Tp-22 Troubles

[hatchetbearer]

I picked up an old Iver Johnson Tp-22 pistol at a flea market as a "fun-gun" to just have with me while shooting other stuff but ill be damned if i cant make it through a 8 shot mag without it either not ejecting or not setting off a round until the 3rd or 4th trigger pull, i hate to get rid of it as it can be a fairly accurate pistol when it works, ive stripped it down and cleaned the hell out of it with the exception of taking out the pin holding the bolt and firing pin out. but i just cant get it to fire well. ive tried a few different types of rounds, CCI blazer, Winchester wildcat, and Remington Thunderbolt but all give the same results. any idas?

 

[Shear_stress]

I love the TP22, even though I've had the same problems with two of these guns. However, there's nothing going on here that can't be fixed with a drill press, 3/32" punch and 1000 grit sand paper. The following is my patented recipe for a "TP22 Reliability Package". I did this mine and, combined with shooting only Mini-Mags, I've never had another light strike in ~500 rounds.

1.) MAKE SURE GUN IS UNLOADED.

2.) Detail strip slide. Take care not to lose the safety detent and spring. If you need more details, let me know.

3.) Clean inside of firing pin channel.

4.) You'll notice the machining on the firing pin is pretty crude and this is part of the reason these guns are prone to light strikes. Chuck that firing pin in the drill and smooth the mill marks with the sand paper. Go slowly and do not touch the nose or rear of the pin. Do not heat the pin much while smoothing it.

5.) Disconnect bottom of hammer strut from receiver. Smooth edges of strut.

6.) Optional step: boost hammer spring. Take a thin washer sized such that the inner diameter will accomodate the hammer strut without rubbing (the exact washer size escapes me at the moment.) Use a cut-off wheel to carve the washer into an open "C" shape. Insert washer between hammer spring and ledge on hammer struct. This will put a little more compression on the spring and help prevent light strikes. An alternative is to swap a more powerful hammer spring from a Walther TPH, PPK, FEG AP-22, etc., but I haven't experimented with anything to that end.

7.) Lube with Breakfree-CLP and reassemble gun.

Hope that helps. If not, I'm always game to adopt another orphaned TP22.

 

[hatchetbearer]

well, you don't have to start the adoption papers yet. I keep my guns until they fall apart. but what i gather is its just bad mill work in IJ's part? I would like some more information on how the slide is taken down as i was just going to take out the pin above the extractor and hope for the best.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well guy's, I too enjoyed a Iver Johnson TP-22 up until Oct. 13th, 1994;
when my wifes vechile was car-jacked at gunpoint; and this fine firearm
was taken.

S/N: AE23221

Bessemer, AL PD (205-425-2411) holds the stolen report

 

[hatchetbearer]

S/N: AE23221

dont scare me like that, my s/n is AE33221 had to check since i got it from some strange old people at a flea market

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's hatchetbearer My Friend-

Sorry, if I scared you there pal~!

As I stated, my Iver Johnson TP-22 with S/N AE 23221 was taken
at gunpoint by the perp during the violent car-jacking of my wife on Oct.
13th, 1994 here in Bessemer, AL. The perp was caught by a Bessemer PD
motorscout five days later, driving her car; but the little TP-22 was never
recovered. Luckily, my wife wasn't seriously injured; and the insurance
company made good on the vechiles contents. Today, the perp sits in an
Alabama prison; serving 32 years for his actions. He has been up for parole
twice; and both times DENIED, as my wife frequents Montgomery to go
before the Parole Board and protest his release.

 

[hatchetbearer]

sorry to hear about the gun and your wife going through that ordeal, but at least it all comes to a happy ending. let 'em rot in that cell

 

[Ala Dan]

Thank you Sir~! It was quite an ordeal, that she has NEVER fully gotten over~!

 

[hatchetbearer]

give her a .38spl derringer and have her use it as a keyring, my girlfriend uses this for the next unlucky S.O.B. who decides he needs her car more than her