Remington Sendero Chamber/Bolt Problem

[SHIVAN]

I am bringing this over from the Art of the Rifle Forum, here was the post that opened it up:


Sendero Problems.......
I've got a 300 Winmag Sendero, used but in what appears to be very good condition.

Problem is, is that it won't allow the bolt to open up after I shoot. It travels BEAUTIFULLY from the closed position to almost "12 o'clock", but I mean you need to be a gorilla to get it up the last 1/8" to 12 o'clock in order to get the lugs to clear. I fired round #1 and it came up with quite a bit of force I'd guess at least 10x more force than is normal maybe more, #2 came up with a lot of difficulty, round #3 was a little easier, #4 is still in the gun, that's how hard it is to open.

I need to take the scope and mount off to see if those screws are torquing the action. Then I need to make sure the action screws are torqued to 65 in/lbs. If it still binds I guess it needs to go to a 'smith. Just not sure what the problem could be.

Let me say that the brass comes out looking normal from all outside observations. This is not appearing to be bad brass, or a rough chamber. I had that with my PSS and it worked itself out after about 100 rounds. This gun has already been thru that period. The bolt glides smoothly open and closed with an empty chamber, no hang-ups at all...none. The cartridges I am using are Fed Gold Match, so the brass and bullets should be top notch.

Any ideas? Will I still be able to send it to Remington, or am I SOL?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[SHIVAN]

UPDATE, UPDATE

OK, took the rings, base and scope off tonight. Was able to open the action with a small tap from a 20oz hammer, straight back.

With an empty chamber/action the bolt rolls and opens and closes VERY smoothly. Pull the trigger and it is VERY VERY tight. I don't think it has to do with brass at all. It is tight after every single trigger pull, with no base, or rings on it, even outside the stock it is tight after pulling the trigger. The same symptoms are present on the firing line, but probably made worse with a case in there. I also notice that just above the "belt" on the case it is kind of shiny and may be indented but I can't say for certain. I have seen some of my other brass in the .270 and .308 look like that, a rub here or there, but all 4 case I shot have this shiny "rim" all the way aaround the spent case.

Anybody know? Should I just send it to a smith and have them accurize it? Or should I specifically ask them to check something or for something?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[Desert Pete]

Now it is pretty clear that the problem is in the cocking of the striker. That's why the bolt is hard to open after dry firing. The area to examine is the camming surface ( the triangular cutout area under the root of the bolt handle). The striker rides up this surface as you open the bolt to do the cocking. I'm betting you'll find a burr or some kind of deformity either on the camming surface or on the part of the striker that rides this surface. You can take the bolt apart if you're mechanically inclined. More than likely a good gunsmith can fix this fairly easily. The worst case scenario is you need a new bolt body which is definitely a gunsmith job.