Ejection Issue

[Rosco]

Finally after over 2 months, I had an opportunity to make it to the range. So stopped into to Cabela's to pick up some ammo and noticed they had the reduced recoil 120gr Hornady for the 7mm-08 so I picked up 2 boxes. Drove to the range, got behind the bench , ready to go, loaded up the magazine, and right from the first shot the rounds were not ejecting at all. They would stick to the bolt head, drag down the left side of the receiver at angle, and you would either have to manually dig in their or cycle the bolt back and forth 3-4 times and then they would release.

Might first thought was the ejector is somehow broken or damaged, but I had some 139gr Whitetail Hornady and decided to send a few rounds down to see what would happen. And what do you know the cartridges ejected without issue. Now I do not know a ton about specific ammunition rim/cases sizes etc... but aren't these for the most part exactly the same, the rim area I mean. And if so, why would it fail to eject the 120's while working perfectly fine on the 139's? Also, any ideas on how I can fix the ejector to better work with reduced recoil cartridges? They were actually pleasant to shoot.

[bootsmcguire]

Do me a favor so we all can help you better: take a couple more pics for us. How about one of the bolt's face, and one of the base of the fired round that were hanging up. Also please measure the rim diameters and thicknesses of a round of the 120's that didn't cycle, and same for one of the brass that did properly cycle.

This is personally a new one for me as I have never seen this issue come across the boards here, nor have I had it myself.

[Rosco]

Will do...

[Rosco]

Bolt Face



120gr



139gr Hornady

[Rosco]

I did do some Bolt maintenance a few days earlier. Disassembled, sanded and cleaned the cocking ramp, primary cam area, and in between baffle and bolt lug to help reduce friction. Also, soaked in Break Free and dabbed some white lithium grease on a few areas. Not sure if that makes a difference, but thought I would inform you it in just in case it could be the cause of the problems.

The rims both measured .028 with my digital caliper and 1.3 on the overall case length.

[sharpshooter]

Your bolt head is installed backwards.....180 degrees out.

[bootsmcguire]

Your bolt head is installed backwards.....180 degrees out.

Yup Fred beat me to it. That's why I asked for pics of the bolt head. Kinda wondered if that wasn't it.

[Rosco]

Guess that would do it!! Thanks so much guys..I appreciate all the help.

[rocklobster]

This same thing happened to me too when I first got my axis.

[Rosco]

So I am not the only one that's good. 😃

[BillPa]

So I am not the only one that's good. 

Far from it. Its kind of embarrassing when a few guys are watching and ask why you're tearing a bolt apart at the range.

Bill

[foxx]

on another note... why do those primers look craterred to me?

[Rosco]

Do they? And what would cause that?

[foxx]

Nirmally, if those were hand loads, it would be high pressure sign. As it is, it puzzles me.

[Rosco]

Those are 120gr and 139gr Hornady factory loads. Not sure if that makes a difference. Only have about 320.or so rounds down the gun and have never removed the barrel but have, as you can see, disassembled the bolt a few times. Maybe I did not put it back together 100% correctly and the firing pin is off.

[foxx]

Nope. Don't see how you could do anything to the bolt or pin to cause it.
Might just be soft primers. No big deal.

Again, if they were hand loads, I'd be concerned. No one else seems to be. :) Don't worry about it.

[big honkin jeep]

Brass cartridge cases should fully expand under pressure and then spring back just a little when fired. This expansion to fit the chamber typically results in fire formed brass. This expansion also helps prevent the case from being thrust rearward into the bolt head and firing pin and also helps prevent blow by (gasses from escaping around the cartridge mouth and cartridge and going to the rear when fired). On light charges the case expansion may not be significant enough to prevent the thrust from slamming the case rearward into the bolt head and firing pin resulting in the cratering you see. This may also be accompanied by case necks that are sooted up on the outside indicating blow by.