I can hear the forum collectively holding their breath before exclaiming Dont Do It but this video by Louie MacGoo well deserves its five star rating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1syvtFfpzlw&feature=fvw Please note that it is described as a partial disassembly but yet it includes the bbl, bolt, bolt spring, firing pin striker, and firing pin spring which will allow for a full cleanup of the major moving parts.
A video by the same does give instructions for full disassembly but if you just pull the trigger guard assembly which includes the trigger, spray solvents and pipe cleaners can go a long way.
The only thing that I can think of to make this easy procedure easier would be to...
1. When you pull the Barrel bracket, watch for the barrel support that is just a shim that rides on the front face of the bracket with the bend in the shim extending rearward under the said bracket. Mine ended up on the floor but took just a min to figure out where it was suppose to be.
2. When reinstalling the firing pin striker, you must first pull the trigger and push down hard on the sear with it catching on the underside of the disconnector when the trigger is released. I found that I had to pull the trigger, push the sear down But Then pull the disconnector back over the lip of the sear.
The work was easily completed in an afternoon to include testing. I only had three shells on hand but it worked great.
My thoughts were that the rifle was just a bit louder as I reckon that the firing pin was hitting the rim of the cartridge harder than it had been for a while. While the .22 doesnt really have noticible recoil, I did precieve the recoil to be more than it had been. No wonder here for the amount of "clay" that had built up in those nylon slide grooves.
My Rem date code to be found on the left side of the bbl and just ahead of the rear sight reads O U which means new in July of 71' . While I have had the top reciever cover off a few times, this is the rifles first disassembly and I recommend this procedure to all.
