I have a 70s vintage K-22. To me the chambers are very tight. You really have to push the shells down into the chamber, shaving wax, to get them fully seated. Are all S&W .22s this tight?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I have a 70s vintage K-22. To me the chambers are very tight. You really have to push the shells down into the chamber, shaving wax, to get them fully seated. Are all S&W .22s this tight?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

you will have to try different brands. my M-17 & M-63 only like Winchester powerpoints and CCI Velocitors. everything else is a **** shoot. It doesn't hurt to keep a bore brush handy

I have had good luck with the Federal bulkpacks from Walmart in model 17's.
The CCI minimags are pretty good also.
As mentioned try various brands and hopefully you will find something
that will work out for you.

Good luck !

You guys are treading on one of my favorite sermons. I'm now an old fool, but I'm still set in my ways. I like ammo. Some is good, more is better, and too much is just right. A box of this, a box of that, who knows. Long ago I stopped just shooting up the tailings of an ammo buy. I just stash it away in the powder magazine.

You can do the same.

The advantage of this hoarding is many times you can sit in your gun room with a gun that seems to have the problem that started this thread. Moving from box to box, you'd be amazed what you discover.

Just keep in mind that ammo varies from lot to lot. And over the course of a few decades it can change dramatically. But its a good starting point. Even interesting to buy and keep some foreign stuff. Russian, mexican, and some european for good measure (just to show my unbiased feelings toward them.)

Don't lose sight of the fact that just because it will chamber doesn't mean it will perform to your standards. You could even be more systematic than me and make/keep notes.

We're entering tough times. Simple economy dictates that if Federal 550s work even reasonably well, it should be given some consideration. Buy now, next year we'll be buying some Chinese branded stuff.

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Dick Burg

All my S&W 22s, models 34, 17, 18, 63 ONLY like Federal bulk pack (550 rounds), and I get them at Wally World for $14 or so. If I use Remingtons (especially) they are very hard to insert and eject. Works out good, as the Federals are the cheapest ammo I've found.

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ken
SWCA #1959

This is an often discussed problem with the Smith 22s. Mine was so bad with a model 48 that I finally just sold it.

I seem to remember someone saying you can take a wire brush and chuck it into a drill to polish the chambers, but you'd want to ask somebody about that.

I have had the same problem with mine. I took the cylinder off the crane and sosked it in mineral spirits overnight (it doesn't hurt the finish) and get a new .25 caliber bore brush.

Wet the bore brush in the mineral spirits and run it through a chamber (redipping regularly) until you feel reduced force neccessary to run the brush through. Repeat on the rest of the chambers. I save the brush and use it one pass each through chamber during regular cleanings.

At about 3 or 4 cleanings after the initial time or when insertion of new shells becomes really hard, buy a new brush. Eventually, your chamber will be polished enough to stop having to buy a new .25 caliber brush.

I've tried polishing the cylinder with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a .22 bore brush, but haven't had the effect that a .25 bore brush does.

I have a 72 Model 18, 4", and I heard about the tight chamber thing here on the forum. After I cleaned the gun when I first got it, I have tried Federal Auto Match, Winchester 22 HP's, CCI Mini Mag HP's, Remington Yellow Jacket HP's and Remington 22 Golden Bullet. I have some Velociters on the way. The best accuracy I got was with the Remington Yellow Jacket HP's, but, all of these bullets slip into the chambers and eject easily after being shot, and shoot very respectable groups....the worst of the lot being Winchesters. I have noticed that after about 40 rounds in my gun, that the chambers need to be brushed of fouling, and then its back to the races for another 40 rounds or so. This gun was "as new" when I purchased it, and had very, very few rounds through it.

My 17-4 had similar problems, but I polished the chambers with a bore swab and JB Boreshine. Put on a cordless drill and took about 30 sec. per chamber. Cleaned up fine and no problems since.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have a similar vintage K-22 and I found that it is much happier if I scrub the heck out of the chambers with hoppes #9 and then run a dry patch through the chambers. If I oil the chambers the fired brass will stick. I live in the San Francisco bay area and have not had any issues with rust in the chambers from not oiling them after cleaning with hoppes #9. Anyway the other posters suggestions should help. Good luck.

Troy

My k22 & 17-3 eat everything..... run a brush through the chambers every 200-300 rounds....

A little older, and perhaps set in his ways, but a fool? I think not. Don't ya'll believe him. This mature southern gentleman may be trying to take advantage of you young uns. Beware: He is dumb like a fox!

Hope everything is going well with you, Dick. Don't drive by without stopping to visit.

Best regards,

Jim

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STAY ARMED, VIGILANT, SAFE!