Taurus TX22 Slide Disassembly and Cleaning Instructions

These instructions explain how to disassemble and clean the slide on a Taurus TX22. This includes the Striker and Striker Housing. The reason this needed to be done was because when this TX22 was brand new, it had a lot of ejection problems and experienced a lot of light strikes which caused many rounds not to fire. After cleaning, more than 1,000 rounds ran through it with very few problems.

These are the steps I took to help a friend disassemble and clean the slide on a Taurus TX22 including the striker and striker housing. I'm not a gunsmith so I recommend work on firearms be carried out by a licensed professional. This is a guide to help you be a more knowledgeable consumer. I assume no liability for any injury to any person or damage to your firearm resulting from attempting this.

Step 1 - Items used in these instructions

See on Brownells.com

Taurus TX22

See on Opticsplanet.com

CLP Cleaner Lubricant

See on Brownells.com

Bore Light

See on Brownells.com

Gun oil

See on Brownells.com

Cleaning Pick Set

You will also need a punch (hand tool) or a similar

Step 2 - Print out the parts identifier picture (optional)

Parts Identifier

Partial Exploded View

Part Lists

You can use these pictures to help identify the parts. If you print out the "Parts Identifier" picture on a 8" x 11" piece of paper and select the "Fit to page" option, the pieces should be approximately the correct size. Printing it will allow you to put your parts in the corresponding boxes as you're going through the steps to help keep them organized.

The "Partial Exploded View" can be found in the Instruction Manual that came with your pistol. If you can read the manual, your eyes are better than mine. Luckily, the manual can also be found on the Taurus website. The numbers on the "Parts Identifier" use the numbers given to the pieces in the manual.

Step 3 - Make sure your pistol isn't loaded

Magazine removed and chamber unloaded

Make sure the magazine is removed and the pistol doesn't have a round in the chamber

Step 4 - Remove the slide assembly

Push slide back

Push disassembly latch down

Remove slide

I have a difficult time doing it as the manual says so this is how I do it.

Pull the trigger.
Put your left finger in the trigger guard for leverage.
Push the slide back about 1/2" with your thumb.
Push the disassembly latch down.
Push the slide forward and remove it.

Step 5 - Remove the Recoil Spring Assembly and Barrel

Remove recoil spring assembly

Remove barrel

Remove the Recoil Spring Assembly (33 and 64) and the Barrel (31)

Step 6 - Open the Slide Cap

Push in the Slide Cap Retainer

Slide Cap Opening Started

Retainer accessible

Use a punch or something similar to push in the Slide Cap Retainer (43).
Push the Slide Cap (40) down past the Slide Cap Retainer. As soon as it clears the Slide Cap Retainer, you can remove the punch from the hole.
Keep your finger over the opening so the Slide Cap Retainer and Striker Spring (44) don't fly out.

Step 7 - Remove the Slide Cap, Slide Cap Retainer, and Striker Spring

Slide Cap, Slide Cap Retainer, and Striker Spring removed

Remove the Slide Cap (40), Slide Cap Retainer (43), and Striker Spring (44)

Step 8 - Remove the Striker Housing Assembly

Extractor Spring coming into view

Striker Block coming into view

Striker Housing Assembly

The following pieces come out as a unit and nothing is holding them together other than the sides of the slide:

Striker Left Housing (36)
Striker Right Housing (37)
Striker (38)
Striker Block (39)
Striker Block Spring (46)

Notice the Striker Block (39) and Striker Block Spring (46) are inside the Striker Right Housing (37)

Step 9 - Put the Striker Block and Striker Block Spring aside

Striker Block And Striker Block Spring Removed

Remove the Striker Block (39) and Striker Block Spring (46) and put them aside

Step 10 - Slide the Striker forward and back

Slide Striker forward

Slide Striker back

While holding the Striker Left Housing (36) and Striker Right Housing (37) together, slide the Striker (38) forward and back.
I suggest you do this just to get a feel for how it is before working on it.
Initially, even when this one was brand new, it felt gritty and didn't slide as smooth as I would like.

Step 11 - Take the Striker Housing apart

Striker Housing Separated

Striker Housing Exploded

Separate the Striker Left Housing (36), Striker Right Housing (37), and Striker (38) pieces.

Step 12 - Remove the Extractor Plunger and Extractor Spring

Extractor Plunger and Spring location

Extractor Plunger and Spring

Remove the Extractor Plunger (42) and Extractor Spring (45). The Extractor (41) will stay in place. I didn't want to punch out the Coiled Spring Pin (47) so I left the Impact Insert (35) installed.

Step 13 - Clean the Slide assembly

Using a bore light to inspect the striker hole

Cleaning the Extractor

Thoroughly clean the slide including the grooves, Extractor (41) and Impact Insert (35).
Be sure to scrape inside the hole where the Striker (38) goes through the Impact Insert.
I used some pipe cleaners, some cleaning picks, and a bore light to help with the cleaning.

Step 14 - Clean the Striker Assembly parts

Striker housing channel

Striker wear after 1000 rounds

Clean all the Striker Assembly parts. Be sure to clean the grooves in the Striker Left Housing (36) and Striker Right Housing (37) where the Striker (38) moves.

When this pistol was brand new it had a lot of ejection problems and light strikes. When I initially examined the Striker it felt gritty in my fingers. I cleaned it really well and scraped it with my fingernails to get it nice and smooth.

After the thorough cleaning, more than 1,000 rounds ran through it with very few problems. So many rounds went through that the striker is showing signs of wear.

Step 15 - Install the Extractor Plunger and Extractor Spring

Extractor Plunger (42) and Extractor Spring (45)<br/>In the next picture, it will be inserted in this orientation.

Extractor Plunger (42) and Extractor Spring (45)
In the next picture, it will be inserted in this orientation.

Extractor Plunger and Spring correct installation

Extractor Plunger and Spring incorrect installation

When the Extractor Plunger and Extractor Spring are inserted back into the Impact Insert (35), the extended part of the Plunger goes towards the outside of the slide.
You should only see about 3 windings of the spring when it's in correctly.
When it does slide in correctly, you might notice the Extractor (41) move out.

Step 16 - Put the Striker and Striker Right Housing together

Striker and Right Housing

Striker inserted in Right Housing<br/>Notice the wear marks on the Striker. The wear spots will get a drop of oil.

Striker inserted in Right Housing
Notice the wear marks on the Striker. They will get a drop of oil.

Put the Striker (38) in the Striker Right Housing (37) and make sure it slides smoothly.

Step 17 - Put on the Striker Left Housing

Oil wear spots

Housing and striker assembled

Striker recessed

Put a drop of gun oil on the Striker wherever it shows some wear then put the Striker Left Housing (36) on. Once it's together, hold the assembly in your hand and slide the Striker in and out. It should move smoothly.

Step 18 - Put in the Striker Block and Striker Block Spring

Striker Block tab location

Striker Block hole for the tab

Striker Block and spring installed

Put the Striker Block Spring (46) on the Striker Block (39) and put them into the Striker Right Housing (37). The tab on the Striker Block goes inside the hole in the Striker Right Housing.

Step 19 - Verify the Striker Block functions

Striker Block Spring uncompressed, the Striker leaves a gap

Striker Block Spring compressed, the Striker can close the gap

When the Striker Block (39) doesn't compress the Striker Block Spring (46), the Striker (38) shouldn't go all the way forward.
When the Striker Block does compresses the Striker Block Spring, the Striker should be able to go all the way forward.

Step 20 - Put the striker housing assembly back in the slide

Insert the striker housing assembly

Pushing the Extractor pushes the Extractor Spring

Striker housing assembly completely inserted

Put the striker housing assembly back in the slide.
The side with the Striker Block (39) goes on the side with the ejection hole.
Pushing the striker housing in should compress the Extractor Spring (45) and the housing should touch the Impact Insert (35).
Pushing on the Extractor (41) will push on the Extractor Spring and put pressure on the striker housing assembly.

Step 21 - Install the Slide Cap

Striker Spring and Slide Cap Retainer inserted

Striker Spring and Slide Cap Retainer compressed

Slide Cap secure

Install the Striker Spring (44), Slide Cap Retainer (43), and Slide Cap (40).
The spring will need to be compressed in order to get the Slide Cap on.
After the Cap goes over the Retainer, it will snap in place.

Step 22 - Clean the Barrel, Recoil Spring Assembly and install

Clean the Barrel and Recoil Spring Assembly

Barrel installed

Recoil Spring Assembly installed

Clean the Barrel (31), Recoil Spring Assembly (33 and 64) and install

Step 23 - Put the slide back on the lower

Slide reinstalled

Put the slide back on the lower