Gunsmithing Pre 64 Winchester not ejecting cases

[Alabama556]

I have a custom rifle built off a pre 64 Winchester 30-06 action. The caliber is 30-338 now.

When I go to eject brass it falls back in the action unless I pull hard and fast.

I have tried several new ejectors with the same results.

Could it be that the slot in the bolt where the ejector slides through is not deep enough?

 

[RTH1800]

Sir,
I think the bolt cut will be fine. Issues I have had include the case hitting the scope and bouncing back into the port, the small spring under the ejector being weak and not lifting the ejector quickly enough and extractor being loose primarily due to the extractor collar stretch.
My vote is extractor collar stretch.

 

[j-huskey]

Extractor is not holding case tight enough.

30-338 versus 338-06 ?

Opening an 06 bolt face up to magnum size, often cutting too deep is a known problem.

Modified 06 extractor to magnum is a known problem.

Extractor collar too loose is a known problem.

All cause the extractor not to hold the case tight enough and u get what u got.

 

[RTH1800]

If you did not use a factory magnum extractor as J Husky indicated it can be an issue. I doubt your smith cut the bolt face back deeper than original but if so it can be a problem.

 

[j-huskey]

Pre64 face is supposed to have a slight taper, rather that squared flat (like a r700). Gunsmiths truing pre64 70 bolts square flat like a 700, ruin them, causing what op describes. I have one.......

 

[RTH1800]

Ouch!

 

[Alabama556]

So I guess there is no fix for the bolt issue?

The brass is not hitting the scope

 

[j-huskey]

There are fixes once we know for sure why its glitched. We arent sure yet exactly why it glitched...
What part of the world are you in ?

 

[j-huskey]

Collar can be tightened, extractor can be replaced and/or correctly contoured.
If the bolt was trued too deep, or too wide, you will have to replace it.

It can be the brass you have, some brass is thicker, fatter, wider, and some can be thin and small...
Try a different brass, or measure them and try the fattest.

 

[RTH1800]

Bolt can be welded and recut as well.

 

[Alabama556]

Birmingham, al . I am using Norma brass

 

[j-huskey]

Will the bolt hold a loaded round on its face with extractor pressure ?

 

[Alabama556]

Will the bolt hold a loaded round on its face with extractor pressure ?

No. It looks like the rim of the case is not a tight fit between the bolt face and extractor. It feeds fine from the magazine.

 

[j-huskey]

Two pics follow... round held in place by extractor like its supposed to be.

2nd pic, lack of space btw cartridge base and bolt face, correct.

How close to this is yours ?

 

[j-huskey]

PM sent with phone #

 

[Alabama556]

Here are the pictures. It is not a magnum extractor. I am 100% confident it is a standard extractor because it is marked with an A.

 

[j-huskey]

If it were a non contoured/non cut std, you couldn't get the round in the bolt. It would be too deep into the case space.

That's an awful lot of gap.. like cut too deep, first glance and first impression. I could be wrong, be happy to be wrong.

Good news is you can interchange a post 64 control feed extractor on a pre 64, so, if the extractor is cut/contoured wrong, you can find a replacement.

 

[Alabama556]

thanks for everyone’s help. I just ordered a magnum extractor.

 

[BadAccountant]

Rough. I have a pre-64 action that I'm looking at turning into a .300 PRC. Looks like I should just order a magnum extractor from the get-go.

Sorry you had to be the guinea pig for my project.

 

[Alabama556]

The magnum extractor was just $60. I will let you know how it works. This was the first rifle I ever built (25 years ago) . I never really bothered with the issue but I just got it rebarreled, new trigger, new cerakote, and new bedding so I was hoping it was an easy fix. If the extractor does not work I will just live with it.

I have 2 other guns built off of Winchester actions but I stayed in the sane cartridge family so they work great.

The ejector for these guns are the same for long actions and magnums so I know I have the right ejector. I bought a new spring but it is an original part so is used. I will look for a newer one.

I sent the gun to Shilen in 1993 and they opened up the bolt for me. I never considered a magnum extractor.

The good news is that it shoots a ragged hole at 100 yards.

 

[Satterlee]

The magnum extractor was just $60. I will let you know how it works. This was the first rifle I ever built (25 years ago) . I never really bothered with the issue but I just got it rebarreled, new trigger, new cerakote, and new bedding so I was hoping it was an easy fix. If the extractor does not work I will just live with it.

I have 2 other guns built off of Winchester actions but I stayed in the sane cartridge family so they work great.

The ejector for these guns are the same for long actions and magnums so I know I have the right ejector. I bought a new spring but it is an original part so is used. I will look for a newer one.

I sent the gun to Shilen in 1993 and they opened up the bolt for me. I never considered a magnum extractor.

The good news is that it shoots a ragged hole at 100 yards.

The magnum actions have extra clearance under the rear bridge. Your rifle was built on an 06 action. It will be necessary to take a die grinder and remove material from under the rear bridge. You will probably notice that the case is hitting the top right corner under the rear bridge of the Receiver. Remove that material and it will eject reliably.

 

[Alabama556]

I looked at my gun again today and the cases are not hitting the rear bridge. I tried the magnum extractor and it just made things worse. I replaced the ejector spring with a brand new Winchester spring ( versus an original pre 64 spring) and it ejects much better with the standard extractor on the bolt. It seems that Shilen took too much material off the bolt face when they opened it up. Thanks for all the help. I am going to just deal with the fact I have to eject cases harder than normal when shooting from the bench.

 

[Alabama556]

Update- when Shilen opened up my bolt face for a magnum cartridge they took too much material off the face of the bolt. I am going to have to buy a new magnum bolt and have it re headspaced. Thanks for everyone’s help.

 

[benwitt11]

Could the bolt head be bushed with a thicker than standard bushing and headspaced properly at the same time? Would save buying an expensive pre 64 bolt that needed work to fit anyway.

 

[Alabama556]

I bought the new bolt. That is the best way to fix it for the long term