I have a AI AW chambered in 308 with the original barrel, one issue I have with it is it takes quite a bit of force in order to chamber a round. What I mean by this is that closing the action with a round requires what seems like a unnecessary around of force. Could this be a issue with the chamber being out of spec or the rounds Im using being too long? I tested this with both m80 ball and Federal Gold 175 SMK, both same issues.
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Accuracy International AW Chamber Issues?
- Thread starter Hijeffrey95
- Start date
are there marks on your bullets? could be just a really tight chamber maybe .oh you so big lol
Is it a factory barrel from AI that came on the rifle?
If so give AI a call.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
I had the same problem with my AX when I first got it. I tracked the problem down to my brass. I was using brass that had been previously fired in another chamber. While it was within spec, the AI chamber is generally on the minimum side of the spec. Went to new brass and the problem vanished.
I know this is a old post but just wanted to update it. ejector looks fine, chamber looks free of anything. I cleaned the bolt face a bit along with the ejector and extractor. I used some snap caps and noticed the rims were getting beat up pretty bad. Perhaps its something wrong with the extractor? I tested it with the safety selector on fire and it was all smooth chambering a round until actually closing the action. I met the most resistance during that motion of turning the bolt down.
Is it me or is anyone else wondering why this is still a problem 3 years after the original post?
yeah I havent really taken it out of the safe for a while now, playing around with snapcaps again, it had the most resistance actually chambering a round, when the casehead is interacting with the extractor, after chambering the snapcap and reopening the action then closing it again with the snapcap seated in the bolt, it feels like its normal. Can I easily remove the extractor?
sell AW to anyone who pays ridiculous prices for $10,000. they won't care
There was an issue on some bolts where the ejector spring was too long (Not specifically for the AW though) Fix was cut a few coils off or get a replacment from Mile High. Can you take a punch and push it completely flat? If not, try taking the ejector out and see what happens.
Buy some headspace gauges? Pay a gunsmith? Use up some minutes and call AI? Buy a black marker? Have you ever even shot this thing or just cycled rounds through it?
Fixing it going to involve spending some money.
Slightly off-topic…Have you ever seriously considered separating two-ply toilet paper onto two rolls?
Fixing it going to involve spending some money.
Slightly off-topic…Have you ever seriously considered separating two-ply toilet paper onto two rolls?
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Sent the rifle to MHS, they told me it had a really short free bore, is this normal on AI barrels? Its a factory barrel
I would venture to guess it wasn't the free bore or lead length.
If that was the case, you would certainly have a little resistance closing the bolt but not much.
That condition would also likely result in you pulling the bullet if you tried to remove a round already in the chamber.
If it didn't pull your bullet, you would have certainly noticed serious rifling marks engraved into the bullet's ogive.
Additionally, "most" barrels are chambered with reamers that cut the chamber, lead and throat at the same time. All 3 of those features are built into the reamer so it would be almost impossible to accidently get a short free bore but very easy to miss the headspace.
I would have guessed it was more likely a simple case of short headspace.
This condition would make it difficult to close the bolt on a round and would not leave much, if any signs of the conflict on the round if examined.
Regardless of the issue, MHS is top notch and will get you squared away.
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The
Interesting thing is my issue also occurred with fired cases too. They said they will check headspacing too as part of their inspection.
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Would have been interesting to have you pull the ejector and slip a case under the extractor and then chamber the round. If your rim is getting chewed up I wonder if something is caught under the spring or it's not able to pivot. This test would have isolated testing the extractor.
Got the rifle back from MHS yesterday, they did a annual inspection along with cutting the throat. Closing the action with and without a round now feels about the same but resistance still feels more compared to other actions Ive tried out. What I did notice, when the safety is in the middle position (can work action but trigger is blocked), the closing and opening of the action, with and without a round, is equally effortless. MHS didnt seem bothered with the action when they inspected it so Im assuming its normal for a relatively unfired AI rifle.
Normal on safe. It holds fp at rear, so you aren't feeling fp spring compression. I would assume most greased bolt, cocking ramp, and also ears on bayonet cocking piece. Keep in mind it is a 60° action and if you are used to 90° used or custom actions, the ai will feel heavier.....unless the 90 is a savage, lol
After lubing the sear, bolt and firing pin assembly and with MHS's help, I think the problem has been solved. Bolt lift and closure feels a lot smoother now
FYI, I’m sending this thread to my wife to prove I’m not the only male of the species that mothballs projects for years or more!
(But I did read to the end of the thread and glad it sounds like you’ve now got it worked out!)
As others have said above.
On the AW it has a 3 position safety.
There is fire, there is safe there is bolt locked safe.
With the first 2 you can cycle the bolt, with the 3rd position it won't move.
I'd suggest investing in some Lapua Scenar 155gr factory rounds and try shooting them and see how your rifle likes them.
.308 Win. / 10.0 g (155 gr) Scenar-L
One of Lapua’s flagship cartridges and perhaps the most versatile target shooting round, the .308 Winchester is one of the most popular centerfire rifle calibers today. Lapua’s .308 Win ammo is an…
www.lapua.com
Original factory AW rifles with the original barrels often will shoot those rounds amazingly well at 100 yards and easily get out to 1k with them.
Looks like the OP got it squared away. for others here’s a couple links where to lube an AI bolt.
www.snipershide.com
www.snipershide.com
Accuracy International Bolt Lift Weight
I know my at was heavier than the 3 ae's I've owned, but it wasn't that heavy. I always put a dab of grease on cocking ramp, primary extraction area of bolt handle, and on lugs.
www.snipershide.com
Accuracy International Bolt Lift Weight
I know my at was heavier than the 3 ae's I've owned, but it wasn't that heavy. I always put a dab of grease on cocking ramp, primary extraction area of bolt handle, and on lugs.
www.snipershide.com
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