LCR .22 Locking-up

[Fountain E. Conner]

Finally got to shoot my new .22 LCR. About what I expected except for the malfunctions.

After about 50 rounds, the trigger would lock in the rear position, sometimes twice in a single cylinder. The cylinder could be rotated slightly by hand and the trigger would snap forward again -- But this action skipped a cartridge.

Tried two different brands of ammo with similar results.

Even tried dry-firing, and got random lock-ups. The gun wouldn't lock up with every cylinder.

Am I missing something, or do I have something to send back to Ruger?

 

[louiethelump]

Brush out under the extractor with an old toothbrush and see if it still does it. Make sure you brush both the surface of the cylinder with the extractor back, AND the underside of the extractor as the grit will stick to both. A single grain of unburned powder can set the extractor and ratchet back far enough for the pawl to bind. You have to extract the empties on a DA revolver with the muzzle up so the debris inside the cases does not fall under the extractor. If that does not take care of it, you may have an issue.

 

[Fountain E. Conner]

Thanx louiethelump,

I'll try that. I hope you're right. I've never had that problem on my 38 sp LCR, and I have over 2000 rds thru it.

Reason for the .22 was economical practice. I can pay for the gun with the ammo savings from slightly more than three bricks.

Trigger is not as good as I'd hoped, but still fun to shoot (when it shoots), I got-in a good practice session, and only fired 30 rds of 38 sp.

 

[Fountain E. Conner]

Brush out under the extractor with an old toothbrush and see if it still does it. <snip> If that does not take care of it, you may have an issue.

That may have done it!

After I brushed, I dry-fired a bunch, and didn't get a lock-up yet.

I'll know better after the next range trip.

Thanx,

 

[Mike Armstrong]

This is a common problem with well-made .22 revolvers--those made to pretty tight dimensions.

Most people who shoot S&W .22 revolvers a lot have an old soft toothbrush right in the pistol rug with the gun! I have never been able to find a .22 cartridge that doesn't leave some unburned powder grains to sift back under the extractor star--my S&W 651, 35, and 48 all do it with all brands, LR or WRM. I don't remember my Colt Trooper .22 having this problem, but maybe I just brushed (not flossed) without thinking about it by the time I got that gun!

 

[Fountain E. Conner]

This is a common problem with well-made .22 revolvers--those made to pretty tight dimensions.

Then you-all may have saved me some grief.

My wife carries a S&W 351C .22 magnum. Really nice gun -- Trigger not as good as the LCR .22. And we haven't had any lock-ups or malfunctions yet, except one FTF.

I now have a toothbrush with some shooting stuff in the car. I won't leave home without it!

Thanx, all,