Remington 581 issue

[PBking51]

Resolved!!!!

Probably
something for RF central but maybe there's someone who could help me here. I have 2 remington 581's and just decided to plink with them the other day. I am having an issue where 1-2 out of every magazine are not firing. Recocking the bolt does not help and it's only when I remove the round and reposition it does it go bang. I have tried Aguila high velocity, rem golden bullet, cci standard, cci minimag and federal auto match. All bullets fire fine in every other 22 I own.

Is this more likely a firing pin/striker spring issue or is this something that may be related to sear engagement in the trigger?

I would like to strip the bolts down and clean it, but would like a guide if anyone has done this and could walk me through it. The guns are in fantastic shape so I am having a hard time thinking it's bolt related.

 

[snowpro440]

Maybe time to give it a good cleaning and disassemble and a look see for stuck or rusty part or some dirt of sorts in the wrong place. Have you checked Youtube for a video of it.

 

[PBking51]

Yes. Nothing on YouTube as far as bolt disassembly

 

[Mike Casselton]

The recess on the back of the barrel for the cartridge rim can get gunked up.
A plastic pick is your friend

 

[PBking51]

@Mike Casselton Thank you for sharing your wisdom. That's exactly what it was!

 

[Mike Casselton]

Glad I could help.

 

[drover]

If the problem shows up again take a look at the firing pin, I have seen broken them from dry firing.
the firing pin in the 581 is a very thin and fragile, the ones I had with broken firing pins exhibited the same issues you had.

drover

 

[PBking51]

@drover would you be able to tell me how to change the firing pin? I haven't been able to find that on YouTube either. I imagine it might be a little shallow from dry firing as it sits well below flush with the bolt face. The minimal build up in that barrel might have not been as much of an issue if the pin was at full length

 

[drover]

Use the google search bar - type in "remington 581 bolt disassembly". You will find numerous links on how to do it. I currently do not own a 581 and so I do not remember well enough to talk you through it, but they are not difficult to disassemble.
As with anything on the internet what you see may or may not be the correct way to do it, I suggest that you look at more than one article on how to do it.

drover

 

[243winxb]

My owners manual shows the bolt parts. Never took mine apart. No need yet.



Glad to see you fixed it. Very accurate rifles.

 

[biggun2869]

These are exactly the same as 541 so you may find more, They are great rifles, I've owned them before and I have one stuck back at the back of the safe now but the trigger takes two men and a boy to pull it. One friend that I'm out of touch with now in the past has drilled the triggers and installed screws to make them "like a 541" and they came out at least as good

 

[drover]

In looking at the owners manual - if I remember correctly - all that is required for removing the firing pin is remove the collar/spring that holds and operates the extractors. In has been at least 20 years since I have taken on of these apart so no guarantees I do not remember having to disassemble the bolt to change out the firing pin.

Check the top of your barrel, just above the chamber for a if ding to see if it has been dry-fired, it shows up very visibly on the 580 series if they have.

drover

 

[epc308]

These are exactly the same as 541 so you may find more, They are great rifles, I've owned them before and I have one stuck back at the back of the safe now but the trigger takes two men and a boy to pull it. One friend that I'm out of touch with now in the past has drilled the triggers and installed screws to make them "like a 541" and they came out at least as good

The trigger in my 581 is all but identical, if not identical to a 788. I used the same method for improving a 788 on the 581 with the same results. Parts polished, holes drilled and tapped for engagement and OT screws, lighter spring. They aren't Jewels, but are light years ahead of stock.

 

[biggun2869]

epc are you Brian volkmer? I have a rifle built by you, it's a stiller action, rock creek barrel and Mcmillan stock

 

[epc308]

epc are you Brian volkmer? I have a rifle built by you, it's a stiller action, rock creek barrel and Mcmillan stock

No, my name is Richard. I’ve only built a small handful of rifles for others.