I just got a new MKII. I am having a problem with the mags though. The magazines won't feed ammo correctly. It feeds rounds right into the bottom of the feed ramp and jams the gun up. Both mags do this... the shells arent being held against the feed lips. The rims of the shells are touching the case bellow but the end of the bullet can be moved up against the feed lips or you can push it down against the shell beneath it, it seems to like the lower position while the position against the lips is where it works correctly. When it is in the lower position it always jams. This can't be how these magazines are supposed to function. Am I doing something wrong? What should I do? Thanks, Larz
Ruger MKII magazines problems...
- Thread starter Larz
- Start date
The feed ramp is prefectly fine. I am 100% positive that the problem is with the mags. The bullets point down in them instead of up. I can move the tip of the bullet with my finger very easily to point up but it usually falls back down. The bullet just pivots on the rim. Like the front of the shell isn't supported by the bullets underneath so it isn't held against the feed lips.
hksigwalther
New member
There should be some up/down play at the front of the cartridge since it is single stacked, rimmed, and the mag is straight instead of curved.
I'm looking at a MKII mag fully loaded right now (one of five I use, none of which have given me any problems). When the rounds reach the top of the mag (retained by the feed lips), they get pushed forward just a bit due to the shape of the back end of the feed lips. The bullet portion of the cartridge then extends ~1/8" past the front of the mag. When I push the tip of the cartidge to the up most position, it stays there and when pushed down stays there also. (I don't think this really affects the feed as when I strip the top round [as the bolt would do during cycling], the next round is in the lower position.)
"The bullets point down in them instead of up. I can move the tip of the bullet with my finger very easily to point up but it usually falls back down."
Could be weak mag springs.
In my opinion, I think the overall length of the ammo is slightly undersized. If you are using cartridges with bullets that are truncated cone shaped, that could be another source of the problem. (Also using .22 long instead of long rifle)
What ammo are you using? Have you tried others?
- Ron V.
[This message has been edited by hksigwalther (edited April 24, 2000).]
I'm looking at a MKII mag fully loaded right now (one of five I use, none of which have given me any problems). When the rounds reach the top of the mag (retained by the feed lips), they get pushed forward just a bit due to the shape of the back end of the feed lips. The bullet portion of the cartridge then extends ~1/8" past the front of the mag. When I push the tip of the cartidge to the up most position, it stays there and when pushed down stays there also. (I don't think this really affects the feed as when I strip the top round [as the bolt would do during cycling], the next round is in the lower position.)
"The bullets point down in them instead of up. I can move the tip of the bullet with my finger very easily to point up but it usually falls back down."
Could be weak mag springs.
In my opinion, I think the overall length of the ammo is slightly undersized. If you are using cartridges with bullets that are truncated cone shaped, that could be another source of the problem. (Also using .22 long instead of long rifle)
What ammo are you using? Have you tried others?
- Ron V.
[This message has been edited by hksigwalther (edited April 24, 2000).]
So far I have used a bunch of different ammunition. CCI Mini mags and other coperized 22lr rounds work fine. However some of the lead stuff like thunderbolts and winchester gets hung up on the bottom of the feed ramp. I really think the bullets are setting way to low under the lips. The bullet tips don't stick out past the front of the mags at all. I may just write ruger. Also any hollow point ammo I use hangs up on the bottom of the feed ramp. It actually leaves a crease in the middle of the tip of the bullet where the sharp bottom of the feed ramp catches the bullet. I hope I can get rid of this problem because love shooting my new MKII. I just want to be able to feed it lead bullets and I want to be confident in it's reliability. Thanks for the replies so far, Larz
Steve Smith
New member
I, like hksigwalther, am looking at mine right now. It seems that if I load the mag, and pull the button down and then release it, the top cartridge always goes back to the same place...and there's room to move up and down. Exactly what hksigwalther said. Like he, I'm very interested in your ammo. I haven't found anything that wouldn't feed in mine, but are you sure that you're using .22 Long Rifle, not just Longs? I shoot .22 Shorts in mine, but I have to load them one at a time.
Are Remington Thunderbolts, Winchester Wildcats, Federal Lightening 22lr. I am fairly sure they are. I always thought 22 long was a fairly unpopular round in comparison to 22lr. The stuff I am having problems with is the non coperized stuff you buy at Wallmart and K-mart for 8 bucks for 500rnds. I was just home over easter shooting my new gun. I am back at school right now so I can't verify that they are positively 22lr. I always assumed they were and I am pretty sure they are. I can shoot all the same stuff through my dad's Browning Buckmark and it feeds flawlessly. I just don't get it. ????
TEXAS LAWMAN
New member
The brands you mentioned are all long rifles. You won't find any longs at that loss leader price of $8/500 rounds. Call Ruger.
I think it's the magazine. I had a MK II that did the very same thing with two magazines I had, creasing the front of the bullet, finally got a third one that did fine. Of course, it might just be that by the time I got the third one, I'd shot it enough to fix the problem. Beats me. I think I've had 5 Mark II's before, and that was the only one I had a problem with. My current Mark II is a daisy: 4" bull barrel, beautiful. Even with Remington "golden bullets" it's accurate, with target ammo it is great.
I'd say keep shooting it, clean it well, and I bet it'll work out its problem.
I'd say keep shooting it, clean it well, and I bet it'll work out its problem.
What model of MkII is having the problem and how many rounds have been put through it? My gun dealer told me, and I have verified, that some "standard velocity" .22LR rounds may not have enough energy to work the action properly. I have a s/s 6 7/8" barrel government model.
I haven't tried the ammo brands you list, so I can't say whether they would work for me. I have been shooting CCI Blazer lead bullet ammunition and other CCI ammunition without any problem. Also Winchester super-x, which is copper-washed, I believe. Why the preference for lead-only bullets?
Try putting some slack in the magazine follower with the bullets pointing up and then releasing it to point the cartridges in the mag up. Release the slide lock and let the action spring forward on its own to chamber the first round. Move the first round in the mag so that it points up. Inspect the feed ramp for smoothness and any visible flaws, especially if they run horizontal to the direction of travel of the round. Also, make sure your gun and mags are clean. Use a toothbrush at the range to brush the action clean after every 100-200 rounds. Use some dry lube to ease friction between the mag follower and the insides of the mag.
If none of this works, follow TEXAS LAWMAN's advice. I understand that Ruger is pretty customer-friendly. Good luck.
[This message has been edited by Ledbetter (edited April 24, 2000).]
I haven't tried the ammo brands you list, so I can't say whether they would work for me. I have been shooting CCI Blazer lead bullet ammunition and other CCI ammunition without any problem. Also Winchester super-x, which is copper-washed, I believe. Why the preference for lead-only bullets?
Try putting some slack in the magazine follower with the bullets pointing up and then releasing it to point the cartridges in the mag up. Release the slide lock and let the action spring forward on its own to chamber the first round. Move the first round in the mag so that it points up. Inspect the feed ramp for smoothness and any visible flaws, especially if they run horizontal to the direction of travel of the round. Also, make sure your gun and mags are clean. Use a toothbrush at the range to brush the action clean after every 100-200 rounds. Use some dry lube to ease friction between the mag follower and the insides of the mag.
If none of this works, follow TEXAS LAWMAN's advice. I understand that Ruger is pretty customer-friendly. Good luck.
[This message has been edited by Ledbetter (edited April 24, 2000).]
Larz, one additional thing to check is to be sure you are pushing the mag fully into the well. Every MkII I've seen will do what you describe when the mag isn't fully seated. With the bolt closed, if you push semi-hard on the bottom of the mag it will sound like it has clicked into place, but it still has about 1/16th inch to go. Another push will make it go fully into place. This is especially true with a full mag.
This gun is the competition slab side s/s 7 7/8 barrel. I don't think it has anything to do with not having enough power to cycle. It is just that the bullets are getting caught at the very bottom of the feed ramp. Half of the bullet hits bellow the bottom of the feed ramp and half hits above. So I get a horizontal crease down the middle of lead bullets. Especially hollow points. If the bullets fed a millemeter higher they would all work fine. Also this gun only has about 100 rounds through it. I thuroughly clean all my pistols every time I shoot them including the mkII. Larz
Field strip the gun like you would to clean it. With the barrel/reciever removed, insert a magazine into the frame. Now check for any slop in the magazine by wiggleing it a bit. Now push back on the front of the magazine and notice how it will present a round at a slightly higher angle. Reassemble the gun, and place a small dab of hot glue on the front of one of the magazines to shim it up. It should feed that magazine with no problems. Next contact Ruger and explain the feed problem and how if you shim the magazine, it feeds fine.
Been there, done that myself, twice. It's a common problem with Rugers, but usually only happens when hollow points or shorter rounds, like Winchester X-perts (36 gr) are used. My own slab side chokes on sub sonics unless the magazine is spotless and lubed with a dry lube.
Been there, done that myself, twice. It's a common problem with Rugers, but usually only happens when hollow points or shorter rounds, like Winchester X-perts (36 gr) are used. My own slab side chokes on sub sonics unless the magazine is spotless and lubed with a dry lube.
I had feed problems with my Ruger MKII/45, I disassembled the mags and cleaned the mag tubes,springs and followers. This solved my problem immediatly but this was a gun that was not new and had been shot quite a bit. Taking apart the mags for cleaning is easy and might be worth looking at.
BTW when I talked to a Ruger Tech on the phone he advised not using Remmington Thunderbolts in any Ruger guns as they have had alot of problems related to that ammo.
Good Luck
BTW when I talked to a Ruger Tech on the phone he advised not using Remmington Thunderbolts in any Ruger guns as they have had alot of problems related to that ammo.
Good Luck
hksigwalther
New member
Wow. A lot of long distance problem solving here. Larz, your head must be spinning. Here's somemore of my dose of dizziness.
"The stuff I am having problems with is the non coperized stuff you buy at Wallmart and K-mart for 8 bucks for 500rnds."
I think this is where the majority of your problems are from. I had once bought 2 packages of Remington .22lr that came in milk carton shaped boxes. Previous to this I had maybe 4 malfunctions in my MKII in over 5,000-8,000 rounds of Federal Lightning (when they came in red/white boxes). Those Remingtons failed ~2-4 rounds every mag full. Towards the end of the second box I was loading the gun one round at a time through the ejection port (just to get rid of them) as it seemed faster than loading a full mag and dealing with the malfs. Have not had many problems with Rem Thunder.
I've had exceptional performance with Fed Lightnings in my MKII. Other posters have had nothing but trouble with this ammo in their MKII. So..not every gun, even the same make and model, will shoot the same ammo the same way. One of those trial-and-error find what shoots best in your gun and stick with it type deals, particularly the low cost ammo.
Also, "The bullet tips don't stick out past the front of the mags at all." Hmm, maybe there is something wrong with the rear of the feed lips (or possibly a design change). Hard to say without seeing.
I guess your best bet is to either dial up Ruger or buy a new factory mag to see if it works.
- Ron V.
"The stuff I am having problems with is the non coperized stuff you buy at Wallmart and K-mart for 8 bucks for 500rnds."
I think this is where the majority of your problems are from. I had once bought 2 packages of Remington .22lr that came in milk carton shaped boxes. Previous to this I had maybe 4 malfunctions in my MKII in over 5,000-8,000 rounds of Federal Lightning (when they came in red/white boxes). Those Remingtons failed ~2-4 rounds every mag full. Towards the end of the second box I was loading the gun one round at a time through the ejection port (just to get rid of them) as it seemed faster than loading a full mag and dealing with the malfs. Have not had many problems with Rem Thunder.
I've had exceptional performance with Fed Lightnings in my MKII. Other posters have had nothing but trouble with this ammo in their MKII. So..not every gun, even the same make and model, will shoot the same ammo the same way. One of those trial-and-error find what shoots best in your gun and stick with it type deals, particularly the low cost ammo.
Also, "The bullet tips don't stick out past the front of the mags at all." Hmm, maybe there is something wrong with the rear of the feed lips (or possibly a design change). Hard to say without seeing.
I guess your best bet is to either dial up Ruger or buy a new factory mag to see if it works.
- Ron V.
William R. Wilburn
New member
Larz,
I had a similar problem with my new Ruger MKII. IF I inserted a magazine with the bolt closed the first round would dig into the bottom of the feed ramp when I tried to chamber a round. Other failures to feed on several other occassions mid-magazine. Also, I had several (about 10%) failures to fire due to light firing pin strikes or hard brass. The ammo was the Remington Golden Bullet HP.
Having had a MKII in the distant past that digested all brands, types, and plated or non-plated ammo with gusto and nary a burp I was dismayed with my new Ruger's performance. I returned it the factory, noted all above, and including my suspicion that the magazines were at fault.
The sidearm was returned with a note from the Ruger tech saying that he had found no problems with feeding and had ran several brands of ammo through the piece (no Remington). He noted he did adjust the trigger. Unfortunately, I was happy with the trigger. Not happy with Ruger. I felt they were "shining me on." I have not had the pistol out since its return. But, I doubt adjusting the trigger improved my failure to feed problem.
I had a similar problem with my new Ruger MKII. IF I inserted a magazine with the bolt closed the first round would dig into the bottom of the feed ramp when I tried to chamber a round. Other failures to feed on several other occassions mid-magazine. Also, I had several (about 10%) failures to fire due to light firing pin strikes or hard brass. The ammo was the Remington Golden Bullet HP.
Having had a MKII in the distant past that digested all brands, types, and plated or non-plated ammo with gusto and nary a burp I was dismayed with my new Ruger's performance. I returned it the factory, noted all above, and including my suspicion that the magazines were at fault.
The sidearm was returned with a note from the Ruger tech saying that he had found no problems with feeding and had ran several brands of ammo through the piece (no Remington). He noted he did adjust the trigger. Unfortunately, I was happy with the trigger. Not happy with Ruger. I felt they were "shining me on." I have not had the pistol out since its return. But, I doubt adjusting the trigger improved my failure to feed problem.
As someone stated above make sure the mag is seated properly and the mag catch "clicks" into place. Seat the mag then pull on it and see if it will slide out. If it does the catch is not locking the mag in place. I had that problem with mine when I replaced the factory piece with an extended release. The pin that holds it in place was not lined up properly. Are you using factory mags? I have had several Ram-Line mags that would do what you are describing. Good luck
These mags are the facory mags that came with my pistol. I just bought it a month ago so that probably isn't the problem. I will probably just call Ruger when I get back home. I though maybe I wasn't pushing the mags in all the way but I can remember double checking it when I was getting malfunctions. Hopefully Ruger can do something. Thanks for the replies, Josh