Like-New K-22 Needed Action Work

doc540 · #1 07-09-2012, 12:59 PM

After recently acquiring a Model 41, I expected the action work on this 1953 K-22 to be better than it is. The gun has a very low round count.

The bolt lock also needed to be reshaped.

A competent local gunsmith has it now, and he told me just because it was made nearly 50 years ago didn't guarantee the S&W action build would be exceptional.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the purchase and plan to shoot rimfire silhouette matches with it.

Show off time

DGT · #2 07-09-2012, 01:40 PM

That's a beauty.

Retired W4 · #3 07-09-2012, 02:13 PM

That one looks great. Good luck working the bugs out.

larryofcc · #4 07-09-2012, 02:28 PM

I also have one shipped 7-22-1953 with a target hammer. I guess I will never know if the action is good or bad. It appears to be unfired and it will stay that way. If they top 98%++, I do not shoot them and this is a 100%er. Big Larry

COYOTEHUNTER · #5 07-09-2012, 04:23 PM

Doc,
That is a nice looking K22 there. You have some good color on that hammer. Good luck in the silhouette matches, used to shoot them myself.

beagleye · #6 07-09-2012, 07:23 PM

I bet it will turn out great. Good score.

H Richard · #7 07-09-2012, 07:29 PM

I'm surprised it needed any work other than possibly a tear down and good cleaning to get rid of old congealed oil gumming up the works.

Hammerdown · #8 07-10-2012, 07:13 AM

Hello Doc
Nice Five screw example you have there. Don't sell them short on accuracy as my 1947 Transitional Model can really lay them in there. This Six shot group was fired at the 20 Yard line with it using CCI Mini-Mag ammo....

DCWilson · #9 07-10-2012, 08:59 AM

Doc540, that's a good looking K-22, and once your smith has finished cleaning it out and tuning it up, you will love it.

I have run into a few incompletely finished bolts on postwar revolvers, and they benefited from some judicious surface stoning. It also helped to grind out some roughness in the bolt channel as well. Even in the glory days of dedication to fit and finish, a production floor that was really humming could let a rough one through. You'll be OK.

Kurt, nice shooting. That would be six squirrels in the stew pot for sure!

doc540 · #10 07-10-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

Doc540, that's a good looking K-22, and once your smith has finished cleaning it out and tuning it up, you will love it.

I have run into a few incompletely finished bolts on postwar revolvers, and they benefited from some judicious surface stoning. It also helped to grind out some roughness in the bolt channel as well. Even in the glory days of dedication to fit and finish, a production floor that was really humming could let a rough one through. You'll be OK.

Thanks, that's exactly what my gunsmith told me.

I have to admit I was surprised a storied, 50 year old K-22 could need gunsmith tuning to be a good shooter and a little disappointed, too.

Oh, well, what's another $65 spent on the hobby, right?

COYOTEHUNTER · #11 07-10-2012, 02:10 PM

You will forget about that $65 when you lay those first ten chickens down and move to the hogs.

doc540 · #12 07-10-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COYOTEHUNTER

You will forget about that $65 when you lay those first ten chickens down and move to the hogs.

That's the plan!

DCWilson · #13 07-10-2012, 02:19 PM

Look at it this way: the roughness of the action is your guarantee that the gun is virtually new! If it had been shot more back then, the original owner would have had a smith smooth it out, and you would now own a gun that had been fired a lot more than you know it has! All is for the best.

doc540 · #14 07-10-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

Look at it this way: the roughness of the action is your guarantee that the gun is virtually new! If it had been shot more back then, the original owner would have had a smith smooth it out, and you would now own a gun that had been fired a lot more than you know it has! All is for the best.

Never thought of it that way.

The glass is half full.