Ruger 10/22 Reassembly! Seriously WTF?

[dandechino]

Any one else frustrated with Ruger 10/22 reassembly putting the bolt assembly back on the charging handle? I love the ruger, it eats everything I feed it, but I loathe cleaning it because of the frustrating 20 minutes with the screwdriver trying to pry the bolt back and get the bolt assembly back together. Any other semi-auto .22s out there that aren't such a PITA?

[XDRoX]

The 22/45 is way more frustrating

I remember the bolt being hard to get back in back when it was new to me. I use the back end of a tooth brush to help hold the bolt back while it falls into place. You'll get better at it. It use to Take me a long time as well. I usually do it in under 30 seconds now.

[ojisan]

You need to stop by my place sometime.
I'll show you how to get that 10/22 bolt in and out in under a minute with no tools besides your fingers.
I've worked on a bunch of .22s, the 10/22 is the easiest autoloader to work on by far.

[Reductio]

First of all... you actually CLEAN your 10/22?! Oddness...

Secondly:

[ojisan]

^ Exactly!
The real trick is the positioning of the left hand so the handle and receiver stay straight while leaving the right hand free to drop the bolt in and give it a little wiggle.
Great vid post!


No need for the screwdriver to push back the bolt, real men use their fingers.

[Calif Mini]

10/22 bolt?

Just like the unwritten rule for drunks, if you cannot find your beer, you can't drink it.

If you cannot get the bolt back in the receiver, you can't shoot it. LOL.

Take your time and remember, if fumble finger me can do it, you sure can.

Ed

[Reductio]

^ Exactly!
The real trick is the positioning of the left hand so the handle and receiver stay straight while leaving the right hand free to drop the bolt in and give it a little wiggle.
Great vid post!


No need for the screwdriver to push back the bolt, real men use their fingers.

hahaha, that vid is what I saw before I went and broke down my 10/22 for the first time. I have the knack of being able to take anything apart, but I might need a little guidance in how to get it all back together. The key thing about pulling that handle back really is the leverage of doing it from inside the receiver, with screwdriver or manly fingers.

[dandechino]

I think I may need to try holding it back from inside the receiver. When I've encountered problems, the charging handle is slightly askew not allowing the bolt to drop down.

[subrosa]

My Dad has the same trouble with his 10/22 (well SR-22...he loves the tacticool) and I was considering making a nice piece of wood which would hold the charge handle back while the bolt was inserted. I would be careful with anything marring as that frame is all aluminum.

It took me a few tries on my 10/22, but after doing it a few times (yes I clean my 10/22) it got easier

[Scratch705]

iirc, there is a tool that one of the online retailers sell that is just a simple piece of a thin bent metal plate that holds the charging handle just at the perfect distance to pop the bolt back onto.

maybe make one yourself? since i can't seem to find a link for it.

[subrosa]

iirc, there is a tool that one of the online retailers sell that is just a simple piece of a thin bent metal plate that holds the charging handle just at the perfect distance to pop the bolt back onto.

maybe make one yourself? since i can't seem to find a link for it.

I have heard about this (and used in a video?) but never saw the need to buy one. Half the battle is figuring out how the spring retracts backwards so that you don't have it at an angle. This is the one thing I would like to see Ruger update on the 10/22 (I know blasphemy), there has to be a better way to "lock" the charge handle into the bolt.

[NeoWeird]

It's been a while since I took mine down, but the way I remember it goes (for right handers at least):

1. Turn barreled receiver upside down so you can see insides.
2. Left hand puts charging handle in through ejection port.
3. Thumb of left hand hooks behind back of receiver from ejection port side while index finger pulls on charging handle. At the same time right hand's thumb hooks back of receiver from over the top while index finger pulls back on non-ejection port side of bolt cross bar.
4. Once spring is fully compressed (may require a little back and forth action) the left hand locks in place, as close to receiver as possible to prevent it from slipping.
5. Right hand grabs bolt and drops it in starting with rear of the bolt first, then tipping the front of the bolt down onto lock bar. Slight wiggle from bolt as tension is relieved from charging handle and the bolt will lock in place.
6. Buffer returned to receiver to prevent over travel of bolt.
7. ~fin~

[IntoForever]

I watched 2 different videos on break down/assembly before trying. I've owned mine for 20 years and never cleaned it. Bought it from a pawn shop and it probably was never cleaned then. Set up the video and hit pause so you can keep up and the assembly should be no problem. Mine went together easily. The cleaning part was a major PITA. Probably would have been faster with a scraper.

[trob]

Any one else frustrated with Ruger 10/22 reassembly putting the bolt assembly back on the charging handle? I love the ruger, it eats everything I feed it, but I loathe cleaning it because of the frustrating 20 minutes with the screwdriver trying to pry the bolt back and get the bolt assembly back together. Any other semi-auto .22s out there that aren't such a PITA?

really? its one of the easiest guns ive ever taken apart. Even the first time was a breeze.

[Gem1950]

If you're having this kind of trouble with with a 10/22...stay away from a 1911.