[tbln930]

There seems to be so few SR22 lever issues with so many in the field that the problem is clearly isolated at his point. My brothers was repaired and is working fine. All lever parts were replaced but nothing else and it seems to work fine. No design changes, etc. I found out they can really play with the "fill" in that polymer material quite a bit and make these things tough as nails if that is what is needed. Fabulous and fun little guns.

 

[Woolval]

Good pciture, shows weak point

Jorgey, Your pictures do an excellent job of showing the failure. To my untrained eye, it looks like the takedown lever retention spring is to big, thereby creating a weak point . The break is following around the spring. They must have to drill out a fairly large hole in an area that is under intense banging, so it looks like there's to little "plastic" left to hold up over time.

If I were an engineer (I did sleep in a Holiday Inn once...) I would redesign that spring, maybe go to a smaller but stronger spring so it would leave more plastic to do the job of keeping the slide on the gun. Who knows, maybe that's what they've done for the replacement takedown levers.

My SR22 arrived 2 days ago and I can't wait to shoot it! Last night it almost got a break in shooting when a large armadillo was in my back yard, tearing up my lawn again. My immediate thought was "SR22, here you go!!", but my wife wasn't on board. Bummer!! I might use the CB 22 short for the armadillo, but use them as a single shot. I know the pistol is designed for 22LR, so the shorts won't run it. But the CB22 short would be much quieter in the neighborhood. (OK, maybe this should be in a different post...)

Love these forums with everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences. Soon I hope to contribute as well, and hopefully not with a failure!

Thanks all.
Woolval

 

[mndoggie]

It will definitely be interesting to see how Ruger fixes this issue.

Maybe they had a run of the molded piece where the mold was too hot,too cold or whatever and just a few bad ones got out the door.

It is something to keep watching.

 

[Marine Division Two]

Isnt anything made to last anymore ?

 

[Jorgey]

Jorgey, Your pictures do an excellent job of showing the failure. To my untrained eye, it looks like the takedown lever retention spring is to big, thereby creating a weak point . The break is following around the spring. They must have to drill out a fairly large hole in an area that is under intense banging, so it looks like there's to little "plastic" left to hold up over time.
Woolval

Thanks. I think you are correct in that there is just to little plastic left in the take down lever to make it hold up over time. You never know, could be a bad mix of the plastic too on some of them and over time it just gives out.


I have had my replacement SR22P for a little over a week now and was able to go to the range 3 times. Shot bulk Federal ammo, just under 1000 rounds. Everything is functioning perfectly. No failures of any kind at this point. Still have to watch and see as the last one failed at round 1095. I hope that it continues to hold up as I love this gun. Fun and cheap to shoot.

 

[Jorgey]

Isnt anything made to last anymore ?

We live in a disposable world. Just look at everything else out there from cars to dishwashers. You name it, they just don't make things like they used to.

 

[Ashlander]

From the photos the damage looks like what would happen if the gun was fired with the take down level open or partially open. The slide would whack the hinge side and partially override it -- causing it to crack. I could be wrong, but I suggest we all just make sure the lever is fully closed when we shoot.

 

[Jorgey]

From the photos the damage looks like what would happen if the gun was fired with the take down level open or partially open. The slide would whack the hinge side and partially override it -- causing it to crack. I could be wrong, but I suggest we all just make sure the lever is fully closed when we shoot.

I agree that having the take down lever not totally locked in place would cause damage. But, I guarantee that mine was locked. In fact I was very happy about the fact that it took so much effort to get it to open, I thought that maybe I had gotten a revised model already or something. The first sign of something being wrong with it was when the slide went flying down range, it was only after that that I could see all of the damage. After the damage, you could still lock the take down lever in the closed position, but if you racked the gun, the slide would come off the back end. It may be a somewhat isolated incident, but Ruger was concerned about it enough to keep it for the engineers to look at and give me a new one.

Again, your right. Keep an eye on the take down level and make sure it is locked.

 

[tommy83]

Sorry to revive an old thread... but I was wondering if there are any updates? I am in the market for a 22 and I was almost ready to go pick up the SR22 when I came across this issue. Has Ruger officially (or unofficially) "fixed" this issue yet? How are your fixed guns working so far? Thanks a lot guys...

 

[Jorgey]

Sorry to revive an old thread... but I was wondering if there are any updates? I am in the market for a 22 and I was almost ready to go pick up the SR22 when I came across this issue. Has Ruger officially (or unofficially) "fixed" this issue yet? How are your fixed guns working so far? Thanks a lot guys...

I don't think that Ruger has has ever made any kind of statement as to any official issues with the SR22P, but from reading around it certainly looks like they have had to fix a lot of them.

On mine, they opted not to fix it, but instead completely replaced it. So far I have about 2000 rounds through the new one and everything has been great, no issues. I really like this little pistol, it is cheap and fun to shoot. I have actually been thinking about purchasing a second one so I when I go shooting with my son I don't have to share.

 

[MCPO]

I purchased mine (SR22-CT) with the laser on the 11th. Shoot 905 rds (CCI Mini Mags - 40gr, Winchester M22 40gr, and CCI Blazer 40gr) total when my take down lever went into pieces. The slide flew off (downrange) and recoil rod & spring raced it downrange. That happened on the 17th.

Ruger sent a UPS label, and I had it back 6 days later. "Replaced broken take down lever". Looked exactly like what was originally installed (the fired rd in the envelope that comes with the gun had a date of May 25, 2012).

I traded mine off the same day it came back. Applaud Ruger for handling the repair, but wonder why that aren't replacing them with better levers.

Rimfire Central has a thread with about 1/2 dozen failed levers.

 

[donjack100]

The good part, is Ruger never fails to " Make things Rignt "..

 

[stargeezer]

With all the SR22's Ruger is selling, I really am not surprised by a few failures. With any machine made to take apart by lifting a lever, there will be some that pry it off instead of lifting it. I've looked at the linkage and really don't know why they did not make it metal instead of plastic (excuse me, I mean poly - not really ).

I'm NOT saying that this was the case with yours MCPO, you've got enough gun experience not to do that, but there are a lot of apes that just don't know there own strength. Looking at Rimfire Central and reading those posts, and others by some of the same ones who have had issues you can't help thinking that they might break a hammer too.

I'm not totally excusing Ruger, plastic is plastic and there are better materials.

Before anybody says I'm knocking the young shooters, in truth, I've buggered a few things too - like yesterday. Son bought a Colt 1911 frame .22 rimfire for practicing on the cheap. He's working a lot of overtime and had not been able to get to the range - Dads heading out with HIS buds to pop some and he passes it over to me to test out for him (without the manual).

About the second mag and the extractor failed to pull the case out. I think, no problem, I want to check things out so I start pulling the slide pin out - only in THIS 1911 it's not the slide pin. I get it out and discover it's not the right thing to do, and it won't go back in. Absolutely blocked hole. So I flip it muzzle up and spin the barrel lock around just like every 45 I've field stripped for the past 40 odd years - on a normal 1911 the spring and cap goes pop, up into your waiting fingers. This went sprung!!! The cap and spring bounced off the range roof going 200mph in separate directions. After a little search, Dad found the pieces, placed them in a baggy, placed the now removed slide, baggy and frame back in the case and went back to shooting his joy tools.

After I made the 45 minute drive back home and found the manual, it took 5 minutes to put everything back together, but I just knew I was going to be forced to send it in for repair until everything checked out.

I ONLY confessed this boo-boo to point out that a little knowledge is sometimes worse than no knowledge at all. If I had not spent years ripping into 1911's for the Army, myself and most of my buddies, I'd have never tried to pull that pin out. I'd have taken it home and told him to do it, since he didn't send the manual with me. I shouldn't have touched it until I read the manual.

Guns ain't rocket science - most of the time they're just a little more complex than a box of rocks. BUT have you ever picked up a box of rock and had the box bottom fall out?????

Have fun all.

 

[gmsoapy]

With all the SR22's Ruger is selling, I really am not surprised by a few failures. With any machine made to take apart by lifting a lever, there will be some that pry it off instead of lifting it. I've looked at the linkage and really don't know why they did not make it metal instead of plastic (excuse me, I mean poly - not really ).

I'm NOT saying that this was the case with yours MCPO, you've got enough gun experience not to do that, but there are a lot of apes that just don't know there own strength. Looking at Rimfire Central and reading those posts, and others by some of the same ones who have had issues you can't help thinking that they might break a hammer too.

I'm not totally excusing Ruger, plastic is plastic and there are better materials.

Before anybody says I'm knocking the young shooters, in truth, I've buggered a few things too - like yesterday. Son bought a Colt 1911 frame .22 rimfire for practicing on the cheap. He's working a lot of overtime and had not been able to get to the range - Dads heading out with HIS buds to pop some and he passes it over to me to test out for him (without the manual).

About the second mag and the extractor failed to pull the case out. I think, no problem, I want to check things out so I start pulling the slide pin out - only in THIS 1911 it's not the slide pin. I get it out and discover it's not the right thing to do, and it won't go back in. Absolutely blocked hole. So I flip it muzzle up and spin the barrel lock around just like every 45 I've field stripped for the past 40 odd years - on a normal 1911 the spring and cap goes pop, up into your waiting fingers. This went sprung!!! The cap and spring bounced off the range roof going 200mph in separate directions. After a little search, Dad found the pieces, placed them in a baggy, placed the now removed slide, baggy and frame back in the case and went back to shooting his joy tools.

After I made the 45 minute drive back home and found the manual, it took 5 minutes to put everything back together, but I just knew I was going to be forced to send it in for repair until everything checked out.

I ONLY confessed this boo-boo to point out that a little knowledge is sometimes worse than no knowledge at all. If I had not spent years ripping into 1911's for the Army, myself and most of my buddies, I'd have never tried to pull that pin out. I'd have taken it home and told him to do it, since he didn't send the manual with me. I shouldn't have touched it until I read the manual.

Guns ain't rocket science - most of the time they're just a little more complex than a box of rocks. BUT have you ever picked up a box of rock and had the box bottom fall out?????

Have fun all.

Love the closing line stargeezer. Been there done that and many times and some times the foots under the box to boot.

 

[jackjr]

After several thousand mine failed yesterday. Slide went about twelve feet downrange. My LGS is sending it in for me and I'm looking at one they have in stock for while I'm waiting. I have a couple of daughters who wouldn't mind me having two. I've only had one encounter with Ruger C.S. and came away very satisfied and I don't expect any less this time.

 

[RonJon]

Will Ruger replace the takedown lever if...

Will Ruger replace the takedown lever if it hasn't actually failed yet but IS in the range that they did?

I.E. - Mine is a 360 prefix and was test fired 01/2012. I have fired maybe 2000 (or maybe more) rounds through it so far and it hasn't broken yet, but since it's in the BAD date range, I was wondering if Ruger would want to replace it BEFORE it fails?

Or is it their policy to replace it only AFTER failure (and possibly causing some damage or injury)?

RonJon

 

[TeaDub]

I have not been able to locate any "recall" notices on the SR22. I would be surprised if Ruger would replace a part that hasn't broken. Perhaps call Ruger CS and ask them?

I am currently leaning toward getting an SR22. This issue seems to be resolved (for current production guns) as threads on the topic have died down. Now that this thread has been revived, are there any owners of newer SR22s that have had a failure?

 

[gmsoapy]

I have two SR22's both have over 3000 rds thru them. They are early production ones and I have had any problems with either one. I haven't seen any posts of take down lever failure in a long time.

 

[hgratt]

I have not been able to locate any "recall" notices on the SR22. I would be surprised if Ruger would replace a part that hasn't broken. Perhaps call Ruger CS and ask them?

I am currently leaning toward getting an SR22. This issue seems to be resolved (for current production guns) as threads on the topic have died down. Now that this thread has been revived, are there any owners of newer SR22s that have had a failure?

The SR22 is what I consider to be an inexpensive "throwaway" gun with the bonus of a lifetime guarantee. Given that I would get mine all over again regardless of the take down lever issue. I'm also wondering if they silently replace these levers with improved ones whenever a pistol is returned for unrelated matters.

 

[35Remington]

I just had my takedown lever replaced by Ruger. Gun has a 361 serial prefix. They did it at no charge and threw in a new cleaning cloth as a gift.