stiff because I hadn't shot the rifle in quite a while?

Thank you for your help.

-Eskimo Jim

 

[Chuck Dye]

The ejector in the 77/22 is fixed, molded into the structure of the trigger guard. Unless it breaks or is buggered by attempted gunsmithing, it is not going to fail. Are you referring to a failure to extract? Failure to extract can result from gummed up extractors. Liberal use of cleaning solvent, especially flowing under pressure from an aerosol can or syringe (i.e. from Brownell's), is adequate to keep the extractors clean enough. If they are far gone with fouling, disassembly is in order. I like to do such tasks within the confines of a deep box, it often saves hunting down spring launched parts when fingers and hands are not enough to keep things contained. Jeweler’s screwdrivers will compress the plungers to allow removal of the extractors, but I prefer a length of brass wire with a wedge filed into the end to eliminate, or at least minimize, marring.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Hello Huck,
thank you for writing back.

I don't have a problem with the 77/22 extracting. After firing a cartridge, the rifle extracts the casing without a problem. I do understand how you describe the ejector. It is a metal 'ear' attached to the receiver or action. It does look like the black on the ejector has been worn but it shouldn't have worn that much. If I snap the bolt back quickly, the casing ejects.

I lubed up the extractors with oil and that did appear to help alleviate the pboelm however the problem didn't go away. I think that if I keep working at it, the extractors will be worked and loosened up and the problem will go away.

I'll try the spray kind of cleaner and or lubricator.

Thank you for your help.

-Jim

 

[Chuck Dye]

Sounds as though a detailed strip and cleaning is in order. If the problem persists, contact Ruger: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., Service Department, Newport NH 03773, (603)-863-3300. I have worked on several Rugers, mine and others, bought new and used, requiring replacement of worn or broken parts. Ruger has always been very helpful in identifying the parts needed and has never allowed me to pay for the parts, even when I have tried.

 

[twoblink]

I have to say, that .22LR isn't the cleanest thing around, and if you "over oil", and have never done a detailed stripping, chances are, the ejector blade and bolt area will gunked up.

Most of the time it's an "over lube" problem, more so than an "under lube".