FTF/FTE problems with a Ruger 22/45 MkIII

[WanMan99]

I recently picked up a Ruger 22/45 MKIII that looked to be brand new. I would estimate there were less than 200 rounds put through the pipe. My first trip to the range was the most frustrating experience with a new/used gun I have ever had. Virtually every round either failed to feed or if it did it ended up stove piping. I tried CCI (100 pack expensive 40gr jobbies), CCI bulk pack and Federal bulk pack. All had the same result and I gave up after 20 - 30 rounds.

So I decide to give it one more try this past weekend. It started off doing the same thing but this time I just kept at it, clearing and resuming fire. It slowly got better and better until it completely stopped misfeeding. It finally got to a point that I put 150 rounds through it in a row without a misfire (same result with all three different rounds I used previously). I talked to another shooter at the range and he thought it may have been a cosmoline issue or some type of factory greasing that slowly burned away from the heat of continuous firing. After this second trip I did a full strip after I got home (shame on me for not doing it before the first range trip) and a thorough cleaning (nothing obvious from the cleaning and the gun was fairly clean) . I am now curious how it will function on a return trip, whether or not it will be misfeeding again or the issue is resolved.

Has anyone had a similar experience with a new gun that resolved without a trip to the gunsmith, or is this going to be my problem child?

 

[mike01824]

I also recently got a new Ruger 22/45 MkIII. I've never had a failure to eject, but I have had some problems with feeding. I had 0 problems using CCI, but when I bought a Remington 550 bulk pack from Walmart I did have some feed problems. Probably 1 every 50 round. Nothing nearly as recurring as your problem tho.

 

[SMagee]

Had similar problems. Get a Volquartsen extractor and firing pin. Or there is a mod you can do to your extractor (see rimfirecentral.com ) but I am not a machinist. You can order most of their stuff through Midway so you can save on shipping if you buy some other needed stuff.

But the VQ parts made all the difference in the world on my Mark III 22/45 and on my Rugers 10/22's.

I don't work for them or Midway. If you do some reading on rimfire these guys know .22lr stuff like no others and have tried just about everything.

Best of luck to you.

P.S. when you do remove your extractor do it in a large clear plastic bag you can see through. Trust me on this, that lil spring flys and you can save a weeks time from ordering a new one. Ask me how I know

 

[Another_David]

Get a Volquartsen extractor

this

 

[eisenhow]

Had similar problems. Get a Volquartsen extractor

This. Ruger rimfires are individual. My regular MkIII has had 10s of thousands of rounds with the stock extractor. I picked up a 22/45 and I couldn't make it through a single magazine without a stove pipe. I tried all kinds of ammo with the same results. The VQ extractor fixed all of it. It's the same part in the 10/22. Luckily both of my 10/22's haven't had issues. If it did it would be the first thing I'd replace.

 

[chinalfr]

A $10 part will fixed the issue. The weak point is the stock ruger extractor. Actually, not all ruger rimfire rifle/handgun have extractor problem. My 10/22 still on the stock extractor and still running fine. But, I will still replace the extractor to prevent future problem

A few manufacturer actually sell the modified/enhanced extractor. VQ, Power custom.

 

[WanMan99]

I'll pick up a new extractor if it continues on the next range trip. I was thinking about polishing the feed ramp slightly to try and help the feed failures. On the rimfire models there isn't much of a feed ramp like you would see in a larger caliber.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[GunGrey]

Mags and Ammo, are probably the two biggest things with rugers


I always use CCI mini mags or Fed bulk box. the failure to load are almost non existent now but i still need new mags