The misfires in the Browning BL-22 were caused by a locking plate that was no longer within the correct dimensions. This issue is well documented on this website.
At one point, I 3D printed a few test plates, which made it easy to measure and determine the proper dimensions needed to eliminate the excess play in the bolt.
You can print these plates yourself and fine-tune their size until the gap between the barrel and the bolt is completely eliminated.
That makes total sense, doesn’t it? Apparently, for one nation and some other small country on this boulder we live on, it does.
So I needed a small mounting bolt for my american made, weapon. Silly me assumed that this was standard thread that everyone is using, but no. Eventually, after a lot of measuring, I figured out that the cut of the thread was Whitworth G40-1/8 and the estimated width of the bolt was 4,20mm and the length was 3,18mm. After a long search, I now know that i need to search for the following bolt:
#8-40 x 1/8
#8 means that the gauge is 0.164 in. or 4.17 mm
40 stands for the threads per inch, in this case classified as “fine”.
TPI 40 = 0,025″ Pitch in Inches or 0,635 Pitch in Millimeter.
1/8 stands for the length of the bolt. (Actual size 0.1255″ or 3.1877mm)
So I just ordered #8-40 x 1/4 because I need longer bolts. And I was unable to find them here in The Netherlands. So AliExpress came to the rescue!
First: You cannot reset it, you will have to get yourself a used head unit to fix it. Second: The anti-theft protection needs to be cleared at a garage who can enter the VIN number in the head unit. Only then will the constant beeping stop. There are tools available for this which I have not tested. I am refering to this video and he seems to be using this tool [1] [2] and software for it. Third: The new head unit is from a 2018 model C3 and offers functions that this 2017 model does not support. For example, the new unit offers a start-stop function but the original did not. This will then not add this function magically to your car.
Warning:
While this is a super easy job to do, you will do it at your own risk. Think before applying force. Think before doing something permanently.
Parts required:
A similar or compatible head unit (navigation computer)
My old head unit shows the following data on the label:
Remove the two torx 20 screws that are facing you. One on the left, one on the right.
Carefully pull the unit out. You have some slack in the wires, so you can guide them out with your fingers. Do not pull too hard!
Visualise which color plug goes where. The top two ones, blue and orange have a purple line on them. Under those two, you find a blue one. Check in which of the two connectors it is connected to. Next to it is a green one and under that is a black one. And next to the black plug is a white one.
Start with the blue/purple, then orange, then blue, then green, then black and lastly the white one.
Remember in which port the blue plug was plugged into.
Finally, you see a big plug that is held in place by a retainer. Carefully undo the retainer by turning it sideways and take the plug out.
That’s it, now do the thing in reverse with the new head unit.
Next, you need to program the VIN from your car into the radio or it will keep on beeping. It will not end until this is done.
Next to some other issues that I have with my Browning BL22 is that it very often misfires. And after a lot of thinking, trial and error, I think I have found the issue.
Remember the post about the little plate that came loose? The misfires are related to this as far as I have been able to figure out. There is a locking block that locks itself via this little plate. (I think i see wear on that block as well). Since it looks like the original plate is hand-made, I think somewhere in the process, someone did a very sloppy job.
OBSERVATION: The bolt is not sitting snug in its place when a cartridge is loaded. This cause the hammer to push through the play first and with the little energy that is remaining, the firing pin is being hit. This is causing the rimfire cartridge not being struck hard enough and thus causes a misfire.
The original plate is 20mm long, 10mm wide and 2mm thick.
I decided to print a few plates in two different lengths, 21 and 22mm. I know the prints are not exact, but this is close enough. 22 mm was way too long and the lever would not close. 21 mm was too long as well, so I decided to sand it down, little by little. If your lever does not FULLY close, do not force it shut and fire a live round! Your bolt may NOT be locked!
Ignore the 20mm one, not sure why I printed that one!
Eventually, with A LOT of assembling and disassembling, trial and error, I found out that the plate should be 20.15mm long. The size may vary per rifle, so keep that in mind.
A rough cut of the new plate
I colored the piece of metal to make the scribe lines better visible, started measuring and scribing. I then used my desktop belt sander to gradually sand it so size. It is not hard to do but do wear gloves as the plate will be hot.
Look how nice the new plate fits snugly into its place. I temporarily glued it in place and went to the range to see how the rifle behaved.
The first 5 shots went without any problem. The next 5 produced 1 misfire and the next 5 were almost all misfires. What the heck happened??
Well, what happened is that I underestimated how much force is put onto the bolt and I had not harden the new plate.
The dent is clearly visible.
Look at that dent! I did not expect that to happen, but this also points out to never underestimate the force that is put on the bolt.
So what to do now? Well, make an exact new one and harden it! The latter will have to be done later. Enjoy the photos and once I have hardened the plate and tested everything, I will post a follow-up.
I am currently experimenting with a new cookie/cake. Let’s just stick to cake, because they are not crunchy.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of eggs (or two medium sized eggs)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of sunflower oil
1 cup of flour
1 tablespoon of spice mix
Spice mix:
A 1-1-1 blend of ground Ginger, Cardamom and Mace.
Preparation:
Oil up two mini-muffin(?) forms. My forms can fit 12 mini-muffins.
Heat up oven to 180C or 365F and depending how good your oven is, let it warm through for a bit. After my oven beeps at the supposedly right temperature, I wait at least 15 minutes before opening the door.
Making the cakes:
Beat the eggs and sugar until smooth
Add the oil
Add the flour
Add the spice mix
Fill the mini-muffin forms with a piping bag up to the rim. (optional: If you chose to add baking powder, just fill them half-way.)
* Sugar glaze: 130 g powdered sugar, 2 tbsp rum, 2 tbsp red wine.
* Chocolate glaze: bitter, white or whole milk chocolate.
* Lebkuchen spices mix yourself:
35 gr cinnamon
5 gr cloves
1 gr nutmeg
2 gr coriander
2 gr ginger
2 gr ground mace
Preparation Nurnberger Lebkuchen
Preheat the oven to 180 gr. Stir the sugar, eggs and vanilla sugar with an electric hand mixer until the mixture has doubled in size and the sugar has dissolved.
I am using a disposable piping bag, because the dough has the viscosity of batter.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180 ° C for 12 – 15 minutes until lightly browned.
Let the lekbuchen cool on a wire rack.
Preparation of the Lebkuchen topping
Glazing: Make a nice batch, deep enough to dunk the cookies in with a thin fork. Then, dunk the cookies in the glazing, whisk off the excess carefully and let it dry.
Chocolate, ditto with glazing. Please to read up how to properly melt and cure chocolate. Will publish this myself once I have perfected it.
You can also dunk the dried glazed version into the chocolate for an extra layer of yum.
Storage
You can eat them right away but if not, keep them in a box. They get better in flavour after a day or two.
I decided to print a few plates in two different lengths, 21 and 22mm. I know the prints are not exact, but this is close enough. 22 mm was way too long and the lever would not close. 21 mm was too long as well, so I decided to sand it down, little by little. 
