Skip to main content

Tightening A Ruger .22 Pistol Ejector

Tightening A Ruger .22 Pistol Ejector

The steel frame Ruger .22 pistols such as the MK1 and MK2 were designed with ease of manufacture in mind. Complex machined components were avoided where possible and replaced with high quality stampings.

Accurate, reliable and inexpensive, Rugers seldom require the attention of a gunsmith except for custom work. One minor issue I run across when tuning Rugers is loose ejectors. The ejector is simply stamped sheet metal formed in a "U" shape and riveted to the frame. The rivet is soft steel and may work loose after thousands of brass cases have impacted against it.

Even when loose, the ejector can't go anywhere, since it is captured by the grooves in the bottom of the bolt but it could cause erratic ejection and should be fixed. I'd like to see the riveting fixture Ruger uses but I'm sure it's too elaborate for the home shop and to my knowledge no one makes one for gunsmiths so we had to design our own.

Basically, we just need a wedge that will slip under the head of the rivet in the receiver to act as an anvil while we peen over the other end. I used an old 8-inch flat file with the edges ground smooth and one side modified for a good tight fit under the rivet.

An old business card was inserted between the file and the receiver to avoid scarring. As the "anvil" was tapped into place under the rivet head, the peened-over end popped up slightly, revealing a gap between it and the receiver. All it took was some tapping from a small ball peen hammer and the rivet was re-set and the ejector tight.

A more sophisticated tool could be made from a spare bolt by welding up the bottom rail and re-cutting it at a slight taper on the milling machine so the bolt acts as a wedge and the ejector would stay aligned with both ears in the bolt grooves where they normally ride. But that's a project for another day.

Ruger MK1

This old Ruger MK1 is set up for NRA Conventional Pistol shooting with a Clark barrel, Ultra Dot sight and Marvel trigger. It is accurate and reliable.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

Firearms News Gets the Rundown on Burris's New XTR-PS

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

SDS Arms Releases New Tactical Shotgun Lineup

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

New Hunting Shotguns Available in Mossy Oak and Realtree Camo

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

Inglis MFG Launches New P35 Pistol

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

MAC Firearms unveils New 5' Comp Barreled Double Stack 1911

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

New Iron Lady Gun Safes from ATI

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

American Tactical Releases GSG Anniversary 1911 Pistol

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

First Look at ATI's new Rukx Rifle Case

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

ATI Launches New Double and Triple Barreled Shotguns for 2025

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

American Tactical Showcases their Latest GSG-16 22 LR Pistol and 410 Bull Dog Shotgun

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

New Glock 17/19 18-Round Magazines Offered by Mec-Gar

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

KelTec Launches PR57 Pistol: The Best and Lightest 5.7

Firearms News Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW OUR CURRENT ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Firearms News App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Firearms News stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Firearms News subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Firearms News stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use