Sears Model 25 not feeding ammo.

[dakuda]

I will admit that I am an ignoramus when it comes to some things.

I have a Sears Model 25 .22 rifle that I was given as a gift probably 15 years ago, at least. Anyway, after the first round is chambered and fired, it will not feed from the tube at all. It seems to be sending the ammo below the opening in the barrel when it tries to feed that round. I had not touched that gun for a while and tried to shoot it again this weekend, with no luck. I had hoped that the gremlins fixed it.

Anyway, what are some things to look for in this case to get this gun working properly? I remember bringing it to the local gunsmith (in N. IL, they are few and far between) and he could find nothing wrong with it a decade ago.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Big B]

I was recently given the same rifle by my father in law. He fired a few boxes of .22lr, cleaned the barrel, and set it in his closet untouched for more than twenty years. When I got it, the reciever end was so dry and cruddy that you could hardly pull the bolt handle back to cock it. After a good cleaning it would cock and fire just fine. It just keeps getting better every time I use/clean it. While cleaning I'd check out the magazine tube for grime or obstructions. It's not likely, but possible.
You should check the inner magazine tube as well. Inside of that is the magazine spring, and the follower assembly that sticks out of the (inner) tube. Take it all the way out and see if the follower hangs all the way out. (it has a stop so it won't fall out) Also check to see if the spring has good smooth resistance by pushing the follower gently back into the inner magazine tube.
What type of .22 are you firing? I feed mine a steady diet or .22 long rifle only. Sometimes the .22 short hi-speed doesn't seem to have enough umph to cock the bolt all the way back. Haven't tried .22 long yet.
Also, can you manually pull the bolt back and feed the next round when it doesn't feed automatically? If not then your problem is outside what I've learned about this rifle so far.
Hope any of this helps.
-B

 

[dakuda]

The bolt moves perfectly fine, and I can pull it back. It will not close the entire way, since the ammo is in the way due to the jam after the first round.

I have only ever shot .22LR through it.

I will take some time to look at your suggestions though.

 

[Big B]

So is it not ejecting your empty cartridge from the first shot?

 

[Sistema1927]

From the description as given I would guess that the magazine spring needs replacing. Either that or there is some obstruction in the magazine tube that is holding up rounds from feeding smoothly.

 

[dakuda]

It does eject the first cartridge.

I am going to take the time to dive into this gun someday soon.