Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Browning SA 22 Takedown

I have an old Belgian made Browning SA 22 rifle. The barrel needs to be tightened, and to do that, one must remove the barrel. Ah, but there is the rub: The barrel takedown latch, located just forward of the breech block, is frozen and refuses to move.

I tried prying, pushing, and punching, all to no avail. I can't see anything that is causing it to bind, but is just sits there and frustrates me. It does have a little flexibility, so its not loc-tited or epoxied in place.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem with this rifle?

I have a newer one, a Jap model. I have not had an issue like that.

Probably been in place long enough for a spot of rust to form. Use a bit of gentle force.

There is only a small spring with plunger tensioning the take down slide. Must be rust or something is out of place causing the binding.

Good idea. I'll try urging it with a parallel clamp.

Soak it with PB Blaster before you get too heavy handed

Definitely soak it first. Be patient. I had such a problem with one and used a hard plastic punch/rod and GENTLE tapping. Repeat. If the barrel is real tight (the adjusting ring may be overly tight) it could be causing some of the problem.

They are great guns.
Good luck.