Does size really matter ???

[Autolite]

I bought a used Ruger Mk II in .22LR a couple of years ago. The gun looked in good shape and seemed to have very little wear. I've only fired it a few time but I have had experience fairly consistant bad extractions. The extractor just doesn't seem to want to grab the spent case. I carried out a complete strip and inspection and everything looks fine. Also, I've tried three difference brands of .22LR without improvement.
A gentleman I spoke with recently, who also owns a Ruger Mk II in .22 cal, said that the extraction problem was likely due to the fact that I was firing .22LR as opposed to .22 'long'. He explained that .22 cal comes in 'short', 'long', and 'long rifle'. I wasn't aware of this. I had always assumed that when someone refered to a .22 'long' that it was just a contraction of .22 'long rifle'. Is this a fact? What is the difference between .22 'long' and .22 'long rifle'? Would there be a problem with substituting .22 'long rifle' with .22 'long' ammunition even though the pistol was designed to fire .22LR? Just curious ...

 

[Jim K]

Nonsense! There is a .22 Long, but it is almost obsolete and is hard to obtain. It uses the .22 LR case and the .22 short bullet (25 grains).

The Ruger auto pistol is made for the .22 Long Rifle only, and neither the .22 Long nor the .22 Short will operate the action.

I cannot analyze your problem without seeing the gun, but I suggest one possibility is dirt or crud under the extractor. Take the gun down, per the instructions in the manual, remove the bolt and use a cleaner and an old toothbrush to really clean the bolt face and around the extractor.

Note, though, that on a blowback pistol like the Ruger, the extractor does not pull the empty case out of the chamber. The pressure from the burning powder PUSHES the case out; the extractor serves only as a pivot point for the case when it is hit by the ejector.

Jim

 

[Majic]

Rule number one.
Use ammo recommendation stamped on the barrel/receiver of the firearm.

Not all advice is helpful.

 

[denfoote]

This may sound silly, but mine did the same thing until I throughly cleaned the mags!!

 

[Mal H]

A couple of questions, Autolite. What are the brands and names of the three types of ammo you have tried?

Strictly out of curiosity, who is the gentleman who gave you the advice (gun shop worker, acquaintence, etc.)? His advice is so wrong that I am wondering if perhaps you misunderstood his statement.

As Jim said, if the casing doesn't leave the chamber under its own power, it cannot be extracted by the 'extractor' and in fact the bolt won't operate. Normally, I don't recommend a good scrubbing with a bronze bore/chamber brush on .22's, but that might be the cure in this case along with Jim's advice to clean all around the bolt and breech facings and inside the extractor indentation.

 

[Red_SC]

I would suggest to clean the chamber and action out well, and make sure there are no burrs in the chamber. Then, make sure you're using high velocity ammunition. The standard velocity ammo often causes problems in these guns.

 

[Kruzr]

You may want to change the factory extractor for a Volquartsen exact edge extractor. The factory extractor has a tendency to get rounded off on the bottom leaving only a small sharp point to grab the rim. A VQ extractor has a squared edge that will engage the rim a little better.

And, only shoot .22LR thru the Mark 2.

 

[BevrFevr]

classic Ruger problem

Let me guess... You are shooting CCI mini mags right?

If you buy 10 different types of .22 ammo and stand the cartridges side by side you will see that while they are all .22 lr they also are all different lengths. The cci mini-mag should be one of the tallest.

Ruger chambers are short. They prefer cheap bulk ammo.

Also. I believe Ruger MkII's have a significant break in period.

So clean the gun, clean the mags, shoot lots of cheap ammo.

Problem should be solved.

-t