How to clean a Ruger 10/22 rotary magazine

The Ruger 10/22 rotary magazine doesn't need cleaning too often, but when it does it's fairly simply to do it yourself. By following the steps below, you can keep feeding problems to a minimum.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 9/64'th inch hex key
• Solvent
• Patches

1. 
   Magazine exploded view

   Refer to this image for the names of the components.

2. Take the magazine out of the rifle and make sure it contains no cartridges. Use the 9/64'th hex key to take out the screw, making sure to have your finger on the cap nut on the opposite side. When the screw is mostly backed out, push it into the magazine. The cap nut will stick out from the opposite side. Remove the cap nut, then remove the screw. You can now take off the magazine cap. Pull the magazine rotor out, then pull out the magazine throat. It's best not to mess with the spring, but if you choose to take it out and clean it make sure to note its position first. The magazine is now disassembled.

3. Now the cleaning begins. Clean everything with a solvent that will not rust the metal or damage the plastic. When everything is clean, dry the components well. Do not use oil in the magazine, as it will only gather dust and cause problems.

4. Start reassembly with the magazine throat. It has small pegs on either end, and the larger peg is the end that slides in first, into a corresponding hole on the back of the magazine shell. Now you place the rotor in. If you look at the rotor, one end has a longer shaft than the other. The end with the long shaft goes in first. Once it's in, rotate it clockwise so the one ridge longer than the others is up against the magazine throat. Place screw back into magazine shell. Now you can place the magazine cap on. Make sure it seats correctly with the magazine throat, and the spring is sticking out of the center hole. Now you can place the cap nut on. If you look at the cap nut, there is a small hole where the spring fits. Put the spring in the hole. The spring now has to be tensioned, so that the rotor will rotate quickly to feed cartridges. Rotate the cap nut clockwise once fully and a bit more, (Since it is hexagonal, that would be 7 clicks) and push it into the indented area on the magazine cap. Hold it there while you tighten the screw with your hex key. Make sure the screw is nice and tight. The magazine is now reassembled.

5. The last step is to ensure the magazine has been properly put together. To do this, load the magazine with several cartridges. Remove them quickly. The cartridges should snap into feeding position instantly. If they do not, the spring needs more tension.

Tips & Warnings

• It is easy to lose the spring or cap nut. Keep an eye on them!
• Tight is good, but be careful not to strip the screw.
• If the magazine is clean, and the spring is tensioned properly, but the magazine still does not feed correctly, do not use it.