Barrel obstruction in 10/22

[valleyguy]

Hi all,

I posted about this a couple of months ago, but I'm ashamed to say that even though a bunch of folks offered to help, I got too busy and wasn't able to connect with any of you (got very busy on the weekends). I'm hoping one or two of you same folks might be able to eyeball my issue here and see if this is fixable or "buy a new barrel" time.

Long story short, I had an out of chamber round go off that blew off my extractor, and I thought this was the only problem (but wasn't sure what happened exactly). Come to find out that in fact I have some kind of invisible obstruction right at the chamber level that kept my round from chambering in the first place, and that obstruction happened somehow during my firing that day (I had shot about 300 rounds without event before that).

My problem is that I can't see the obstruction at all. I've visually inspected it, snaked it out, cleaning rodded it out, everything -- no obstruction that I can recognize, though I never really did see it very clearly from the chamber end before.

So here's a view from the chamber -- is that silver/bronzish rim supposed to be there? Nothing seemed to want to come out of there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MqnbLemKICb-d7Q0PoZG2w?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOSrbPAqs_LtQE&feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MAFlkbmFHEnIQuevbHNkTw?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOSrbPAqs_LtQE&feat=directlink

Now here's a .22lr snap cap inserted into the chamber that shows the degree of obstruction -- I can't get it to chamber at all. Same for live ammo (under very controlled circumstances). Sorry for the fuzzy photo, but you get the idea:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UtlvlMsMW1FDJM48LxnV3w?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOSrbPAqs_LtQE&feat=directlink

Very grateful for any ideas from anyone on what the heck is going on here. Is it time for a new barrel?

[sspen003]

Not really sure on the bronze lip in there. That seems to be about where the round stops going in

[valleyguy]

Not really sure on the bronze lip in there. That seems to be about where the round stops going in

Yes -- That's exactly right. So I can't figure out what the heck is going on -- is that a casing? If so, is it melted/fused in there? My cleaning rod hits nothing from the barrel side to indicate anything is in there.

[LasVegasTaxMan]

Have you inspected the bolt, firing pin, and which kind of ammo are you using.

[ojisan]

There is 1/2 a case stuck in there.

I have not seen a "broken shell extractor" for .22LR.

You need to either hook it at the front and pull it out using something like a dental pick; or possibly thread a tap or screw (very gently) into it until you get just enough bite to pull it out.
Driving a soft lead .22 bullet from the muzzle backwards would be the last thing to try.

Shootersdiscount.com usually has new Ruger standard barrels for under $50.

[valleyguy]

Yep -- the problem is pretty much that no rounds will go fully into chamber -- see the last link in my original post to see what I mean. Round goes in halfway, jams solid.

[valleyguy]

There is 1/2 a case stuck in there.

I have not seen a "broken shell extractor" for .22LR.

You need to either hook it at the front and pull it out using something like a dental pick; or possibly thread a tap or screw (very gently) into it until you get just enough bite to pull it out.
Driving a soft lead .22 bullet from the muzzle backwards would be the last thing to try.

Shootersdiscount.com usually has new Ruger standard barrels for under $50.

I've tried, but I can't hook anything or even see an edge from either side -- looking down the barrel, except for that indentation (which actually gets tighter going in) it is totally smooth and no sign of any issue.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

There is 1/2 a case stuck in there.

I have not seen a "broken shell extractor" for .22LR.

You need to either hook it at the front and pull it out using something like a dental pick; or possibly thread a tap or screw (very gently) into it until you get just enough bite to pull it out.
Driving a soft lead .22 bullet from the muzzle backwards would be the last thing to try.

Shootersdiscount.com usually has new Ruger standard barrels for under $50.

+1 half a case in the chamber......

[sspen003]

+1 half a case in the chamber......

Deff part of a case in the chamber. Thats why only the tip of the bullet goes in followed by about an 8th inch of the case. Not sure if this will work, but hit it with some penetrating oil and carefully get a pick in there or use a brass cleaning rod without the brush attached and try to catch the edge of it and push it out.

Hmm.... VERY CAREFULLY find a drill bit that will bit into the case but not the barrel and see if you can pull it out, use penetrating oil again

[rabagley]

Unless this is some sort of high dollar barrel that's worth the effort, you're better off junking it and buying yourself a new barrel.

[ojisan]

I've tried, but I can't hook anything or even see an edge from either side -- looking down the barrel, except for that indentation (which actually gets tighter going in) it is totally smooth and no sign of any issue.

I have a barrel sitting right here and I checked the chamber carefully against your picture. The snap cap stopping where it does is the confirmation.

The reason it looks so smooth is so many rounds have been half fed into the chamber that I am sure the broken case edges are smashed hard up against the chamber walls. It's stuck in there pretty good by now, likely not much lip to hook. An easy-out might work...

[valleyguy]

Unless this is some sort of high dollar barrel that's worth the effort, you're better off junking it and buying yourself a new barrel.

Yep, getting that picture. Not even 10k rounds through the barrel yet, and it was one of the last truly stainless barrels Ruger sold on their guns (I hope the aftermarket ones from them are still real stainless and not painted), but yeah, aside from the cost, just sort of a PIA to reinstall my tech sights on it, but I guess sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Much thanks to everyone in this thread.

[sspen003]

Yep, getting that picture. Not even 10k rounds through the barrel yet, and it was one of the last truly stainless barrels Ruger sold on their guns (I hope the aftermarket ones from them are still real stainless and not painted), but yeah, aside from the cost, just sort of a PIA to reinstall my tech sights on it, but I guess sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Much thanks to everyone in this thread.

Just a heads up, Turners carries 10/22 Barrels. They just got them in stock not too long ago.

[freonr22]

coudnt you do some thing with heat? or cold? since you have brass (case) and ss (barrel) woud not heating in the oven for a bit or sticking in your chest freezer/or dry ice make one expand or shrink? maybe?

[snobord99]

Try this: get a wooden chopstick and take the narrow end and stick it in the barrel. Make sure that it's thinner than the part of the barrel that the casing goes but not the casing itself (don't want it to get stuck on the barrel itself). You're trying to jam the chopstick into the casing so that when you pull the chopstick out, the casing comes with.

I had a round blow off and the casing was stuck in there like that, just not as deep into the barrel. That worked for me perfectly and the casing came right out with the chopstick.