Reliability problems?

marshalls · 12-31-2004, 02:46 AM

I went shooting with a friend yesterday. I have an H&R 22 long rifle revolver, and he has a Taurus 22 magnum revolver. Both had problems. The firing pins would strike the rims, but the cartridges would not fire. Later I shot the same cartridges (you could see the little dents in the rims) in my 22lr rifle, and they worked. I'm beginning to think that rimfire is less reliable than center fire. Am I right?

Big Dog · 12-31-2004, 04:32 AM

No, not at all - that's far too wide a blanket statement. Many rimfires are made more economically than many centerfires, so the firing pins sometimes tend to wear more than the CF guns. But - a quality Rimfire is just as reliable as any cf. I have some rimfires pushing sixty years old - they go bang everytime, and outshoot any spiffy new rimfire off the dealer's shelf.
Just as with any other product or mechanical device - quality tells!
You might have a 'smith check those two guns, and maybe do some tuning.

Also, ammo is often the cause of this too. Try some different brands and types. I have guns that don't do well with Remington .22LR ammo, but work perfectly with CCI or Federal.
This could be quality of components, priming mixture (some have thin or bare spots inside the rim), or differing rim thickness affecting headspacing.

NorCalAshnjikov · 12-31-2004, 07:03 AM

could be your firing pin is a tad worn out?

lefty o · 12-31-2004, 12:36 PM

my first recomendation would be to get away from bulk pack ammo.

practical · 12-31-2004, 12:42 PM

Yeah, remington 22lr anything is garbage...2-3duds/50 out of 3 different guns.

stangman · 01-01-2005, 08:36 AM

It sounds like a combination of worn out springs and firing pin. If the ammo fires off in a different weapon that alone shows that the ammo is not to blame. You didn't say how the guns were but I'll bet the H&R is pretty old, I don't remember putting out a .22 revolver in awhile. My suggestion would be to get new springs installed & test it on the range again, if that don't help replace the firing pin.

allan1898 · 01-01-2005, 10:06 AM

I woiuld try different ammo first, then procede with smithing as above. I've had a lot of misfires from Remington Golden, but they usually fire if I turn them so that the firing pin hits a different spot. The Remington Thunderbolt ammo works fine. The last batch of Federal that I got from Wally World, Lightning high velocity, won't work the action in any of my auto-loaders. Of course I got 3 Bricks! Fails to move the slide back enough to reliably eject, much less pick up the next round. Never had this problem with it before. I will be staying with CCI or Winchester in the future. My revolvers are getting a workout. Used up one brick last time out. So you see, ammo could be the only problem. And if not, you aren't looking at too pricey of a fix. Good luck.

NorCalAshnjikov · 01-02-2005, 11:53 AM

what exactly did you shoot?
http://www.remington.com/ammo/rimfire/22rfammo.htm
I got some High Velocity Golden™ Bullet 40grain in a "christmas tin"
the other day.

practical · 01-02-2005, 04:01 PM

The high velocity golden is one of the offending varieties for me. The other was the "Thunderbolt" type.

I don't care that much, I just won't buy anymore. I'd reccomend getting some ramline 50rd 10/22 mags and a speedloader. Go to the range and see how fast you can burn it up.

allan1898 · 01-04-2005, 05:24 PM

I was shooting 3 pieces: FEG AP 22, Browning Buckmark, and Walther P22. This batch of Federal doesn't have the power to reliably function the slide. Never had this problem before. I keep meaning to e-mail Federal, but haven't yet. I guess right now is as good a time as ever. Works fine in the revolvers or CZ 452, though (under 1" at 100 yds. in the rifle). And I won't be buying any more Remington, either. The primer is obviously not evenly distributed in the Golden Bullet mess.

12-31-2004, 02:46 AM	#1
marshalls Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 14	Reliability problems? I went shooting with a friend yesterday. I have an H&R 22 long rifle revolver, and he has a Taurus 22 magnum revolver. Both had problems. The firing pins would strike the rims, but the cartridges would not fire. Later I shot the same cartridges (you could see the little dents in the rims) in my 22lr rifle, and they worked. I'm beginning to think that rimfire is less reliable than center fire. Am I right?

12-31-2004, 04:32 AM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,208	No, not at all - that's far too wide a blanket statement. Many rimfires are made more economically than many centerfires, so the firing pins sometimes tend to wear more than the CF guns. But - a quality Rimfire is just as reliable as any cf. I have some rimfires pushing sixty years old - they go bang everytime, and outshoot any spiffy new rimfire off the dealer's shelf. Just as with any other product or mechanical device - quality tells! You might have a 'smith check those two guns, and maybe do some tuning. Also, ammo is often the cause of this too. Try some different brands and types. I have guns that don't do well with Remington .22LR ammo, but work perfectly with CCI or Federal. This could be quality of components, priming mixture (some have thin or bare spots inside the rim), or differing rim thickness affecting headspacing. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables. Last edited by Big Dog; 12-31-2004 at 04:34 AM.

12-31-2004, 12:42 PM	#5
practical Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA/Casper, WY Posts: 736	Yeah, remington 22lr anything is garbage...2-3duds/50 out of 3 different guns. __________________ Eric "The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made"

01-02-2005, 11:53 AM	#8
NorCalAshnjikov Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 688 Images: 1	anything? what exactly did you shoot? http://www.remington.com/ammo/rimfire/22rfammo.htm I got some High Velocity Golden™ Bullet 40grain in a "christmas tin" the other day.

01-02-2005, 04:01 PM	#9
practical Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA/Casper, WY Posts: 736	The high velocity golden is one of the offending varieties for me. The other was the "Thunderbolt" type. I don't care that much, I just won't buy anymore. I'd reccomend getting some ramline 50rd 10/22 mags and a speedloader. Go to the range and see how fast you can burn it up. __________________ Eric "The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made"

12-31-2004, 07:03 AM	#3
NorCalAshnjikov Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 688 Images: 1	could be your firing pin is a tad worn out?

12-31-2004, 12:36 PM	#4
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,786	my first recomendation would be to get away from bulk pack ammo.

01-01-2005, 08:36 AM	#6
stangman Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 64	It sounds like a combination of worn out springs and firing pin. If the ammo fires off in a different weapon that alone shows that the ammo is not to blame. You didn't say how the guns were but I'll bet the H&R is pretty old, I don't remember putting out a .22 revolver in awhile. My suggestion would be to get new springs installed & test it on the range again, if that don't help replace the firing pin.

01-01-2005, 10:06 AM	#7
allan1898 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 110	I woiuld try different ammo first, then procede with smithing as above. I've had a lot of misfires from Remington Golden, but they usually fire if I turn them so that the firing pin hits a different spot. The Remington Thunderbolt ammo works fine. The last batch of Federal that I got from Wally World, Lightning high velocity, won't work the action in any of my auto-loaders. Of course I got 3 Bricks! Fails to move the slide back enough to reliably eject, much less pick up the next round. Never had this problem with it before. I will be staying with CCI or Winchester in the future. My revolvers are getting a workout. Used up one brick last time out. So you see, ammo could be the only problem. And if not, you aren't looking at too pricey of a fix. Good luck.

01-04-2005, 05:24 PM	#10
allan1898 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 110	I was shooting 3 pieces: FEG AP 22, Browning Buckmark, and Walther P22. This batch of Federal doesn't have the power to reliably function the slide. Never had this problem before. I keep meaning to e-mail Federal, but haven't yet. I guess right now is as good a time as ever. Works fine in the revolvers or CZ 452, though (under 1" at 100 yds. in the rifle). And I won't be buying any more Remington, either. The primer is obviously not evenly distributed in the Golden Bullet mess.