What else can it be?

W

Wild Bill Bucks

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Ruger Model 77 MkII. I have put a Mic on every thing I can think of on the ammuntion for .308 and every thing I check is well within specs.
When loading ammuntion in the rifle, the bolt is almost impossible to close.
I have checked Length,ogive,Trim,COL,Diameter, ect.
Can anyone tell me if there is any kind of something that can be adjusted on the bolt that could make lock down any easier.
Rifle has shot about 200 rounds since the competition barrel was put on, and has given me NO trouble up until now.
ANY SUGGESTIONS?

PS: I know the first thing you think is overloading. Already checked, Brass in good shape, shooting middle of road load at 47 grains Varget with 110 grain Hornady V-Max. No signs of excess pressure at all.
 
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I always put loaded rounds through a rifle right after loading to make sure everything will fit.
My hunting rounds from 2 months ago fit perfect during deer season, so I got them out to see if they were hard to close and they are doing the same thing.
Thats the reason my thoughts went to the bolt rather than my ammunition.
Using full length sizing. Don't have any factory stuff to check right now, but will try some this afternoon.
Took fired case, that I shot 2 days ago, and the bolt is hard to close with just the brass and no bullet.
 
You've checked and scrubbed the chamber, right? No chance of something (scrap of a patch, fouling, etc) that is pushing back on the cartridge?
 
I would take a close look at the bolt face and extractor for burrs or carbon buildup. You could also use a magic marker to paint the locking lugs on the bolt and close it several times on a loaded round to look for unusual wear spots. I would also paint a dummy round to see if any unusual wear is present. Once again burrs, crud or carbon are possible suspects. I assume from what you are saying that opening the bolt is not a problem.
 
Hadn't thought about dummy round, checked the chamber and everything for burrs, ect. I couldn't find any, but I'll try the painted dummy and see if there are any scracthes. I Can't find any crud build-up and I am VERY good about cleaning after range time.
Could there be something that could get down inside the bolt and make it a little longer ? I can't get inside it to find out, and I can't see any way that something could, but if you guys tell me that COULD be the problem, I might go ahead and take it to my smitty.
What do you think?
 
The only thing I can think of involving the bolt is maybe the firing pin is binding and not retracting. The round would then have to push it in when the bolt is closed. You would probably be able to see a dent in the primer if this was the case. Take a real close look in the throat. You may have gotten a piece of the neck from another round stuck in there. Push a clean patch in just beyond the throat and shine a light in from the breach.
 
Tried the dummy round, and I don't see any kind of scratches on it at all.
Could be the firing pin though no sign on primer.
Been married to firearms for 50 years and reloading for about 30 years, and this is the first time I ever had this happen and couldn't figure it out.
Guess I'll take it to the smithy and see what is wrong.
I'll repost after I talk to him and let you guys know what the problem was, It might help someone else down the road.
Thanks for all the help.
 
One last suggestion. If you haven't already tried this...measure the OAL of a fresh round before chambering it and then again after extracting it. Any difference would tend to indicate something pushing against the bullet.
 
Will the bolt close easily on an empty resized case?
If so, maybe the chamber is cut with a tight neck or short throat.
If not, consider that something might be off center, the chamber or the bolt/receiver.
 
I can take the bolt out of the rifle, and a round will freely go into the chamber, and will fall out without any effort. Only time there is a problem is when you put the bolt back in. Crazy ain't it. It's been driving me nuts for 2 days so I guess I'll just take it to smithy. I sure hope it's something wrong with the rifle cause I'll sure feel stupid if it's really something simple.
Thanks again for the help guys, I'll let you know what it was when I find out.(Unless it was something stupid I did, then I'm going to lie about it):D
 
bolt hard to close

Dear Shooter:
If the rifle fires factory ammo O.K. then it's a reloading problem!
If it's a "competition barrel" and FIRES FACTORY AMMO O.K. then the problem is simple!

It's your sizing die. Your paper that came with your dies will give you incorerect information - they will tell you to adjust so that the shell holder "bumps" the sizer die.
If you have it set this way your fired, sized brass should enter and chamber fine, if not then your competion bbl' has been chambered on the short side! I've run into rifles like this and have had to grind off a very small portion of the sizer die off so that you'll size it down on the shoulder more. (YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL THE BOLT CLOSE ON A RE-SIZED CASE WITH A BOLT-ACTION RIFLE)
I could be that you're set up for, or trying to "neck size" only - that doesn't size down the case walls hardly at all.I think your trouble is not with the rifle if factory feeds and fire fine - it's a resizing problem!
What brand dies do you have? In full length sizing you should start out with the shell holder backed off from die contact 1/8th turn. Then size one - if the bolt closes hard screw it in 1/16th turn and do it again - if it closes with some contact set your sizer die RIGHT THERE! When you tighten the stop ring check again - that will raise your die about .005!
Relax and check everything out - IF YOUR RIFLE CLOSES ON FACTORY FINE THEN IT'S A RELOADING PROBLEM NOT SIZING ENOUGH!
P.S. Always use the same brand cases and anneal the necks after every five reloadings.
Happy coincidences. Harry B.
 
tight Ruger?

Dear shooter:
An additional bit of info:
NO bolt action rifle will close without tremendous difficulty on a case that has been fired in that same rifle - brass under 52,000 cup pressure doesn't spring back to original dimensions

Harry B.
 


Check inside the receiver where the bolt lugs turn as you chamber a round.

Build up on the surface that the lugs mate to or the bottom of the lug raceway could cause this and this area is hard to see and clean......



-tINY

 
Tried two rounds of factory, and it did the same thing, so I took it to smithy.

PROBLEM WAS: on the under side of the shell extractor lug, was a piece of, what looked like the copper off of a bullet. It was just a small piece but it was enough to smash flat and keep the bolt from closing easily.
If this happens to you guys, get a magnifying glass and look under your lug extractor. Smithy says it is the first time he has ever seen it, and it is the first time it has ever happened to me, but I thought I would post and tell you guys in case it ever happens to you.
Thanks for all the suggestions, I do appreciate the input.
 
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