Help with FTE on new 10/22... Buffer problems?

[bigcalidave]

Well, I got a beautiful new Magnum Research 10/22, took it home, took it apart and did a BUNCH of trigger work on it. Trigger works great, did the auto bolt release as well. I also ordered a buffer technologies recoil buffer from midway. I did NOT shoot this rifle before I installed the buffer. Out shooting the gun for the first time, and I'm getting a ton of FTEs, stovepipe jams, even two shells got clipped by the bolt handle and shaved off a chunk of stock right next to the ejection port !!! I was disappointed. I didn't bring the stock buffer with me, so I'm not positive thats the problem, so I'm wondering if anyone here has had a similar problem, or if there is something else I might have done? I know I should have shot it a few times before I started modifying, but I'm a tinkerer.

Should I just get rid of the recoil buffer and go back to stock?

Could it be the extractor instead?

A friend has the exact same gun, bought at the exact same time, and his worked perfectly, no FTEs, and it hasn't been modified at all.

[Scratch705]

suggest you put back to stock what you can that has to do with the bolt operation, and if it still does it, then the extractor can be an issue.
IIRC the stock 10/22 extractor is not optimally shaped, hence why a lot of ppl tend to go with aftermarket extractors.

BTW what ammo were you using? and is the barrel a target barrel mean tighter tolerances? if so, certain ammo brands are known to be of... varying diameter round to round and some are bigger than the target barrel chamber and can cause your issues since the extractor can't pull the brass out easily.

although... since you have a aftermarket 10/22 to begin with.... i dunno if my advice would produce same results since i'm going off stock ruger 10/22

[bigcalidave]

Bulk federal ammo, target barrel obviously, it's a magnumlite graphite barrel. But ammo cycles fine on the same gun, minus mods. I'm fairly positive that my slick trigger work can't affect the extraction. Only the recoil buffer, I guess I'm wondering if the buffer tech buffer is too... springy? Maybe it's bouncing the bolt back too quickly and catching brass on the way out? I shoulda taken pictures, but most rounds got caught and crushed on the way out, with the next round already fed, so clearing dropped the spent case and the next cartridge as well.

[BSlacker]

The empty case should be well on its way to the ground by the time the bolt hits the buffer.
If the MR reciever doesn't have a hole in the rear I would drill a hole in the rear of the reciever to clean the chamber and barrel from the chamber end. Clean the chamber until a unfired round will drop out when the barrel is pointed up.
Then take the bolt point it face up and insert a unfired round in the rim pocket under the extractor. Carefully point the bolt down and see if the round stays or falls. A good extractor will hold the round even with a little shaking.
Don't have any oil in the chamber when finished.
The ejector could be the fault. Just slowly eject an unfired round and see if it is positioned correctly and is working in time with the bolt. You want to see the end of the bullet just clear the barrel when the rim hits the ejector. Way before the buffer comes into play. Extractors are not in play much during blow back the brass should be firmly in the bolt pocket pushing the bolt and come out and eject even without an extractor. Barrel pressure is much higher than extractor tension.
Good Luck
B

[CmpsdNoMore]

The extractor on my 10/22 will begin to FTE after a few hundred rounds. The first time it happened I looked at the "hook" part of the extractor and noticed there was a lot of crud built up on it. I scraped in off with a pocket knife and it worked flawlessly for 150 - 200 rounds.

[pl408]

extractor should have been the first thing you replaced
get a couple new aftermarket ones and compare it to the factory one you will laugh
keep one as a spare

[mitchsti]

your gun being a magnum research should have the better extractor installed. my 10/22 has volquartsen parts and works fine i have had problems with cci stingers fte.
for some reason it loves cheapo rounds

[domokun]

Change out the extractor with the Volquartsen Edge Extractor, it should solve most if not all your extraction problems with you 10/22 and possibly make it less picky about the ammo it eats. It's the best $13 you could ever spend on your 10/22.

[bigcalidave]

Sounds like a good place to start. Wish I'd known before it scrapped up the stock and I need to sand and polish it

[bigcalidave]

Well the extractor holds the case well and the ejector works. The bolt seems high quality and probably came with a decent extractor right ? I guess ill order up a Vq extractor and try it.

[RobT2K]

From RimfireCentral:

"Hammer Strut Assembly" reassembled with the 'slot' of the "Retaining Washer" facing down; it must face UP...! !(Hammer strut retainer.....it looks like a "C". Open side needs to face up)


The one in bold was one I had problems with after doing some trigger work. It is the spring/pin right behind the hammer. The retainer is what keeps the spring on the pin, it is 'C' shaped and the opening should face up.

It's funny that most of the guys on there will tell you that the 10/22 doesn't need an extractor, but they will also tell you that the Vquartsen extractor will take care of your stovepipes 9 times out of 10. I got one on the way too.

[Scratch705]

ooo, that storing gun in vertical position.... guess i need to lay it down instead of having it standing up.......

[rimfire17]

I've used a variety of synthetic bolt buffers without issue. I also have a magnum research barrel (though not their bolt) and haven't had any problems with any type of ammo. I fire CCI Mini Mags most of the time since they do well in my .22 pistols, too. Generally the Ruger's aren't that picky about ammo, however.

I recommend looking at the extractor, just like everyone else has recommended.

[bigcalidave]

Store where I bought it said they would check it out as it's only 2 weeks old, so I'm letting them have a go at it first. I couldn't get it to work any better and haven't ordered the extractor yet.

[Centurion_D]

I had the exact same issues with my 10/22. Strange thing was once I swapped out the barrel for a Tacsol heavy barrel the problems went away. I went through 1200 rounds and only had 2 failures. Before it was more like a FTE every 10 rounds. The ammo I was using was federal bulk. I plan on shooting winchester and remington on my next trip to the range. I'll post the results.