Question From Frustrated Newbie Re: Ruger SR22 Pistol

[rudisahar]

Hi. I just bought my first pistol and I am having a heck of a time with the magazines for my Ruger SR22. When I load the rounds into the magazine, many of them are crooked. It’s as if the magazine is too wide even though it fits in the pistol. I thought that maybe I had a defective magazine; however, I bought extras and I’m having the same problem with all five. Is there something I’m missing? I loaded magazines for a Mark III pistol the other day with no problems at all. What gives? Thanks for the advice.

 

[Kahrmine]

Do they feed and cycle properly? If so, they're probably fine. Take it to a range and run some rounds through it. Always, safety first.

 

[Rotaryrocket]

Mine dont sit straight per-say. Can u post a pic

 

[Adrand]

Are you referring to the top few rounds not sitting directly on top of each other? Almost like the rounds are bunching up? If so then i believe that is normal at least based on my own sr22 and a friend's. I found it odd at first too but they cycle fine. I am a newb too though so maybe a veteran can chime in as to this design.

 

[Mudfish]

The only thing I can think of might be the way you are loading the mags. I know the SR22 mags have a little tab so you can use your thumb to compress the spring. Sometimes if I pull the spring down too far all at once the rounds will go in crooked. My solution is to only bring it down slightly more than needed as you load each round. A couple times during the load I will also release the tab so the rounds can settle into place.

 

[showmofffarm1]

We have an SR22 and a few magazines. I just looked at all of them and the rounds "stagger" into the magazine - they're not one on top of the other in a perfect line.

 

[n1bsbri]

Yes, this is situation normal. The rim end of the rounds do not line up.

 

[45collector]

My Browning 1911-22 magazine does the exact same thing, and the gun runs pissa. Don't worry about it.

 

[mikelawtown]

It is normal, they are "staggard"

 

[73BLow]

If they look like this, you're good to go. As others have said, they are staggered. I would even say they look sloppy, but they feed fine and it's a great little pistol.

 

[noxin]

They should stagger all the way down the magazine. Only the first round or two should will be close to being stacked. The Rim on the cartridge requires them to do this or you'll get weird feeding issues.

On the M&P 15-22 25+ round magazines, it's been reported that if you don't stagger them appropriately, you'll run into weird issues as well.

 

[rudisahar]

Thanks, everyone. The rounds in the magazine look like the picture posted by 73BLow. When I shot it, I had 2-3 failures to feed per 10-round magazine x 5 magazines. The FTF rounds were getting stuck on the "chamber ramp." (Not sure if I used the correct term.) I didn't know that I was supposed to clean/lubricate the gun before I used it for the first time. Could that have something to do with it? I have since cleaned and oiled it. Hopefully I will go shooting sometime this weekend and the problems will be resolved. Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[showmofffarm1]

Yes, clean and oil it before you shoot. And we run our SR22 a tad bit wet and only put CCI Mini Mag through it. Never had a FTF/FTE (knock on wood).

 

[blindndead]

The rounds look like a mess in the magazine but It shoots fine.

 

[PhotoBiker]

When I shot it, I had 2-3 failures to feed per 10-round magazine x 5 magazines. The FTF rounds were getting stuck on the "chamber ramp." (Not sure if I used the correct term.) I didn't know that I was supposed to clean/lubricate the gun before I used it for the first time.

What ammo were you using?

My SR22 is a little bit picky with certain types. The Arguillo stuff seems to cause the most problems. I've had some problems with the Remington bulk rounds (in the golden bucket) that were related to the amount of dust on the rounds themselves crapping up the feed chute.

 

[Donvin999]

After loading the mag it's a good idea to give it a swift slap against your hand to help properly seat the bullets and also make sure you seat the mag in the mag well properly...

 

[K7500]

I've got both a waltherp22 and a ruger sr22. Walther real ammo picky. Cci minimag only. My ruger shoots cci standard velocity fine. Avoid the cheap shit. Won't shoot right. Misfires and jams

 

[TrendSetter67]

I've put almost 1k rounds through a loaner SR22 with a mix of junk 22lr. Only had a few FTE when it was real dirty. Yes, the rounds stack staggered...it is normal. When I end up buying a SR22 new, I will be making sure I polish the feed ramp as there is plenty of discussion about that making a big difference on how finicky it may be about ammo.

 

[mikelawtown]

I've put almost 1k rounds through a loaner SR22 with a mix of junk 22lr. Only had a few FTE when it was real dirty. Yes, the rounds stack staggered...it is normal. When I end up buying a SR22 new, I will be making sure I polish the feed ramp as there is plenty of discussion about that making a big difference on how finicky it may be about ammo.

I heated up my ramp and then soaked it in frog lube. No issues since....

 

[SVincent82]

I traded my P22 for an SR22 and havent looked back. It eats almost anthing. Good choice! As far as the mags, it is normal. The relief cuts in the mag are by design because the .22lr is a rimmed cartridge not designed to be fed with a magazine. If they stacked directly on top of one another, the rears will stack higher than the tips causing the stack to "curve" and likely jam up the mag. All modern mag fed 22s stagger the rounds for better reliablility. One thing to note, when loading these mags with the spring assist thats built in, its best to let the follower back up every round or two to allow them to seat properly. S&W took the assists off their 15-22 mags for that reason if I remember correctly.

 

[30Mauser]

I traded my P22 for an SR22 and havent looked back. It eats almost anthing. Good choice! As far as the mags, it is normal. The relief cuts in the mag are by design because the .22lr is a rimmed cartridge not designed to be fed with a magazine. If they stacked directly on top of one another, the rears will stack higher than the tips causing the stack to "curve" and likely jam up the mag. All modern mag fed 22s stagger the rounds for better reliablility. One thing to note, when loading these mags with the spring assist thats built in, its best to let the follower back up every round or two to allow them to seat properly. S&W took the assists off their 15-22 mags for that reason if I remember correctly.

+1 on all points, great post!

 

[mikelawtown]

I traded my P22 for an SR22 and havent looked back. It eats almost anthing. Good choice! As far as the mags, it is normal. The relief cuts in the mag are by design because the .22lr is a rimmed cartridge not designed to be fed with a magazine. If they stacked directly on top of one another, the rears will stack higher than the tips causing the stack to "curve" and likely jam up the mag. All modern mag fed 22s stagger the rounds for better reliablility. One thing to note, when loading these mags with the spring assist thats built in, its best to let the follower back up every round or two to allow them to seat properly. S&W took the assists off their 15-22 mags for that reason if I remember correctly.

I sold my P22 and an hour later got the SR22. Glad i did. I really likr the Ruger. P22 had issues with diff brands of ammo all the time.

 

[SEShooter]

I thought the same thing when I loaded my SR22 for the first time...totally normal

 

[Jorg]

I bought the SR22 last week. Nice gun to show friends how to shoot at the range and the .22 ammo is relatively cheap.

 

[slap shot]

View attachment 59195

If they look like this, you're good to go. As others have said, they are staggered. I would even say they look sloppy, but they feed fine and it's a great little pistol.

Eww, I'm glad i didn't buy a messy SR.