Gunsmithing Is my bolt face too narrow?

[veezer]

I had a 338 ultra mag trued, rebarreled and chambered for 300 wsm. The issue I am having is that the cartridge will fit in the bolt face but binds up and will not eject. The diameter is .535 so basically it is the exact diameter of the cartridge base and the cartridge cannot turn at an angle to eject. Most of the brass will not even rotate once you have it locked up on the bolt if you do it by hand.

I have another 300 WSM using a stiller action and the bolt face is .550 and I have no trouble.

Did my gunsmith screw up and forget to open it up?

 

[ken226]

I had a 338 ultra mag trued, rebarreled and chambered for 300 wsm. The issue I am having is that the cartridge will fit in the bolt face but binds up and will not eject. The diameter is .535 so basically it is the exact diameter of the cartridge base and the cartridge cannot turn at an angle to eject. Most of the brass will not even rotate once you have it locked up on the bolt if you do it by hand.

I have another 300 WSM using a stiller action and the bolt face is .550 and I have no trouble.

Did my gunsmith screw up and forget to open it up?

Yes, he did. But only a little bit. He should be able to correct it in a few minutes on a lathe.

.550 is the right size to allow for heat expansion, a little carbon, grit etc to get in there and still work. .535 will have it binding unless the ammo is cold and the bolt Is hot.