Browning 22LR takedown-won't takedown

scmattern · 03-14-2008, 06:05 PM

I have a Browning 22LR that I inherited from my dad which is circa 1960. Nice shooting little gun which I took to the range yesterday. I took it home to give it a good cleaning because I didn't realize how dirty it was till I got it out in the sunlight. Anyway, I can't get the barrel to release from the body of the rifle. It is my understanding that one has to push the release button forward while holding the ejector back but I have pushed and pulled until my thumbs are raw. I haven't figured out how this lever actually retains the barrel and I don't want to twist the barrel so much that I break something. I have gotten just a small amount of movement but it is still catching on something. I have sprayed it down with a good bore cleaner and even used some Kroil on it, which is the best rust penetrating oil I have ever used, in case there is some rust in there somewhere.
Is that button/lever supposed to move forward and stay, or do you have to hold it forward while twisting the barrel? It looks like there is a detente that rides in those grooves around the barrel but pushing this lever doesn't release it so I don't know how this comes in to play.
To make a long story short - HELP!!!!
Thanks

mitch_mckee · 03-14-2008, 06:17 PM

I don't know which model number that you have but see if your owners manual might be in here:

[ thedisease :: library / Firearms Manuals :: Where the lesion hides a lesson ]

rondog · 03-14-2008, 06:21 PM

My brother has one of those, but I haven't seen it in years. Seems like you just slide that release forward and twist the barrel/front section/whatever. I don't recall anything about the ejector/bolt.

Mooseman684 · 03-14-2008, 06:55 PM

If it is the Small Browning with the knurled nut,Remove the wood forend(One screw), then you slide the little button on the bottom forward , and then with the barrel facing away from you, turn it Clockwise about 1/4 turn, it should loosen and pull straight off.You may have to retract the bolt a bit as you turn the barrel...
Rich

Sooner Shooter · 03-14-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

If it is the Small Browning with the knurled nut,Remove the wood forend(One screw), then you slide the little button on the bottom forward , and then with the barrel facing away from you, turn it Clockwise about 1/4 turn, it should loosen and pull straight off.You may have to retract the bolt a bit as you turn the barrel...
Rich

What Moose says and what you said is exactly what I do. On mine I don't have to take the forend off though. The far rear end of the barrel has a knurled nut. That is a tightening or loosening adjustment. Someone I bet tightened it down and then really cranked it closed. Although the same direction to get it off it may sound a little different than Moose. I put the butt of the gun in my lap with the ejector facing me. Holding it this way the barrel will move counterclockwise to come off. Be sure that when you're trying to turn the barrel you've got the ejector pulled back a little. Are you sure you've got the button pushed up to it's full range. If you do get it apart be very careful when cleaning it because it will cut you.

scmattern · 03-14-2008, 10:14 PM

I have the manual and have read the instructions but the illustration of that mechanism isn't real clear. Unfortunately they don't have the booklet entitled "Brownings for Dummies" which it appears is what I need.

Mooseman684 · 03-14-2008, 10:18 PM

Ok, you dont have to remove the forearm ...Just follow my instructions !
May take a bit of muscle if the nut was tightened a bit more than necessary!
Rich

scmattern · 03-14-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sooner Shooter

What Moose says and what you said is exactly what I do. On mine I don't have to take the forend off though. The far rear end of the barrel has a knurled nut. That is a tightening or loosening adjustment. Someone I bet tightened it down and then really cranked it closed. Although the same direction to get it off it may sound a little different than Moose. I put the butt of the gun in my lap with the ejector facing me. Holding it this way the barrel will move counterclockwise to come off. Be sure that when you're trying to turn the barrel you've got the ejector pulled back a little. Are you sure you've got the button pushed up to it's full range. If you do get it apart be very careful when cleaning it because it will cut you.

Let me ask you this then. Does that mechanism which rides in those grooves on the barrel disengage the barrel when you push the button forward? Also, does the button stay forward when you push it forward or does it return to its original position when you release it? Mine returns to where it was and I don't think it is supposed to, or wouldn't think it would anyway. I think you may be right about that tensioning nut but I can't loosen it until I get the barrel off so I am sort of between a rock and a hard place. How much damage am I going to create if I take a screwdriver and mallet to give the latch a good rap to push it forward?

kygunsmith · 03-14-2008, 10:40 PM

When I see one that wont take down I squirt it with eeze-ox & use a soft punch to tap the button forward. If it's locked mechanically you then take off f-arm.Then retract the bolt and turn the bbl off its interupted threads. It only goes one way, though. Only saw one that was screwed down so tight this didn't work. One should try the nut before TD to see it is not overly tight. You should be able to loosen it with your thumb & finger.

Sooner Shooter · 03-15-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scmattern

Let me ask you this then. Does that mechanism which rides in those grooves on the barrel disengage the barrel when you push the button forward? Also, does the button stay forward when you push it forward or does it return to its original position when you release it? Mine returns to where it was and I don't think it is supposed to, or wouldn't think it would anyway. I think you may be right about that tensioning nut but I can't loosen it until I get the barrel off so I am sort of between a rock and a hard place. How much damage am I going to create if I take a screwdriver and mallet to give the latch a good rap to push it forward?

With the button forward and ejector held down a little the barrel will have to be turned 1 quarter turn to come out. If your button is falling down you will have to hold it up. Somethings not right with it if it's falling down. Way too loose. True you won't be able to move that knurled nut until you get the barrel off. I certainly wouldn't use a screwdriver. Here's what I'd do if I was you. Use two people. Sit in a chair with the butt of the gun between your legs with the ejector facing you. Have the button up and the ejector held down a little. The other person stands in front of you and faces you. They will turn the barrel to the left. Hold on tight. Have the forearm on the gun for leverage but just use hands.

scmattern · 03-15-2008, 11:16 PM

Well I finally got that baby off, but it wasn't pretty. I took the forearm off and set the end of the barrel on the floor. I took a screwdriver (sorry Sooner, I lost my head!) and tapped the latch forward, hoping that would move it some and when I did parts went flying! I thought I broke the lever off, but I just knocked it out of its track. Of course then the barrel came right out and I figured out what made the thing tick. Best as I can tell there was so much gunk built up under the detente pin and spring that it was suck in the up position. Once I got it cleaned up it worked fine. Thanks for all the help. I have always said the sign of a really good weapon is not whether it will shoot when it is all cleaned up but rather if it will shoot when it is dirty. This must be a really fine rifle because it was the dirtiest shooter I have ever used!

03-14-2008, 06:05 PM	#1
scmattern Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City OK Posts: 5	Browning 22LR takedown-won't takedown I have a Browning 22LR that I inherited from my dad which is circa 1960. Nice shooting little gun which I took to the range yesterday. I took it home to give it a good cleaning because I didn't realize how dirty it was till I got it out in the sunlight. Anyway, I can't get the barrel to release from the body of the rifle. It is my understanding that one has to push the release button forward while holding the ejector back but I have pushed and pulled until my thumbs are raw. I haven't figured out how this lever actually retains the barrel and I don't want to twist the barrel so much that I break something. I have gotten just a small amount of movement but it is still catching on something. I have sprayed it down with a good bore cleaner and even used some Kroil on it, which is the best rust penetrating oil I have ever used, in case there is some rust in there somewhere. Is that button/lever supposed to move forward and stay, or do you have to hold it forward while twisting the barrel? It looks like there is a detente that rides in those grooves around the barrel but pushing this lever doesn't release it so I don't know how this comes in to play. To make a long story short - HELP!!!! Thanks

03-14-2008, 06:55 PM	#4
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	If it is the Small Browning with the knurled nut,Remove the wood forend(One screw), then you slide the little button on the bottom forward , and then with the barrel facing away from you, turn it Clockwise about 1/4 turn, it should loosen and pull straight off.You may have to retract the bolt a bit as you turn the barrel... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-14-2008, 10:18 PM	#7
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	Ok, you dont have to remove the forearm ...Just follow my instructions ! May take a bit of muscle if the nut was tightened a bit more than necessary! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-14-2008, 06:17 PM	#2
mitch_mckee Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,085 Images: 3	I don't know which model number that you have but see if your owners manual might be in here: [ thedisease :: library / Firearms Manuals :: Where the lesion hides a lesson ]

03-14-2008, 06:21 PM	#3
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,340	My brother has one of those, but I haven't seen it in years. Seems like you just slide that release forward and twist the barrel/front section/whatever. I don't recall anything about the ejector/bolt.

03-14-2008, 10:14 PM	#6
scmattern Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City OK Posts: 5	I have the manual and have read the instructions but the illustration of that mechanism isn't real clear. Unfortunately they don't have the booklet entitled "Brownings for Dummies" which it appears is what I need.

03-14-2008, 10:40 PM	#9
kygunsmith Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 144	When I see one that wont take down I squirt it with eeze-ox & use a soft punch to tap the button forward. If it's locked mechanically you then take off f-arm.Then retract the bolt and turn the bbl off its interupted threads. It only goes one way, though. Only saw one that was screwed down so tight this didn't work. One should try the nut before TD to see it is not overly tight. You should be able to loosen it with your thumb & finger.

03-15-2008, 11:16 PM	#11
scmattern Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma City OK Posts: 5	Well I finally got that baby off, but it wasn't pretty. I took the forearm off and set the end of the barrel on the floor. I took a screwdriver (sorry Sooner, I lost my head!) and tapped the latch forward, hoping that would move it some and when I did parts went flying! I thought I broke the lever off, but I just knocked it out of its track. Of course then the barrel came right out and I figured out what made the thing tick. Best as I can tell there was so much gunk built up under the detente pin and spring that it was suck in the up position. Once I got it cleaned up it worked fine. Thanks for all the help. I have always said the sign of a really good weapon is not whether it will shoot when it is all cleaned up but rather if it will shoot when it is dirty. This must be a really fine rifle because it was the dirtiest shooter I have ever used!