10/22 17hm2 ejection port flash

[tom45]

Hello everyone, I apologize if this has been covered, but couldn't find it with any keywords I could think up.

I have a ruger 10/22 converted to 17hm2, and a noticable flash from the ejection port is making me nervous.  I have installed the modified, heavy bolt handle that is supposed to slow the bolt down enough to make it safe, but there is a substantial amount of flash from the ejection port when the rifle is fired, and the magazine has seized up twice and been completely ejected from the rifle once during shooting.  I don't know what to do to fix the problem other than try to add more weight to the bolt or look for an extra power recoil spring, but don't know how to go about either solution (recoil spring seems permanently installed on the guide rod).

Has anyone had these problems with converted 10/22's?  How did you go about fixing it?  The rifle shoots under an inch at 100 yards and I'd like to keep it, but not if I can't get this problem remedied. The conversion is the stainless E. Arthur Brown 17hm2 heavy barrel and heavy bolt handle assembly.

Thanks,

Tom     

[Keith L]

I am sure that this topic has been beat to death on Rimfire Central (rimfirecentral.com).  Ask this over there and you will get lots of opinions.  There are good guys over there, and some clowns.  I tired of the clowns and stopped hanging out there a couple years ago.

Let us know what you find out.

[tom45]

Thanks for the reply.  Sorry to anyone that was wanting to know the answer to the question, but I came across someone who wanted to buy the ruger, so I sold it and bought a savage mkii in 17hm2.  I feel more confident in the bolt gun, and having a semi was never all that important to me in the first place.  The other advantages of the bolt gun (better factory trigger & quicker and easier cleaning procedure) make me prefer it.  The "coolness" factor of the ruger (flashy fajen stock, semi automatic) doesn't really matter to me as long as the rifle shoots, which this savage certainly does...and does remarkably well.  Honestly, the silver Nikon that was on the stainless ruger, now on an all black rifle, is the only thing that bugs me a little, but as long as it shoots...

Tom

[Slowhanddd]

I too tried the conversion.I used 22mag springs and still had problems.I shoot left handed and after three or four blow backs in my face,I sold the 17m2 parts and went back to 22lr.I bought a NEF sportster in m2 and never looked back.Slow

[gunnut69]

It's likely the problems were from too much pressure for too long a time, The answer would have been to call the manufacturer and ask if others were having the same problem. They would have been of course and the answeer is a heavier bolt in addition to the heavy bolt handle..

[thickstrings]

I'm pretty sure the Arthur Brown co. stopped selling the conversions...they said it was because of inferior ammo. I for one can attest to the inferior ammo. I had a bad batch of Eley, shot 50 no problem, the 51st round blew the mag in 3 pieces and blew out the extractor....It will shoot CCI and Hornady though. Its a 10/22 conversion.

[G Curtis]

I am curious what ammo the guys with the flash problem were shooting. I have chrono'd all of the brands, all are very consistent except Eley, which is consistent in it's inconsistency.

All velocities run around the 2100 FPS mark. The Eley will have 4 of 5 at the 2100 fps mark and the 5th will run about 2350 FPS. This 4 of 5 ratio held for 50 chrono'd shots. I have heard of others blowing apart 10/22 conversions and all were with Eley ammo.

I shoot the Eley in the bolt and single shot guns but never in my 10/22 converted to 17 HMII. A real shame as it is by far the cheapest ammo.

[torpedoman]

Take any semi automatic blowback operated that will fire from an open bolt (10-22 and most of the rest of the rimfires) add a bottle neck cartridge, and you have the perfect receipt for a disaster.

The blowback action allows a lot of crud to build up in the chamber, this crud will keep the rounds from seating properly, the gun will fire from an open bolt position meaning you have unsupported brass sticking out of the chamber. Many problems were reported with cracked brass in the neck area since the round was new when it isn't properly seated the neck is not supported either and the first indications will be the cracks in the neck area.

the 17 hmr and mach 2 are interesting rounds but you need a single shot or a bolt to fire them safely. remington has recalled their semi autos and the ammo the last i heard.

[Slowhanddd]

Torepedoman has it it right on the head.IF I kept the chamber clean I had no problems.I even made a brush to do it with.The problem stemmed from not knowing how many shots it took to get dirty.Sometimes 30 sometimes 50-60.I do shoot the Eley brand as I found and still find it to be more accurate.Just don't have the 10-17m2 conversion any more.Right handers wouldn't be too bad,but I shoot lefty.The flash and bang right in your face will leave streaks in your underware.Slow

[moorepower]

For every guy that says hi semi auto works great no problem, you will find many more that will tell you they have had problems with out of battery firing. It is a fine bolt action round.