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Gunsmithing Bolt stuck

reewik

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Jun 8, 2009
    388
    72
    La Vergne, TN
    Today I was practicing some dry fire drills. I was cycling the bolt and pulling the trigger when the bolt continued to get tighter and tighter and finally it was stuck. It was so stuck that I had to disasemble the rifle to get it out.

    First I tried to loosed the action screws to see if there was some binding. Nope, that was not it... I then took the scock off and still the action would not come out. I proceeded to pull the trigger off and still nothing. I had to puch the cocking lever on the bolt back to get the bolt out. No the onle thing I did differently was to add a new 20 MOA Badger Ordnance rail to the gun. You think this could have something to do with it?

    I am going to go home tonight and put it all back together to see what the heck is going on. DARN WORK...LOL


     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    Pull the firing pin assembly out of the bolt and see if there is some crap inside. Be sure the cam area for the cocking piece has some grease to stop galling.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    Probably not. i am going to clean and greese the bolt really well. I took the base back off and there was no difference so that would not be it. I will see how she cycles after a good takedown, clean, and grease of the bolt insides. I was given details in a pm for the job so I will report my findings later.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heatseekins</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No the onle thing I did differently was to add a new 20 MOA Badger Ordnance rail to the gun. You think this could have something to do with it?


    Make sure one of the base screws isn't digging into the bolt. </div></div>

    a base screw just a bit too long has my vote.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    Are you saying a rail screw or a base screw?... the top or the bottom of the rifle... If you are saying the base, as in the bottom, that is not it case it was still stuck with the action out of the stock.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: reewik</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you saying a rail screw or a base screw?... the top or the bottom of the rifle... If you are saying the base, as in the bottom, that is not it case it was still stuck with the action out of the stock. </div></div>

    rail screw. specifically the second from the front screw. if you are able to lift the bolt handle, that is probably not the problem though.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    I have had this happpen also and it was a base screw. I shot the rifle to zero the scope, put it in the safe and then next time I took it out of the safe, I tried to cycle the bolt to check the chamber and the damn thing was locked up tight. I scratched my head for a long time wondering how it worked at the range then locked up in the safe but the damn thing did. Pulled the base screws and problem solved. Put the right screws back n the right holes and worked like a champ.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    All of my rail screws are the same size.... the bottom are obviously not the back is longer than the front. I cleaned the heck out of the bolt, lubed and greased it up. Works like a charm!!!No crazy screws on my baby!!!! LOL
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    srry if this is hijacking but it has to do with the bolt getting stuck when i loaded a handload for the first time. it was the exact right length and when i pulled the round out the bolt slid normally. could this have the same problems as above or is it the round?
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hue001t</div><div class="ubbcode-body">srry if this is hijacking but it has to do with the bolt getting stuck when i loaded a handload for the first time. it was the exact right length and when i pulled the round out the bolt slid normally. could this have the same problems as above or is it the round? </div></div>

    Depends on what round or caliber you are reloading. It could be it's just your reload or your technique.

    Factory rifle or custom? Full length or neck size? Magnum or non-magnum? Brass from that rifle or once fired brass from another?

    Not enough info and your problem could be something totally different.
     
    Re: Bolt stuck

    thanx for the response i just got back from the range where every round i took fired ( i left 4 back that i tried cambering earlier) all 60 rounds fired perfectly and i had my best group Ive ever had (I'm new to shooting) so all in all i was pleased with the load