Project Appleseed

For some reason hollow points get caught up in the mag and won't load.  The tip of the round just digs into the lip on the magazine.  I haven't been able to find anyone who has had the same problem.  The gun is new and has had maybe 1,000 rounds through it.  Any suggestions?

Occasionally I'll see a hollow point in 10-22's hang up, solution, don't use hollow points! Seriously, in any semi auto, if you are going to have feed issues, it'll happen with hollow points. Personally I only use CCI Mini Mag round nose out of our guns and won't have but possibly 1 out of 1000 fail to feed and that's usually someone riding the bolt forward with their hand.

Look the gun over, especially the mag. Do you have more than one mag and do the others have the same issue?

With that said, first thing I do to a new magazine is polish that little ramp that's on them and sand off any flashing and mould lines. They'll shoot hollow points pretty well but will get the occasional hang up, more often than round nose. If you look at the rounds out of the box, hollow point noses are deformed on some of them, especially cheap bulk ammo, so it's not always the guns fault....O.L.

Quote from: oladcock on December 29, 2011, 01:49:40 AM
Occasionally I'll see a hollow point in 10-22's hang up, solution, don't use hollow points! Seriously, in any semi auto, if you are going to have feed issues, it'll happen with hollow points. Personally I only use CCI Mini Mag round nose out of our guns and won't have but possibly 1 out of 1000 fail to feed and that's usually someone riding the bolt forward with their hand.

Look the gun over, especially the mag. Do you have more than one mag and do the others have the same issue?

With that said, first thing I do to a new magazine is polish that little ramp that's on them and sand off any flashing and mould lines. They'll shoot hollow points pretty well but will get the occasional hang up, more often than round nose. If you look at the rounds out of the box, hollow point noses are deformed on some of them, especially cheap bulk ammo, so it's not always the guns fault....O.L.

Thanks for your response.  I have two mags, the one that came with the rifle and an additional Ruger mag I purchased separately.  I have the same problem with both.  It's easy enough for me to buy round nose ammo exclusively, but I'm worried about situations where I don't have a choice.  For instance, I was at a range a few weeks ago and they sold bulk hollow points but not round points.  Not a big deal, but I'd rather be able to save money when I can.  If it something I can fix I would like to.  If it's just the gun's temperament then I'll just deal with it.

You have this problem with both mags. So it is not a mag problem. Millions of 10/22's feed bargin bin hollow points without noticable problems. Ergo the problem is with the rifle. Call Ruger, they have a great service department and will be happy to fix the problem.

2 clicks low

There is enough variation on these mass produced guns that no doubt certain combination of parts could cause issues. One other thing I'd check is the 2 bolts attaching to barrel to the receiver, torque them down evenly. The edges of the chamber are sharp and a slight misalignment will catch on the hollow points. As you clear the gun you'll see what looks like a knife cut on the bullets. Most of these guns will get more reliable with age as these sharp edges wear down but it could be a combination of manufactureing tolerances making this one worse than normal. I know how I'd fix it but not going into detail in public! Push comes to shove, send it back to Ruger or take it to a good gunsmith. In a perfect world all guns should eat anything we feed through them but like kids, some are picky......O.L.

I've never seen that problem before. Is it a standard barrel? If it is, +1 on taking it to a good gunsmith.

Roland

Both mags may have week spring pressure. This happens both out of the package and as the mags get broken in and the springs settle. seen it a bunch. take them apart sand all the flash off the rotor and wind them up nice and tight. that should solve any problem you might have.

Here is a good article on Ruger 10/22 magazine disassembly and reassembly.  Standard tightening of the spring is one and a half turns.

http://trochronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/disassembling-cleaning-and-reassembling.html

- ShadowMan

Good info, but I fail to see how the mag would know the difference between hollow points and round nose! They don't hang up on the mag, they hang up on the sharp chamber edge....O.L.

I tried to shoot hollows again last night, and I noticed that if I used extra force when inserting a mag it shot "okay".  There were several times where it would hang up in the middle of a magazine.  I would then push up on the mag and it would then load.  Is there some way to make an adjustment so that the magazines fit tighter?

Tighter isn't usually the problem! Usually they fit in too tight for me.  Have you tried polishing the "trough" (not sure what else to call it, but it's the ramp-like portion on the front of the mag) with a light file? It sounds to me like that may be the problem.

Roland

Don't touch ANY feed ramps with a file, no matter how fine it is. A Dremel polishing wheel with a bit of jewlers rouge, yes, but no file or sand paper unless it's 1000 grit.

"I would then push up on the mag and it would then load.  Is there some way to make an adjustment so that the magazines fit tighter?

Yep, they are typically TOO tight and the mags and mag well need to be sanded. Do the mags fall out on there own when you push the mag release? If not, they should.

I don't think the problem has anything to do with the mags and everything to do with the chamber alignment/sharp edges and the inherent nature of hollow points being more problematic in ANY semi-auto, with some brands being worse than others........O.L.

Sorry but i have been carving feed ramps into my 10/22 mags for years. it makes every ammo run better. the weak springs cause the bullet tip to nose dive into the front of the mag. good spring tension along with a feed ramp makes them run 100% and eat any ammo. i take the mag apart and use a 7/32 chainsaw file to carve it out till there is just a tiny flat left out front. then round over the bottom edge a bit and polish it up with a dremel and cloth wheel.

DO NOT CUT A FEED RAMP INTO YOUR BARREL. THIS WILL CAUSE CASE RUPTURES. THIS WILL HURT YOU AND YOUR RIFLE AND BE A VERY BAD DAY. DO NOT CUT A FEED RAMP INTO YOUR BARREL.

Interesting Nemo...We've only got 4 with thousands of rounds through them and never seen the mags be an issue, not that it can't be, weak springs causes failures to feed no matter bullet type. Have seen higher problem rates with HP ammo, but even that varies with manufacture. If there is a mod that'll make them run anything, man I'm all for it! I could see reshaping a ramp with a file but I'd still want it slick/polished. Sounds like a lot of loose variables at work! ...O.L.

It was a really, really fine file. Just basically polishing them anyhow.

Could the OP perhaps provide pictures so we could get a look at this?

I took the mags apart, cleaned them, and wound the springs really tight.  Now it feeds like a champ.  I suppose for some reason the rifle needs the mag springs to be really tight.  Problem solved.