We were planning to go plinking this weekend, and one of the .22s that we were planning on using was DIRTY. So very nasty. We cleaned what we could, but we’re not familiar with that particular model, so we don’t feel comfortable completely dissasembling it.
Issue is that the safety slide and the trigger mechanism are… gritty would be my best description. When the safety is slid back and forth, or when the gun is fired, those parts feel like they’re sliding along sand or grit. They aren’t impeded, there’s no catching or grinding, just a little bit of gritty feel when the bits move around.
So - what do people think? Is it safe to run between 20 and 40 rounds through it like that, or should we retire it until we can figure out how to break down and clean out the trigger assembly?
I’m meaning safe in two ways - first, will it be safe for the people, and second, will it be safe for the gun (ie - will it damage it?)
I would thoroughly clean it before shooting it. There are undoubtedly some online guides or videos on how to do it for your rifle. What kind of rifle is it?
Besides the rifle type, what .22 ammo type? If it’s .22 Long Rifle, I’d guess it’s probably safe enough. .223 Remington, or the NATO 5.56X45, that’s another thing altogether.
When I hear “plinking with a .22” I think .22 Long Rifle.
ETA: You can try compressed air, or soaking the action in a mild gun cleaning solvent or light oil to loosen the grit, then the compressed air. Wear eye protection.
I’ll have to check when I get back home - it isn’t quite mine.
Which is the real problem - I am borrowing it from a relative; he never uses it, and it’s a perfect size for me.
While I don’t mind cleaning it (and boy did it need it), I do feel a little uncomfortable dissassembling his gun entirely without specific permission, especially since it’s a model I’m unfamilar with. Internet and YouTube are great, but if I *can’t *get it put back together, I’m gonna feel really guilty/embarrassed when he gets back - especially if I hadn’t had a chance to put more than a round through it before I took it apart!
I think I might have to retire that one from the weekend’s plans until he gets back and can walk me through taking it apart - if he even knows how! There’s no evidence that he ever cleaned it thoroughly himself, even now, when he KNEW he was lending it out this weekend. :smack:
Edit for echo7: yes - it’s just “normal” .22 ammo - it takes both longs and shorts. I test-fired it with both, and they both shot fine, except for that gritty feeling in the trigger.
Generally best Not to disassemble a trigger assembly. Sometimes a can of spray gun cleaner is your friend, but not often.
As Crafter many said, many manuals are available on line if you’ve lost yours.
We were fairly liberal with the cleaning oil that we used, but didn’t want to overdo it. I’ll pick up a can of compressed air - that’s an excellent idea, and not one I would ever have thought of.
Yeah - **Gary **- I really don’t want to have to take it apart. On the other hand, I’m not too keen on spray gun cleaner either.
If I can’t get this crap out with “gentle” cleaners and q-tips (no luck so far) or compressed air (thanks to **echo7 **for the tip!) then I’ll just have to wait until I can get someone to walk me through taking it entirely apart and put back together again. I don’t like putting harsh cleansers in places where I can’t immediately get them cleaned off again if I have to.
Worst case scenario is you’d have to pay a gunsmith to reassemble it before the owner reclaims it.
If the owner left it in the state you describe I’m guessing it isn’t a treasured collector’s item.
If it has a wood stock, then I would not spray a bunch of solvents in and around the trigger assembly. (The wood will absorb the solvents, which is not a good thing.) If it has a wood stock, then some disassembly may be required depending on the type of rifle. With some guns, the entire trigger assembly can be removed in one piece by simply removing one or two pins.
Find out what kind of rifle it is, then get back with us.
Well first of all, he shouldn’t be lending you a rifle in that kind of condition. Secondly, you would be doing him a favor by cleaning it.
You should thank him for letting you borrow his rifle, obviously, but at the same time you should be upfront with him on the condition of it. Let him know that you would like to clean it first, and ask if it is O.K. for you to do so. If he’s O.K. with you cleaning it (which he should be), then we can help you out on how to properly clean it.
This! Gritty means dirty. You can shoot it safely, but if the rounds are not seating in the chamber fully and you have to force the bolt shut, it’s time for a bath.
A clean gun is a happy gun, and a safe one, too. It may be unfamiliar to you, but it’s not a space shuttle. Just a couple of screws and a spring or two, and I promise you the web and Dopers will help you get it back together.
Now, head to the gun shop and get thisor something similar. Also, a kid’s toothbrush - the smaller the better - some Q-tips some compressed air. A compressor is good, but a can will do in a pinch.
Some guns are more complex than others, but a 22 rifle is the 1970 MGB of guns.
You **can **fix it!
Yeah, that sound pretty dangerous.
Best to send it to Ducati’s Evil Gun Buyback Program. We’re giving Wal Mart gift cards in return for this obvious death trap.
Please - think about the children.*
the kids who will be tickled to get another Ruger for Christmas
Make/model will be posted around 2:30 this afternoon when I get back home to check.
**ducatti **- I know it’s not a space shuttle, but I’ve taken others apart and put them back together many times, and the ones that look easy aren’t always the ones that ARE easy to get back together.
Also, there’s NO forcing or locking or jamming of any sort - the bolt actually was quite easy to get out and clean, and as soon as I got it cleaned properly, it slides like butter! Likewise the rounds are sliding around nicely in the loading tube, and seating smoothly each time (again - after I got it cleaned up). The two rounds I did fire went smoothly and the case bottoms are impacted clearly and deeply, so that’s going well also.
The ONLY dificulty with it now is the trigger and safety sound and very slightly feel gritty.
Lasciel, given all that you’ve said and it’s a .22LR, even if the grit persists after you’ll try cleaning it some more, it’s probably safe to go plinking with it. Just a guess here, based solely on my experience and what this thread contains.
God I hope not. .22s are great, but I’d much rather have something a bit bigger vs a gritty tiger.
Anyway - the good news is that I’m pretty sure I’ve cleaned everything that I can clean. I’m heading off to get some compressed air, and I’ll attack it with that later.
The BAD news is that this is a Remington 550-1, and according to the interwebs, I should not be trying to take it apart. It is apparently not very friendly for going back together. Sear springs tend to cross-thread and whatnot. Also no manuals or take-down instructions. Not what I had in mind for a lovely spring afternoon. It can stay gritty for a while until I find a gunsmith with some free time (hah!).
No, it’s actually good news. One screw will remove the stock from the action, and you can spray and brush all you want. Just do it over a trash can or a cardboard box full of crumpled newspaper so the solvent can drip free.
The guys at the gun shop can show you the good stuff to use.
