"Cleaniness is next to reliabiiity"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
newcastle
Took the No.8 out and about one in every ten shots didn't fire. Some ammo was much worse (3 in 4). I assume that there are some tougher rims on some ammo than others but seems that something is amiss anyway. Obviously the bolt assembly is the first place to look, but does anyone have a similar experience, and what was the remedy?
Well Newcastle, while the others are happily reminiscing about old times in the virtual bar:D, perhaps we could get back to your problem.
The strikers on 22s have very limited travel, compared with a centerfire rifle. Anything that limits or slows the travel will contribute to your problem. Tenths of a millimeter matter. I have had this effect very recently, and suggest the following sequence of operations:
1) Crud build-up in the bolt-face recess. This effectively holds the cartridge base a wee bit forwards of the bolt-face, thus reducing the effective travel. Clean the recess thoroughly.
2) Crud build-up in the extractor recess. Over the years, dirt gets rammed in by the extractor when the bolt is closed, until the the extractor fails to snap over the rim properly. Although you will normally notice this when extraction becomes unreliable, already at a slightly lower level the plugged recess will prevent the bolt from closing up as tight as it could - thus effectively reducing the travel.
3) Crud build-up within the bolt body, often semi-fossilized grease that has been there since the rifle was last serviced or put into store (decades ago?), which prevents the striker from going forwards as far as it should. You will need to dismantle, clean and reassemble the bolt. Here you will have to refer to the expertise of Peter Laidler on this forum - it's all in there somewhere!
4) The same crud build-up within the bolt body can slow the striker so much that the impact on the cartridge rim is insufficient to cause ignition. The effect is the same as a weak spring. But much more likely.
You notice that I do not mention striker length. That is because it is very unlikely that this is the cause, unless the rifle has been Bubba-ed. If so, then you will have to ask Peter for advice, as spare strikers for a No. 8 must by now be unobtainium.
Check out 1) to 4). If the trouble persists, simply pick the ammo that works.
BTW. My No.8 doesn't like any kind of hotted-up ammo, like Stinger, Swartklip etc. Some of this "Xtra" stuff won't even chamber properly unless I scrape off the wax. It shoots best with RWS competition ammo - a rifle with expensive tastes! But with the good stuff, it reaches bench-rest accuracy (as already published on the Range Reports forum). A No.8 is potentially so extraordinarily good, that you should just not waste any time or money on unreliable ammo.