Cleaning a Ruger 10/22 Magazine
A 15-minute procedure that turns a misfeeding magazine back into a working one — without buying a £30 replacement.
This procedure is only for the rotor-style 10-round magazine in Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 rifles. It does not apply to single-stack or stick magazines used in other LSR or sport rifles — those have different designs.
Introduction
Misfeeding occurs when a round fails to load into the breach, and is usually a magazine fault. Most (all?) of the magazines we use are made by Ruger — beautifully simple, well-engineered pieces of equipment, universal across all Ruger .22 calibre semi-auto rifles. So why do they misfeed quite so often?
When propellant burns, it produces a small amount of water along with burned and unburned powder. Together they form a thin paste that sticks inside the magazine — particularly to the vanes of the rotor. The spacing between rotor blades only has to be slightly compromised by sticky walls for a misfeed to occur.
Apart from frustration, what are our usual reactions to a magazine-caused misfeed?
- Clear the jam and carry on.
- Switch to a different magazine next time.
- Buy a new one (around £30 a go these days).
There’s another option — clean the magazine. It takes about 15 minutes and is straightforward.
When to clean
If you’re using your own rifle, after about 200 rounds is reasonable.
If you’re using a club rifle, ask your Head of Section before taking a magazine home.
Make certain the magazine is empty of cartridges before you take it home, and have someone else verify it.
Ruger state that no cleaning fluids or lubricants should be used on a 10/22 magazine. They act as a trap for powder residues and make misfeeds more likely. Detergent and warm water only.
Equipment
- A washing-up bowl
- A few drops of detergent
- Warm water
- A small-headed toothbrush
- Cotton buds (and possibly cocktail sticks)
- A hair dryer
- A 9/64” Allen key or a T20 star driver (Ruger is American, so imperial units)
- A pencil with a rubber on the end (for the test step)
Disassembly
- A. Using the Allen key or star driver, engage the screw on the side of the magazine.
- B. Hold the hex nut on the opposite side of the magazine to stop it jumping out.
- C. Unscrew the screw and gently remove it, while still holding the hex nut in place. Replace the screw and use it to gently push the hex nut out of the casing. The hex nut is spring-loaded and will pop out when you remove your finger or thumb.
- D. Lift the hex nut away. Note the tiny hole in it — that’s where the spring attaches.
- E. Lift off the side of the magazine where the hex nut sat. Remove the rotor and spring assembly.
- F. Note the hook on the end of the spring — you’ll need to find it again on reassembly.
- G. Remove the steel feed lips. Disassembly complete.
Photograph: Photograph sequence A–G: disassembly of the Ruger 10/22 magazine
Cleaning
Mix a little detergent in warm water. Have a hair dryer to hand.
Use the toothbrush, cotton buds, and (if needed) cocktail sticks to clean each component.
Immediately after cleaning a steel part, dry it with the hair dryer. Don’t wait until you’ve finished cleaning everything — the spring will rust within minutes if left wet.
Make sure every component is completely dry before you start reassembly.
Reassembly
- H. Replace the feed lips into the main housing. Use the larger circular lug at the end of the steel lip’s mounting to engage the corresponding hole in the casing.
- I. Note that the lugs at either end of the feed lips are not the same size — orientation matters.
- J. Insert the rotor until it seats with the spring end facing the outside.
- K. Turn the long vane on the rotor clockwise until it touches the feed lips.
- L. Replace the side cover of the magazine. The spring should extend out of the casing.
- M. Place the hex nut over the spring and engage the hook at the end of the spring into the tiny hole in the hex nut. Rotate the hex nut about one and a half turns and hold it in place.
- Replace the screw. Hand-tight only.
Don’t over-tighten the screw — you risk breaking the plastic casing.
Photograph: Photograph sequence H–M: reassembly of the Ruger 10/22 magazine
Testing
- Fully load the magazine.
- Using the rubber end of a pencil, push each round out in quick succession.
- If they all eject normally — job done.
Wash your hands after cleaning a magazine. There’s lead residue inside, and the wash water carries it. See Lead Safety for the wider hygiene context.
Happy, safe, and misfeed-free shooting.
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