Damage from 'hot' loads?

[stalski]

Recently purchased a Remington 700 VSF with less than 100 rounds through it.

The first owner fired the first 40 rounds with HOT loads (48 grains of powder). Rounds 60-100 were fired with Factory ammo (FGMM).

What detectable/visible damage could this have done to the rifle? What should I look for in the borescope? What would you do?

 

[Temp9]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

I would shoot it and see if it shoots well. I doubt there is any damage with only 40 rounds of hot loads, assuming he wasn't getting consistent primer popping/piercing or head case separations. I'm assuming .308?

 

[stalski]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

Yup, 308 sorry.

I'm taking her out tomorrow...will update then.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

You could check for galled lugs on the bolt. Check the headspace with a guage. Just my .002

Regards, Paul.

 

[my human host]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolt fluter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could check for galled lugs on the bolt. Check the headspace with a guage. Just my .002

Regards, Paul. </div></div>

^^^^This and gas cutting on the boltface. I too doubt any damage was done. The brass case is normally the weak link in the chain. Serious overpressure can damage the rifle, but the effects are normally pretty obvious.

Check to see that the extractor and ejector function normally. If anything is going to be damaged, it would most likely be those two parts.

 

[stalski]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: my human host</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolt fluter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You could check for galled lugs on the bolt. Check the headspace with a guage. Just my .002

Regards, Paul. </div></div>

^^^^This and gas cutting on the boltface. I too doubt any damage was done. The brass case is normally the weak link in the chain. Serious overpressure can damage the rifle, but the effects are normally pretty obvious.

Check to see that the extractor and ejector function normally. If anything is
going to be damaged, it would most likely be those two parts. </div></div>

Bam, you were right. Rifle performed great and looks great in the borescope. Only problem was ejecting/extracting brass, I had to pull out the bolt for 4 out of 40 of the rounds I fired today. Are these parts fixable? I don't know what a properly functioning bolt face looks like so I have nothing to compare it to...

 

[my human host]

Re: Damage from 'hot' loads?

Yes, both are replaceable. I'm betting replacement won't be necessary, tho.

If the rifle was extracting but not ejecting, there may be some brass shavings in the hole the spring loaded ejector sits in.

First thing I would try would be to hose down the boltface with a thin lube of some sort and work the spring loaded ejector in and out with something that won't damage the boltface. Perhaps a small wooden dowell or something similar. Use your imagination. If you have access to compressed air, blasting it with that might help.

If that doesn't work, you might have to find someone the remove the ejector and clean out the hole it sits in.