All of a sudden bolt won't close??

[mattri]

This is probably something dumb but I am stumped.

110 in 300BO put it together a few months ago have had no issues at all.

Have prob 500 rounds through the rifle, some factory, mostly various handloads all fired without incident.

Had the rifle at the range yesterday- shot great, no issues.

Today took barreled action out of the stock, tried cycling the action and the bolt wouldn't close.

Bolt out of action- Pull trigger, depress BO button and bolt slides right in, no problem.

Try to close bolt and it hangs up- like there is something in the way.

Bolt will slide home and handle will drop to about halfway and then it binds up.

Force will close the bolt with a "cam over" feel.

Have completely stripped the bolt, inspected and cleaned the breach/bolt face area over and over, have chambered empty cases and dummy rounds-
Absolutely no idea what is causing the bolt to hang up??

This was not an issue yesterday, and now all of a sudden the bolt doesn't want to close without excesive force?

Thoughts?

[J.Baker]

Sounds like something foreign got in there and is causing the binding. My guess would be something between the lug ramps and breech face of the barrel.

[mattri]

Agreed- have cleaned everything 100x over and still getting the binding.

There is literally nothing in that chamber- hence the question..

[Dave Hoback]

So, on an empty chamber, it binds but closes with a cam over feeling? Or ONLY with a dummy round or empty case? If it’s doing this with an empty case, it’s that case. Like mine, I bet you have really tight headspace. Many of my resized cases won’t chamber without that cam over force.

[Blue Avenger]

loosen back screw on front scope base and see if problem goes away

[mattri]

Yes it binds on an empty chamber.
Scope and base have been removed, barrelled action is out of the stock.

[Dave Hoback]

Was it biding while in the stock as well mattri? Because out of the stock, it should be hard. It’s just the nature of leverage. Again, I have my barreled action out of the Chassis now, and it’s difficult. Once it’s in the Chassis, the leverage is back. Now, if this started while still in the stock, disregard.

[mattri]

Yes it binds in the stock as well.
Had no issues at all day before yesterday.

[PhilC]

Something has changed. If you have a borescope I'd inspect the ramps from breech as well as from the muzzle. If you don't have a borescope, I recommend the Teslong (https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/83441A38-11E9-456E-873F-6EB0DA7FB90B?ingress=0&visitId=2328fa1a-f224-4bcd-9672-1cca874451e2), awesome tool for $56.

[mattri]

Took a look with the borescope thinking there had to be something on the ramps but nothing there.
It chambers hard with a cam over empty or with dummy or fired case in it. So strange.

[Dave Hoback]

Very. Wish could offer more, but without seeing it, at this point it’s just speculation. A head scratcher indeed. You need to pull the barrel so you get to the lugs. I actually have a good bit of Silicone Nitride media I’ve used on bolt & lug mating surfaces. Mix the media with grease and work the bolt in the Action. Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyQMNY6fwxw

I’d be happy to send you some if you think it might be in that.

[mattri]

FOUND IT!

In taking the barreled action out of the stock, refitting etc at some point a metal sliver (guessing from the threads of the action where the stock screw goes through) stood up enough to catch the boltface.

All the cleaning, wiping, spraying in the world did not move this sliver, a borescope down the barrel was looking at it straight on and not seeing it- but there the little bugger lie.

[Dave Hoback]

And there you go. ;)

[PhilC]

Good catch!

[ragsflh]

little things that get you

[charlie b]

I repair sewing machines as a hobby. It is simply amazing how small a piece of thread can lock up a machine when it is in just the right spot. And just the tiniest scratch in the right spot will prevent the machine from working properly.

[KMW1954]

I actually have a good bit of Silicone Nitride media I’ve used on bolt & lug mating surfaces. Mix the media with grease and work the bolt in the Action. Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyQMNY6fwxw

I’d be happy to send you some if you think it might be in that.

Dave, very helpful link. I bookmarked it. Thanks.