Hello all,
I am not knowledgeable about some areas of bolt guns, and this is one of them. Your help would be appreciated.
My rifle has less than 150 rounds through it, and it was made by a top builder of custom rifles. To be clear, I have not bubba'd anything, or attempted any modifications myself.
After having a few other fairly serious issues with the rifle that necessitated sending it back a few times, this issue appeared on the last range trip:
In several instances, when retracting the bolt after firing the spent casing would not extract fully. Upon full bolt retraction using a normal amount of force, the spent brass casing would be resting inside the receiver on top of the other rounds in the magazine. Just kinda sitting in there. On several other occasions, the spent casing simply wouldn't come out at all. It would be still in the chamber. Not stuck fast, mind you, a VERY light push with the cleaning rod, and I mean very light, would pop the casing out. Literally the gravity of the rod sliding down the barrel would be more than enough force to remove the cartridge.
So, it appeared to me that the extractor was not doing its job. I felt the extractor tension, and on this particular rifle it felt kind of floppy, not like most rifles I've had experience with that have fairly taut extractor tension. The next day, I called the manufacturer of the action and spoke with a top individual there (again, another well-respected and well-known company). I told him about the issue, and that I was thinking it was a weak extractor spring. They had spring issues with other areas of this receiver, and I thought it might be a solid idea. Well, the individual sent me a replacement extractor spring that arrived today, and I just installed it.
Same problem. Using spent casings and inserting them into the chamber, closing the bolt, open the bolt, retract, and the casing is still stuck in the chamber.
What's going on here? The person at the manufacturer of the receiver mentioned that it might be a "long chamber". I am using commercially loaded match ammunition from Black Hills and Hornady.
I am quite frustrated at this point, which is why I have put a deposit on an AIAW. At least that's a rifle that I know will work properly.
Many thanks in advance,
Sfx
I am not knowledgeable about some areas of bolt guns, and this is one of them. Your help would be appreciated.
My rifle has less than 150 rounds through it, and it was made by a top builder of custom rifles. To be clear, I have not bubba'd anything, or attempted any modifications myself.
After having a few other fairly serious issues with the rifle that necessitated sending it back a few times, this issue appeared on the last range trip:
In several instances, when retracting the bolt after firing the spent casing would not extract fully. Upon full bolt retraction using a normal amount of force, the spent brass casing would be resting inside the receiver on top of the other rounds in the magazine. Just kinda sitting in there. On several other occasions, the spent casing simply wouldn't come out at all. It would be still in the chamber. Not stuck fast, mind you, a VERY light push with the cleaning rod, and I mean very light, would pop the casing out. Literally the gravity of the rod sliding down the barrel would be more than enough force to remove the cartridge.
So, it appeared to me that the extractor was not doing its job. I felt the extractor tension, and on this particular rifle it felt kind of floppy, not like most rifles I've had experience with that have fairly taut extractor tension. The next day, I called the manufacturer of the action and spoke with a top individual there (again, another well-respected and well-known company). I told him about the issue, and that I was thinking it was a weak extractor spring. They had spring issues with other areas of this receiver, and I thought it might be a solid idea. Well, the individual sent me a replacement extractor spring that arrived today, and I just installed it.
Same problem. Using spent casings and inserting them into the chamber, closing the bolt, open the bolt, retract, and the casing is still stuck in the chamber.
What's going on here? The person at the manufacturer of the receiver mentioned that it might be a "long chamber". I am using commercially loaded match ammunition from Black Hills and Hornady.
I am quite frustrated at this point, which is why I have put a deposit on an AIAW. At least that's a rifle that I know will work properly.
Many thanks in advance,
Sfx