Failures to Feed

[Ronbars]

I've put an honest 8,000 rounds through my 15-22 since picking it up in July, 2011 and it has been remarkably reliable. I put two 100 round packs of CCI Mini-Mags through it when I first got it, but it has since been fed Federal 550 bulk packs from Wal-Mart exclusively -- and without any issues -- until a week ago when I experienced my first failure to feed. It had been a while since the last cleaning, so I paid special attention to the bore and feed ramp and went over the bolt assembly until it was spotless.

At the range this morning, I wasn't able to get a single round to feed from any of my 8 magazines. The bolt will not move all the way forward, leaving the round halfway in the chamber -- this also leaves a slight dent in the round's case. Pulling back on the charging handle will eject the round so the extractor claw and ejector are both doing their jobs. The rails are lightly lubed and the whole bolt assembly move smoothly when manipulated manually. Could the (blue) bolt spring be worn out or might it be something wrong with the feed ramp? They both appear to be fine.

 

[wolverine]

Morning Ronbars

Could be dirt or particles of lead caught somewhere. Might be a bent ejector. (is the bolt clearing the ejector)

Try popping the bolt out then dropping some hand fed rounds into the chamber. If they stick or are tight you have something happening in your chamber (or you have a box of poor fitting bullets or rounds).

If found to be tight then try some other ammo from a different source to see if they fit any better.

If they don't then put a 22 brush on a short cleaning rod, chuck the rod in your cordless drill add some bore cleaner & buzz the chamber (don't go so far as to contact the rifling )

If all is good hand feeding wise then look for magazine issues or something in the feed ramp or attitude the round takes as it is just clears the magazine lips & enters the chamber.

 

[Ronbars]

Hi Wolverine,

A bright LED light revealed some pale yellow waxy debris at the top edge of the chamber where the round noses in as it rides the feed ramp. I cleaned it off with some solvent and everything appears to be working once again. Going to take it to the range Wednesday to confirm.

Thanks once again for the tips -- I was so mentally focused on the spring and/or the feed ramp itself that I never rechecked the chamber as it "appeared" to be spotless.