spandit Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hadn't fired my .22LR S/A for a while but took her out the other day to zero my new NV sight. The first few rounds wouldn't fire and when eventually it did go bang, they wouldn't cycle until I'd fired a few. Aside from putting the gun on the radiator, is there something else I can be doing? I use 3-in-one oil and was loading Winchester subs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Give it a proper clean. Especially the bolt face, behind the extractor claw and inside the chamber. Probably gummed up with bullet lube. It wouldn't hurt to give the magazine followers and feed lips a good degunge as well. People say you don't need to clean .22s, which up to point, in regard to the bore is true. But you do need to clean the parts I've mentioned every now and then, especially on a semi auto. Soft waxy bullet lube which becomes rock hard in cold weather and even lead shavings can easily cause what you describe if it's had a lot of rounds through it. Edited January 23, 2015 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 If it is fail to fire, then that tells me the oil is gummed around the firing pin spring. Pull the bolt and give it a good solvent/acetone soak and cleaning. Same for the trigger group/sears/hammer. If it is failing to cycle, then it depends on what it is actually doing. If it isn't opening the action at all, then gummy bullet lube is my guess. If it is partially ejecting but not completing the cycle, then gummy action spring lube. Either way a good cleaning of everything followed by a light grease, not an oil, should keep you going in the cold. thanks rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Thanks, chaps. I'll give it a good clean. Any recommendations on grease or will normal lithium stuff do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 As others say however adding oil is a red herring. It attracts the combustion material and lube from the bullets which combine to form a sticky tar. Keep it dry. Flush the guts with WD or white spirits now and then, action removed from the stock. The use of heeled bullets means all the lube is external. Some coats the whole chamber. In cold weather especially it causes extraction issues. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Ammo manufactures tend to overlube .22 rimfire ammo . I have allways wiped the bullets off with a clean piece of rag . A light wipe off will leave enough lube on the bullets to lubricate the barrel . This will stop a build up of crude in the action . This build up is more noticeable in cold weather . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Glad it only happened when I was zeroing/plinking. To happen in the field would have been a right pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) Don't grease ! First thing is to give it really good clean ensuring all deposits are removed . Assemble with very lightly oiled parts , that's just slightly oily to the touch , using an oil that does not dry like many sprays do . Edited January 24, 2015 by Gunman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I was using dry lube, Muc-Off stuff for a bit. I'll strip & clean... then take the gun apart and wash it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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