Ruger 22/45 MKIII misfires: crappy ammo or something worn out?

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I'm stumped. It sounds to me like you've been through everything but the hammer assembly. If I were a betting man, I'd say that's where your problem is. They used to have the whole assembly at Numrich for about $20; probably a little more than that elsewhere.
 
Filed the OEM firing pin sharper to a narrow flat point similar to the new type of firing pin. Fired 16 mags worth of federal value pack=0 misfires. Hope the trend continues.
 
I assume this is the only MK you have. I would another and swap bolts, then test. Of it still had problems, I would then swap main springs.
 
Ruger will swap out your mainspring assembly for a new one free in most cases. Can you post a photo of the firing pin tip? Check for burrs on the firing pin sides and bottom as well. Also look for any burrs on the bolt face slot where the firing pin rides. Look at the firing pin to see if there are any of the classic drag marks from burrs on the mating surfaces. Check your hammer as well. I know some of them can be rough on the sides and that can cause drag as well.
 
If you remove a little bit on the firing pin stop, in this area, you will get more protrusion of the pin. Measure the length of the hole and only remove a tiny amount at a time. Taking measurement are needed of pin protrusion before doing this.

But to much, and you will ding the chamber face, if you dry fire on an empty chamber.

RugerMK pin.JPG

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=583377 Posted this link before. It has the photos.
 
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I assume this is the only MK you have. I would another and swap bolts, then test. Of it still had problems, I would then swap main springs.
Borrowed my brother's MKI. Had to remove the deactivated LCI to use the MKI bolt in my MKIII. First I fired MKIII bolt 6 mags 3 misfires. Installed MKI bolt removing LCI body first. 15 mags no misfires. Reinstalled MKIII bolt left LCI body out. 11 mags no misfires. Hmmmmmmm....
 
Filed the OEM firing pin sharper to a narrow flat point similar to the new type of firing pin. Fired 16 mags worth of federal value pack=0 misfires. Hope the trend continues.
Based upon your original photos of spent brass it looks to me like the firing pin is hitting too much on the rim. Check out this thread for where it should strike in order to be most efficient and maximize ignition. http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=816401&highlight=reshape+firing+pin
 
Rugers are notorious reliable with that said my experience is bulk ammo is notorious out of spec...
You did the old plob test in the chamber, but not for every round.. Note I'll be honest.. I don't own a Ruger ( Royal pain to clean) I'm a Browning man.. And for the last year a Smith Victory.. Fed Auot match seems the most consistent as bulk ammo but even occasionally I get a miss Fire and the round won't even eject manually..But will fire on second strike.
It's usually crap in the chamber after 70-100 rounds.. The bulk stuff just is dirty.. Double check your fire pin channel for wear or looseness.. Those 15000 rounds should not be wear issue
 
Ain't nothing about a MK that makes it a Royal pain to clean, unless you don't know what you are doing....just sayin'.

My MK's run fine on bulk. They will usually go at least 1k rounds without a misfire. I don't put oil or a wet lube on them. It just holds the dirt. I use a little dry lube on the bolt.

If I get more than one misfire in a short time, I know the cure. I lock back the bolt and clean the chamber with a plastic pick and go back to shooting.
 
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Had 3 out of 40 misfire this morning, shooting Federal Auto Match Lot # 1HM357. Looks like a priming compound problem. Pulled this one that did not fire with 2 pin strikes.

22LR%20FedAutoMatch_zpshxi6wj9x.jpg


AutoMatchFed22LR_zpshbyki65r.jpg


Ruger MK1
 
Is it newer or older Auto-Match?...I bought several cases of it 5 or so years ago and never had an issue. I have one new case of it now, but haven't cracked it open.
 
Had 3 out of 40 misfire this morning, shooting Federal Auto Match Lot # 1HM357. Looks like a priming compound problem. Pulled this one that did not fire with 2 pin strikes.

22LR%20FedAutoMatch_zpshxi6wj9x.jpg


AutoMatchFed22LR_zpshbyki65r.jpg


Ruger MK1
Good pics. but IMO your situation is similar to mine... after the primer strikes the priming compound is broken up and mixes with the powder; before the strike it's probably where it should be. Pull a couple unfired/unstruck rounds from the box to be sure.
 
11 more mags worth, 0 misfires. LCI body still removed. My left thumb is getting blasted with powder and gas. Will order LCI filler.
 
Tandemkross and Volk make them.

Interesting what you've come to.

Is the round loose in the chamber at all?

I'm wondering if the LCI is shifting the rounds in some way?
 
Tandemkross and Volk make them.

Interesting what you've come to.

Is the round loose in the chamber at all?

I'm wondering if the LCI is shifting the rounds in some way?
No idea. Results are inconclusive really, I'm out of Fed Bulk now (due to all this testing) and I did go 11 mags WITH the LCI body in. The LCI body (with the metal finger doohickey removed) is supposed to just fill the space, but I imagine it could be gunked up or warped and impinging the bolt or something. I've been running Automatch and it seems like pretty crappy ammo with lots of rounds that feel like half-charges.

The weird thing is it ran like this for 10K rounds with no malfunctions. And no detail cleaning.
 
No idea. Results are inconclusive really, I'm out of Fed Bulk now (due to all this testing) and I did go 11 mags WITH the LCI body in. The LCI body (with the metal finger doohickey removed) is supposed to just fill the space, but I imagine it could be gunked up or warped and impinging the bolt or something. I've been running Automatch and it seems like pretty crappy ammo with lots of rounds that feel like half-charges.

The weird thing is it ran like this for 10K rounds with no malfunctions. And no detail cleaning.

Did you try cleaning that LCI assy really well and test before you removed the LCI?
 
Okay, this is driving me nuts. New box of federal Champion today. up to 4 misfires per mag, average of 2 per mag. About half fire when re-struck. All have seemingly good/deep strikes. I shot 45 rounds of the same batch of ammo through my Remington 582 and 50 rounds through my 10/22 with zero misfires so I'm confident it is a problem with the pistol.

Things I've tried so far:
detail cleaning, with dental pics
replaced firing pin, OEM
replaced firing pin, Volquartsen
replaced extractor, Volquartsen
replaced mainspring, polished OEM
replaced rebound spring 2x
replaced rebound spring plunger
removed LCI body
Installed LCI filler

This has been my primary training pistol and competition pistol for my kids, but all they'd be doing is clearing malfunctions all day. What else can I check?
 
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