K 22 combat masterpiece cylinder swap out

[talltower]

I have long suffered with a post war K 22 Combat Masterpiece that has an ejection problem. After even just one firing of six rounds, it seizes up and it is vertually impossible to eject the shells with the extractor rod. I have been trying to figure the problem out and following all the suggestions on The Forum and have finally come to the conclusiion that the actual cylinder holes are wallowed out allowing the shells to expand when fired and thereby locking the shells in place. I am looking now to find another cylinder to replace the original one while hanging on to the old one for historical values. The gun serial number is 2282xx. What would be the best approach to finding a period cylinder that will work? I realize a gunsmith would have to take a look at it before firing. Does anyone out there have a source? Respectfully, Talltower

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of those troubles with the gun. I don't know a source but you might try putting a WTB ad in the forum classifieds. Or maybe contact S&W and explain what's happening to see if they will take a look at the cylinder. Can't hurt to ask.
Hope you get it fixed one way or another.

 

[Willeys]

If a cylinder can be located, I know that a warn out barrel can be sleved. That might be possible for a chamber as well.

 

[crsides]

If you have access to a micrometer, try measuring the fired cases at different points along the case. If the chambers are oversized, it should be apparent. Keep track of which chamber the casing came out of, and recheck any that are bulged.


Charlie

 

[Hondo44]

The wallowing is going to be mere fractions of thousanths of an inch. If it were mine I would consider 'lapping' the chamber walls until they are straight again.

 

[SDH]

Do the unfired rounds actually flop around in the chambers? I'd try them one chamber at a time... and a few different types/brands of ammo.

(Please remove cylinder from gun or check at the range.)

 

[Hondo44]

I just remembered an experiance I had years ago with a Model 18-3 that I bought used in the box for a darn good price although it looked like a brand new gun. The 1st time I shot it, the shells were extremely hard to extract. I had to support the cylinder and gently tap on the ejection rod.

So I loaded only 5 rounds and fired them; just as hard to extract. The next time I loaded 5 rounds again but left a different chamber empty. Third time I did this the shells extracted easily so that told me the chamber left empty that time was the offending chamber. When I got home I checked it out with my 10 power glasses. Sure enough there was a tiny machining burr folded into the chamber right at the mouth. I shaved it out with an exacto knife and the next time at the range all 6 shells ejected easily.

Now I'm not saying that you have a burr. What I'm saying is that you may have only one offending chamber. I was amazed with my gun at how hard it was to extract the shells with only the one shell sticking on the burr. All .22 cases will bulge a bit when fired, even in a new gun. My suggestion is to see if you can isolate the offending chamber or two using the method I did.

 

[PMRet]

I had the exact same problem with a used 1950's era K-22 I once purchased. First 6 rounds I fired stuck so tight I had to push them out with a cleaning rod, and 3 different kinds of ammo produced the same results. Unfired rounds would load easily and would actually fall out of the cylinder if you turned the muzzle up, but when fired the cases would expand and stick tight. Long story short, someone had "polished" the chambers to the point where they were oversized. I found a period correct cylinder and swapped it out, problem solved.