Ol' pump action .22 rimfire

[Doug Lee]

I recently purchased an old but in very nice shape J.C.Higgins Model 35 .22 rimfire S.L.LR. sold by Sears and Robuck. This is a slide/pump action model that shoots very well, the problem is that if you rack the action at a normal speed
to eject and reload, the nose of the cartridge hangs up on the transition between the end of the loading ramp and the chamber.
If I rack the action slowly, I can watch the rim of the cartridge pop up off the cartridge lifter as the bolt comes forward and cleanly into the chamber.
The action has been thoroughly cleaned and the moving parts lightly lubricated.
Any help with this feeding problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Doug

 

[Scorch]

Can you post a picture? All the cross-reference lists say the Sears 35 is a Stevens 66A, a bolt action rifle.

 

[Clark]

Here is the manual
http://stevespages.com/pdf/jchiggins_35.pdf

 

[Doug Lee]

Additional information

Clark, the pdf link you posted is correct for my model of the rifle.

Scorch, do you want pictures of the rifle or are you talking about close up's
of the receiver?

*

 

[Doug Lee]

Pictures of the feed ramp

A couple of shots of the feed ramp to barrel area, if I rack the action at what is a normal speed, the nose of the bullet hangs up at the uneven area between the end of the feed ramp and the entrance to the chamber. When I rack the action slowly, as the bolt comes forward it picks up the rim of the cartridge from the cartridge lifter, the cartridge will go into the chamber cleanly. The feed ramp is an integral part of the receiver casting, it doesn't appear to be worn or beat up.
Thanks
*

 

[g.willikers]

The chamber and feed ramp look ok.
They could maybe benefit from a little smoothing with a mild emery cloth, though.
It could be something in the feeding mechanism, like a worn cartridge lifter, dirty magazine, weak mag spring, or such.
Operating the pump slowly maybe allows things to align for better feeding.

 

[Doug Lee]

Checking and double checking

Thanks to each of you for the feedback, I really appreciate that.
I'll keep you posted!
Doug
*

 

[Doug Lee]

Valuable lesson learned

It looks like this little rifle doesn't like the Remington ammo I was trying to feed it.
I measured an empty case from the Remington 525 hollow point, measured .612 thousants.
Also measured an empty PMC Sidwinder case, measured .609 thousants


This brand fed just as fast as I could work the action:

PMC Sidewinder 40 grain, solid point (brass measures .609 thousants)
Winchester Wildcat, 40 grain solid point
Blazer 40 grain, solid point
Federal 40 grain, solid point

These don't work so well (only in slow motion):

Remington 525 Golden Bullet 36 grain, hollow point (brass measures .612 thousants)
Remington Viper 36 grain, truncated cone.

So that .003 thousants was the culprit.

Thanks for your help.
Doug
*

 

[Scorch]

Just an FYI: your rifle is a High Standard Sport King pump rifle (there were other Sport King rifles as well). Parts are virtually non-existant, although you can find a few from gunpartscorp.com or on ebay or Amazon occasionally. I bought a trigger housing last year for one a customer wanted rebuilt.

 

[Doug Lee]

Thanks for the input

Thank you each for the feedback.
Doug
*