It sounds like your rifle has a lifter spring that's toast.

My then-new wife gifted me one of those she went out & bought new, for our first Christmas together in 1965 - and it was my only rifle for the next few years, until after I was discharged from the military.

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She's STILL doing so - last Christmas, it was a T/C Hot Shot .22 single-shot.



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It ain't no fun, when the rabbit's got the gun