How to Avoid Misfires with .22 LR Rimfire Ammunition
“22 Plinkster” is an avid shooter who has produced a number of entertaining videos for his YouTube Channel. In the video below, he tackles the question “Why Do Misfires Occur in .22 LR Rimfire Ammunition?” This is the most common question posed to 22 Plinkster by his many viewers. He identifies four main issues that can cause .22 LR misfires or faulty ignition:
1. Damaged Firing Pin — The dry firing process can actually blunt or shorten the firing pin, particularly with older rimfire firearms. Use of snap caps is recommended.
2. Poor Ammunition — Some cheap brands have poor quality control. 22 Plinkster recommends using ammo from a manufacturer with high quality control standards, such as CCI and Federal.
3. Age of Ammunition — Rimfire ammo can function well for a decade or more. However the “shelf life” of rimfire ammunition is not infinite. You ammo’s “lifespan” will be shortened by heat, moisture, and humidity. You should store your rimfire ammo in a cool, dry place.
4. Mishandling of Ammunition — Tossing around ammunition can cause problems. Rough handling can cause the priming compound to be dislodged from the rim. This causes misfires.
Preventing misfires is essential if you want to succeed in NRL22 competition and other rimfire competition disciplines run “on the clock”.
Top Image courtesy Cheaper Than Dirt Shooters Log.
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Tags: .22 LR, 22 Plinkster, 22LR, malfunction, Rimfire, Video
Most of the time after you pull the bullet and look inside the case you will see a lack of primer where the pin hit.
It all works out to the QA /QC of the ammo.
CCI and Federal are owned by same company and I have had misfires with both, I have even had misfires with Eley priming.
Not as often by a far, far margin as with cheap .22’s though.
You get what you pay for. Good QA / QC is expensive.
A gummed-up action should have been mentioned as a possible cause of misfires. Autos in particular are susceptible to this.
A common issue amongst competitive pistol guys is putting a dag on the chamber by dry firing. The round appears to chamber, but is slowed by the burr. The firing pin moves the case forward, absorbing energy and light striking.
Always worth checking for burrs. Easily removed with a stone etc. Don’t dry fire a rimfire without some device/empty case in the chamber.