How to Load a Tube-Fed .22 Rifle Safely and Fix Feed Problems

Tube magazines are simple once you know the routine, and confusing until you do. Here's how to load, unload and troubleshoot one without sweeping your own hand.

Tube-fed .22s are some of the most loved rifles ever made. Think of the Marlin Model 60 semi-auto, the Henry lever and pump guns, and older classics like the Remington 552. They're slim, they hold a lot of rounds, and there's no magazine to drop in the leaves. They also confuse new owners more than any box-magazine rifle, because loading, unloading and clearing a jam all work differently.

This guide walks through the general procedure and the common feed problems. It's an editorial reference built from manufacturer listings and published design details. Your rifle's owner's manual is the final word, so keep it handy.

How a tube magazine works

Most rimfire tube magazines have two parts. An outer tube is fixed under the barrel. A removable inner tube slides inside it and carries a long spring and a follower at its end. You pull the inner tube out (or forward far enough) to open a loading port in the outer tube, drop cartridges in, then slide the inner tube back so the spring pushes the column toward the action. Each time the action cycles, a carrier or lifter raises one round to the chamber.

Marlin's Model 60 uses a brass inner tube. Henry rifles load the same way. Capacity depends on cartridge length, so a tube that holds 15 Long Rifle rounds may take far more Shorts. Ammunition Depot's listings show it plainly: the Henry Golden Boy is listed at 16 rounds of .22 LR or 21 of .22 Short, and the Henry Pump Octagon at 15 of .22 LR and up to 21 Shorts.

Rimfire rounds sit nose to tail in the tube. That's normal and safe with rimfire, because a rimfire cartridge is fired by crushing the rim, not by a point on the base.

Before you load: the safety basics

Muzzle in a safe direction, always. The loading port is near the muzzle on many rifles, so it's easy to sweep your own hand. Keep your palm and fingers to the side of the bore line, never in front of it.
Safety on and action open if your rifle allows it. Confirm the chamber is empty.
Finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard throughout.
Right ammunition only. Check the barrel stamp. A rifle marked ".22 S, L, LR" takes all three; one marked ".22 LR" may not feed Shorts reliably, and a semi-auto generally won't cycle them. Our quiet rimfire guide covers Shorts in more detail.

How to load a tube-fed .22, step by step

Point the muzzle in a safe direction and angle it slightly downward so cartridges slide toward the action. Many shooters rest the butt on the ground or a bench with the muzzle pointed up and away from everyone. Choose whatever keeps your hands off the muzzle line on your rifle.
Unlock the inner tube. Most twist a knurled cap at the end of the tube to unlock it, then pull the inner tube out until the loading port is fully open. On some rifles you remove the inner tube completely, while on others it stays captive.
Drop rounds in one at a time, rim to the rear. Each cartridge should slide down the tube toward the action. Don't pour a handful in, because a round can turn sideways.
Count as you go and don't exceed the rated capacity for the cartridge you're loading.
Ease the inner tube back in. Guide it slowly so the follower meets the last round squarely, then lock it. Don't let it slam home.
Chamber a round only when you're ready to shoot. Cycle the action (lever, pump or bolt handle) with the muzzle downrange, and keep the safety on until you're on target.

Speed loaders exist for tube guns and make range days easier, but the safety rules don't change. Our magazines and loaders guide covers the options.

How to unload safely

This is where tube guns catch people out. An empty chamber does not mean the rifle is empty.

Point the muzzle in a safe direction and put the safety on, if the action allows it.
Remove the inner tube far enough to open the loading port, then tip the muzzle down so the rounds slide out of the port into your hand or a tray.
Cycle the action several times to clear any round already on the carrier or in the chamber. With a manual action, work it gently so rounds eject instead of jamming.
Look into the chamber and the carrier area, and feel with a finger if you can't see. Count the rounds you removed against the number you loaded.
Reinstall the inner tube with no rounds, and store the rifle unloaded and secured.

Never trust the tube. A round can stick partway down an outer tube and drop into the action later. If your count doesn't match, keep checking: tip the rifle, cycle it again, and look before calling it clear. If you can't resolve it, keep the muzzle pointed safely and take it to a gunsmith.

Common feed problems and fixes

Symptom	Likely cause	What to try
Rounds won't feed; action cycles empty	Inner tube not fully seated or locked; follower stuck	Unload, remove the inner tube, check that the follower moves freely and the tube locks fully
Feeds sometimes, misses others	Weak or kinked spring; dirt in the tube	Inspect the spring and clean the inner and outer tube; replace a damaged spring with the maker's part
Two rounds come back at once	Carrier timing or a short round slipping past the cutoff	Try a different load; if it continues, gunsmith
Round jams nose-up on the carrier	Bullet shape or length the carrier doesn't like; dirty carrier	Change loads, clean the carrier area, check the manual for supported cartridges
Semi-auto fails to cycle	Underpowered ammo (Shorts, subsonic, standard velocity)	Use high-velocity .22 LR, such as CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain
Inner tube is hard to slide	Bent or dented outer tube, or a bent inner tube	Don't force it. A bent tube needs replacement parts; stop using it

If you're clearing a jam with a round in the action, keep the muzzle pointed safely, take your finger off the trigger, and work the action open before you try to pick anything out. Our semi-auto jam guide goes deeper for the Model 60 and other autoloaders, and the misfire diagnosis checklist covers rounds that don't fire.

Tube and follower care

Keep the tube dry and clean. Oil attracts grit and powder dust, and can make cartridges sticky. A light wipe is plenty. Follow your manual's guidance on lubrication.
Protect it from dents. A dent you can barely see can stop the follower. Case and rack the rifle so nothing presses on the tube.
Don't store it with a compressed spring for years if you can help it. Store the rifle unloaded, which takes care of that.
Keep the inner tube with the rifle. It's the part most often lost on used tube guns. Check that one is present and locks firmly before buying used.
Inspect the follower for cracks, and the spring for kinks, during a regular rimfire cleaning session. A Hoppe's .17 to .22 rimfire cleaning kit covers the bore and action.

Ammo that suits tube guns

Round-nose .22 LR is the safe default because it slides down a tube and across a carrier easily. Manual-action tube guns (levers and pumps) don't care about velocity, so standard-velocity and subsonic loads work fine and keep things quiet. Semi-auto tube guns like the Model 60 need high-velocity loads to cycle. Try a box of CCI Standard Velocity 40-grain in a lever or pump, and a high-velocity bulk pack such as Federal Champion Training 40-grain in a semi-auto. Then buy more of whatever runs best.

For the lever and pump options themselves, see our .22 lever and pump rifles guide.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial reference built from manufacturer information, retailer listings and published design details. We have not performed hands-on testing. Designs vary, so follow your rifle's owner's manual, and take any rifle that won't clear to a qualified gunsmith.

Frequently asked questions

How do you unload a tube-fed .22?

Point the muzzle in a safe direction, pull the inner tube to open the loading port, tip the rounds out, then cycle the action several times and look into the chamber and carrier. Count the rounds against what you loaded.

Why won't my tube-fed .22 feed?

The most common causes are an inner tube that isn't fully seated and locked, a stuck or damaged follower, a weak spring, a dented tube, or ammo the carrier doesn't like. In semi-autos, underpowered ammo is another cause.

Is it safe to have bullets touching primers in a .22 tube magazine?

Yes for rimfire. A rimfire cartridge is fired by crushing the rim, and a round-nose bullet resting against the case head doesn't do that. Centerfire tube guns are a different case.

Can I load .22 Short in a tube-fed .22 LR rifle?

Only if the rifle is marked for .22 Short (often stamped 22 S, L, LR). Check your manual. Semi-autos generally won't cycle Shorts.

Should I oil the magazine tube?

Keep it clean and nearly dry. Oil attracts grit and can make cartridges sticky. Follow your owner's manual for lubrication.

Sources and further reading

This independent educational article does not replace manufacturer instructions or legal guidance. Re-check sources before relying on time-sensitive details.