Gunsmithing Do I have a problem?

[zenbiker]

Going through the final assembly of my 375CT project; Lawton 8000 action and barrel; XLR Chassis, Jewell BR trigger (w/ safety in trigger guard) set to 2 lbs, NightForce 5.5 - 22 X 50 scope. Here's where I ran into a hitch, quite literally:

After installing the trigger, I assembled the barreled action into the KLR chassis and mounted the scope. At this point I noticed the bolt seemed to bind when I tried to install it, but I didn't think much of it; I mean, I had gotten the best of everything; what could possibly go wrong?

I found that part out when I lifted the bolt handle from the cocked position and the firing pin snapped forward (!). Lifting the bolt handle from the cocked, fired position was difficult, as if the bolt were on a bind; I found that if I pulled the trigger OR pressed on the cocking piece cover, there was a small, secondary "click", barely audible or tactile, and then the bolt would rotate open, but still with some minimal binding.

Whisky Tango Fox-freakin' Trot.

Out comes the magnifiers. The cocking piece looks like it was accidentally touched against a grinder on the leading edge where it engages the trigger sear, significantly reducing the engagement area. Am I right? I took some pics below; I'd appreciate any opinions, especially as far as I know, Lawton Machine is sadly a thing of the past; I placed this order with Barney himself shortly before he passed and to make a long story short, I thought I would never get this barreled action. Now I found out there were some problems with a secondary contractor producing bolts for the 7000 series actions, but supposedly this didn't affect the 8000 series. Help, advice, please!




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[Gene Poole]

Can't really help you with your problem, but I just wanted to say I love the SYF decal.

 

[Idaho CTD]

I would say you have a problem with the depth of the trigger hanger. It sounds like the trigger is too high and it's binding the bolt up but that is just a guess without seeing things.

 

[zenbiker]

Can't really help you with your problem, but I just wanted to say I love the SYF decal.

Thanks - just seemed to go with the gun...


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[zenbiker]

I would say you have a problem with the depth of the trigger hanger. It sounds like the trigger is too high and it's binding the bolt up but that is just a guess without seeing things.

Thought about that, and I think that is quite likely at least part of what is going on. However, I'm still concerned about the face of the bolt catch. Those are supposed to be square; this one has lost almost 2/3 of its engagement with the trigger sear....am I right?


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[Idaho CTD]

From the pictures it looks just like a Remington 700 cocking piece I have in front of me.

 

[zenbiker]

From the pictures it looks just like a Remington 700 cocking piece I have in front of me.

Soooo.........is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Seriously, its not something I want to hear about or see in a $1200 action, 'specially MY $1200 action.


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[Idaho CTD]

Seeing as it uses a Remington 700 trigger I'd consider that a good thing.

 

[zenbiker]

Seeing as it uses a Remington 700 trigger I'd consider that a good thing.

Gotcha.

A little slow on the uptake. Going to Brownell's now...

Have you ever killed anyone?


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[zenbiker]

Can't really help you with your problem, but I just wanted to say I love the SYF decal.

Actually, I was sick of all the zombie crap as soon as it started. Just blazing my own trail; this is the JG45 Extended Solo from my line:



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[230grRN]

Sounds like the cocking is making contact with the sides of the trigger housing. If you look up the cocking piece groove from the rear, can you see one of trigger housing sides proud of the groove walls on either side?

 

[zenbiker]

Had a couple of PMs from knowledgable persons about the last actions Lawton produced. The original vendor wasn't getting paid and declined any more business; so Lawton used a local vendor. The upshot is that this vendor probably tried to time the cocking piece (which is NOT supposed to be a Rem cocking piece, which this appears to be) by putting it on a surface grinder to get and engagement face perpendicular to the trigger sear. Also this second vendor did not heat treat the extractors properly, making them another problem waiting to happen. The firing pin is sintered and uncoated, not solid and hardened as called for in specs.

No kidding.

Will be sending bolt back to original vendor for rework; will give me time to get monopod fitted to buttstock. All I keep thinking is that I'm glad I didn't have the urge to stick a live round into the chamber and then open the bolt; it's taken so long to get this gun together for various reasons that enthusiasm almost won out over safety.




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[zenbiker]

I need a drink.

Or eight.

I called Dave Kiff at PTG about this bolt. I've dealt with Dave for 15 years or so and have always found him to be of the of the most honest, stand up guys to deal with. Still think so. He tells me to send the bolt back to PTG, which I did about a month ago, and that's the last anyone has heard anything about my bolt. Apparently PTG is going through an expansion and putting up a new building; I haven't been able to speak to Dave, and his staff, helpful as they are, haven't been able to tell me anything.
Last spoke with a very pleasant but harried employee today who said she'd try to track it down.

Just venting. Not blaming PTG for anything, but Lawton Machine sure did go down the crapper after Barney passed. Wondering if I'm stuck with a $5000+ boat anchor. There is another Lawton 8000 action for sale on the forum, but I don't have $1100 to buy it anyway right now. I can't even part this thing out...I have a Lawton .375 fluted barrel, an XLR stock for a Lawton action (ooooohhh - I can just hear the excitement ripple through the forum at the thought of that becoming available), 500 rounds of DTA loaded ammo and some brass and 350 grain SMKs. I feel the shadow of the buzzards starting to circle already....I would seriously love to kick the idiot who set up the timing on that bolt. Seriously.


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