Old Ruger MK I

[WME]

I have an old Ruger MK I that has been in the family for over 40 years. There is no telling what it has been through with 4 kids using it to learn on. I have been giving it some TLC and have it mostly in good shape but I can feel a very slight ridge on the input edge of the breech. I am having some feed issues and wonder is there is a way to smooth the breech with some 600 grit sand paper. Think I could just roll it up and rotate it by hand to clean it up?

I have polished the ramp, have a new magazine, and have tried several different brands of 22LR ammo.

Thanks

[Guest Astra900]

You should think about replacing a few springs. The old coils are probably on the weak side from age and use.

Also if it's ben dry fired many times, the chamber could be peened a little bit(the ridge your feeling probably). That would need to be ironed out.

[Garufa]

Maybe magazine problem? Tried a new mag. or spring for it?

That slight edge may be lead build-up. Soak that area well in some Hoppe's for a few minutes and try brushing off. Just an idea.

Edited February 25, 2009 by Garufa

[Daniel]

Last sentence says its a new mag.

[WME]

You should think about replacing a few springs. The old coils are probably on the weak side from age and use.

Also if it's ben dry fired many times, the chamber could be peened a little bit(the ridge your feeling probably). That would need to be ironed out.

I have replaced the recoil spring assembly, the extractor and spring and the firing pin spring and the little spring holder. It probably was dry fired more than it should have been. Is there such a thing as a 22 cal reamer with a pilot that might remove the ridge? It can't be more than a couple of thousand's that's in the way.

[Guest Astra900]

Brownells actually carries a tool to literally iron out the dent in the chamber.

It's called oddly enough, a chamber ironing tool:D

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=8869&st=&s=

[WME]

Brownells actually carries a tool to literally iron out the dent in the chamber.

It's called oddly enough, a chamber ironing tool:D

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=8869&st=&s=

Thanks, that is just what I was looking for but didn't have a clue what it was called. I'll get one on the way tonight! It should breathe new life in this old pistol.

[I_Like_Pie]

Thanks, that is just what I was looking for but didn't have a clue what it was called. I'll get one on the way tonight! It should breathe new life in this old pistol.

After you buy it and use it...am pretty sure that you could rent the thing out to get all of your money back in a very short amount of time.

Not sure if I have seen a gunsmith tools for rent ad yet here on TGO, but it is just an idea...especially when acquiring 1 time use only tools like that one.

[WME]

Follow up on my original post: I received the chamber iron from Brownells yesterday and used it today. It worked like a champ to smooth out the ridge at the top of the chamber. Thanks for all of the help...

[I_Like_Pie]

Nice...just note that dry firing should not really hurt it if (and a big "IF") the firing pin stop is inserted in the bolt before assembly.

99.9999% of these pings in the chamber are from a simple assembly/cleaning of the gun and not noticing that the stop fell out. The gun will go together without it and actually function.

One dry fire is all it takes without that pin stop and it can cause problems. Suppose that the firing pin could actually be worn to the point of hitting, but that would take a lot (whole lot) of shooting...boy scout guns and such. Have many tens of thousands of rounds through mine and it still has no signs of wear