Why does the .22lr have misfires?

Authors S.H. Blannelberry

22plinkster answers the question, “Why does the .22lr have misfires?”

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  • Mac McSpadden January 21, 2016, 5:18 pm

    I found this video on three websites, and wanted to add my experiences to it. I’ve fired hundreds of thousands of .22lr, and in addition to what the Plinkster said, which, BTW, is all true, I have also observed the following causes of .22 lr misfires. Most of my misfires have been due to the cartridges having NO priming compound at all. I have set my misfires aside and when I get home from the range, I pulled the bullets, and examined the cases, and in the great majority of cases, I found no priming compound. And I don’t mind saying, the majority of these were Remington brand. Now, Remington makes fine firearms, and their ammo is very accurate too, but most of my misfires have been with Remington ammo having no priming compound. My misfires with any other brands have been, like, one tenthh or less, compared to Remington.

    • DIYinSTL September 21, 2016, 6:08 pm

      I too have had the worst luck with Remington .22LR misfires despite strong strikes from the firing pin. And like the Plinkster, have had good luck with Federal as well as Winchester. I recently picked up a box of Browning (I wonder who makes that?) and am looking forward to giving that a try too. I’ve also shot Eley, Blazer, and CCI with good success but they are never bargain priced which is usually important in the .22 game.

  • L. G. November 14, 2014, 2:00 pm

    Show me a link that confirms how you say .22 RF is primed.

  • Steve Durnin November 11, 2014, 12:23 am

    I had a new rifle that was prone to misfire and stripped and cleaned the bolt and the firing pin and spring channels of dried lube, problem was 99 percent solved and improved with use where things just wore to better fit.
    I liked the biscuit in the bucket thought but primer compound must be in the rim (yes. rough handling is a problem) I know that federal when the made the first Olympic ammo spun the case to distribute the compound in the rim (this is still the best ammo I have in stock but dwindling, used only for squirrel hunting) I would think that the biscuit of primer would have to be squashed by a pin or some other method used to cause distribution into the rim). I have had problems with some lots of ammo both new and 40 years old on occasion. Yeah , I am older than dirt and really love flintlocks as well.

  • Randy P. November 10, 2014, 4:59 pm

    Great tips in the video. I have a semi-auto pistol that misfires about 15% (using the ammo he recommends) of the time. I clean it thoroughly, but that doesn’t seem to take care of it. I’ll give the .25 caliber brush a “shot”.

  • BOB R. November 10, 2014, 3:17 pm

    Using a CMMG adapter in a DPMS AR, I shot up a box of Remington subsonic 22LR hollow points and had only 2 miss fires.
    4% failure for a box of 50. Not bad considering the ammo was bought when I was 17 and it was 57 years old!! The ammo was stored in a number of places including a garage. It worked because it was American made!!!!!!!

  • Paul November 10, 2014, 1:03 pm

    Great video and tips. I’m firing a box of Federals from 1968-69 that I got from my father’s gas station. I started with a box of 500 and have fired 150 and am surprised that there have been only a couple of misfires in my Ruger 22/45. I put the misfires in my Single Six and they fired. From your tips, I’m going to take a look at the 22/45 firing pin. Thanks again!

  • Falconer November 10, 2014, 11:23 am

    Put all the 22 ammo you expect to use THAT DAY in a container, spray with one shot of spray gun lube and shake to coat ammo. VOILA–no misfires, no failure to extract. Wipe lube off all ammo not used that day.

  • Pete in Alaska November 10, 2014, 10:29 am

    Did this with a very small, AA battery, screw driver, a small flex shaft and a .25 cal brush. Works great!

  • Bill Grant November 10, 2014, 8:36 am

    Great Information on 22 LR

  • Greg Messa November 10, 2014, 7:15 am

    You forgot a dirty chamber. A dirty chamber can prevent the cartridge from fully seating. And, energy from the firing pin is used up seating the cartridge, leaving it with a light strike. I find this one of the most common, gun related, causes of .22 misfires. Use a .25 caliber brush to clean a .22 caliber chamber. Put a ninty degree bend just behind the bristles. This will make a handle to twist the brush in the chamber.

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