I'm no gunsmith but that was my 1st thought...wrong ammo in gun..
-
If you are having trouble changng your password please click here for help.
savage 110 bolt stuck not quite closed, and wont open up either.
- Thread starter Tailor
- Start date
I just didn't want to offend anyone by asking the obvious, but I've seen this type situation a few times already and it was the wrong ammo...EDITED to say, I know you guys have seen it too...usually not with 30.06 though. I know someone personally who couldn't figure out why the 7.62x51 he bought wouldn't work in his AK. Honest to God true story. Coworker actually.
The mallet tapping popped it out without too much fuss.
Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I emptied the rifle, tried it again with just one cartridge of the same type (173 grain lake city match rounds) and then tried it with some 150 gr federals.
Both times the bolt reaches the point that is either at the point where you can turn it. The act of turning it of course screws it in further about 1/8" or so, so that little bit is still visible. It just cant turn it.
Took a peek inside the chamber and the barrel and didn't spot anything amiss. It probably doesn't mean much, but without the ammo the bolt functions just fine. I've tried a few different ammunition that work ok in other rifles and so far its just that rifle that doesn't want to chamber.
First thing I did was try another ammo. No dice. got stuck the same way. I didn't try to chamber it very hard so it popped right out with a single mallet tap.
I removed the bolt to see if anything looked wrong there. Nothing did.
I replaced the bolt and tried yet another ammo. This one cycled fine. I grabbed a box of every kind of ammo I have on hand.
some silver sabre, the lake city match, couple flavors of federal soft points and some hornady soft tips. all cycled fine except the lake city stuff. I've had this ammo for about 15 years (and its marked 1967). It's also marked "Caliber .30 match" But the brass says 30-06, and it was sold as being especially good in the Garand. So this leads me to ask, does the Garand have a chamber that's a bit different than today's 30-06's? The '06 I bought it for was an M1917 Made in Eddystone. It shot them fine, but then, its also an older 30-06.
I guess at this point I can just say "Its the ammo" and move on, but any further thoughts on things I should be looking for or watching for, or just why this older ammo doesn't like this newer gun would be welcome.
Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I emptied the rifle, tried it again with just one cartridge of the same type (173 grain lake city match rounds) and then tried it with some 150 gr federals.
Both times the bolt reaches the point that is either at the point where you can turn it. The act of turning it of course screws it in further about 1/8" or so, so that little bit is still visible. It just cant turn it.
Took a peek inside the chamber and the barrel and didn't spot anything amiss. It probably doesn't mean much, but without the ammo the bolt functions just fine. I've tried a few different ammunition that work ok in other rifles and so far its just that rifle that doesn't want to chamber.
First thing I did was try another ammo. No dice. got stuck the same way. I didn't try to chamber it very hard so it popped right out with a single mallet tap.
I removed the bolt to see if anything looked wrong there. Nothing did.
I replaced the bolt and tried yet another ammo. This one cycled fine. I grabbed a box of every kind of ammo I have on hand.
some silver sabre, the lake city match, couple flavors of federal soft points and some hornady soft tips. all cycled fine except the lake city stuff. I've had this ammo for about 15 years (and its marked 1967). It's also marked "Caliber .30 match" But the brass says 30-06, and it was sold as being especially good in the Garand. So this leads me to ask, does the Garand have a chamber that's a bit different than today's 30-06's? The '06 I bought it for was an M1917 Made in Eddystone. It shot them fine, but then, its also an older 30-06.
I guess at this point I can just say "Its the ammo" and move on, but any further thoughts on things I should be looking for or watching for, or just why this older ammo doesn't like this newer gun would be welcome.
Is the Lake City heavier grains than all the other ammo you have?
30-06 is 30-06. All that "made for" stuff is grain and projectile weight variation. And marketing hype. Anything else is... something else.
With the bolt out, try putting a cartridge into the chamber by hand. Does it seem to go in all the way? Does it feel like its sticking?
Look at the bolt and the extractor. Do you see any scratches or rub marks that look like it might be hanging up on the face of the reciever/breech? With the bolt out, try to seat a case in the bolt face. Does the extractor slip on it easily?
With the bolt out, try putting a cartridge into the chamber by hand. Does it seem to go in all the way? Does it feel like its sticking?
Look at the bolt and the extractor. Do you see any scratches or rub marks that look like it might be hanging up on the face of the reciever/breech? With the bolt out, try to seat a case in the bolt face. Does the extractor slip on it easily?
Good to hear the chamber has been cleared, great guys here and they have a lot of knowledge...
I read this stuff, and I learn. JamesG seems to know his ****...I learn...
Old ammo? There's a possibility the powder has begun to degrade (especially if it has been stored at high temp) and has caused just enough internal pressure to push the bullet forward in the case. Check your overall length against SAAMI spec. If it's long you may have a dangerous problem on your hands with that ammo. Ditch it.
Just a couple pics to show the one that doesn't work, and one that does. The picture doesn't do it justice. My caliper only goes to hundreths, so I cant say for sure that its supposed to be 30.06 ammo, but it it seems to be.
The non working cartridge is labelled "LC 67 Match"
In any case, thanks so much for the help! I was dreading trying to bring a loaded gun to a gunsmith, at the very least.
Much appreciated.
