The first three or so rounds that I fire after having thoroughly cleaned my rifle barrel have a harder than normal bolt lift. After I have fired the three or so foulers all of the rest of the rounds have an easy normal bolt lift. I have tried leaving the cleaned barrel a little wet with Bore Tech Eliminator; or finished the cleaned and dried barrel off with Lock-eze; or sprayed and then dried the barrel using Strike Hold. My routine is to brush the chamber and finish with a large patch. Would like your suggestions or opinions as to why I get the hard bolt lift and is it of concern.
Harder Bolt Lift
- Thread starter Skeptic123
- Start date
"I have tried leaving the cleaned barrel a little wet with Bore Tech Eliminator; or finished the cleaned and dried barrel off with Lock-eze; or sprayed and then dried the barrel using Strike Hold."
is the chamber dry or wet when you fired those 3 rounds?
Make sure its dry, any fluid in the chamber will cause higher pressures and perhaps that's why you had heavy bolt lift the 1st 3 rounds.
Were there any carbon marks that went down further than the neck on your brass?
is the chamber dry or wet when you fired those 3 rounds?
Make sure its dry, any fluid in the chamber will cause higher pressures and perhaps that's why you had heavy bolt lift the 1st 3 rounds.
Were there any carbon marks that went down further than the neck on your brass?
There were no carbon marks further down the case.
I keep the gun in my house and in an airconditioned truck on the way to the range. I am in Florida and it is really humid here. I get condensation on the outside of my barrel and sometimes on the scope lens when I first set it up. I wonder if there could also be condensation inside the barrel creating the hard lift for the first few shots. Anyone else experienced this? I'm shooting tomorrow and will take a rod and dry patches and see if that helps.
I keep the gun in my house and in an airconditioned truck on the way to the range. I am in Florida and it is really humid here. I get condensation on the outside of my barrel and sometimes on the scope lens when I first set it up. I wonder if there could also be condensation inside the barrel creating the hard lift for the first few shots. Anyone else experienced this? I'm shooting tomorrow and will take a rod and dry patches and see if that helps.
That seems like the issue. Take a look at your chamber next time prior to the 1st shot. Clean/dry it out if necessary.
Here in dry CA conditions we don't have that issue, however, sometimes a few droplets of rain on the cartridge and you can feel the pressure went up.
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Thx. I'll post how it goes.
Probably need to check your brass OAL bud
I trim brass on a Giraud after every firing. But double checked length just to make sure and it is well within tolerances. I'm not sure however, why too long brass would cause a hard bolt lift for just the first three shots. Can you clarify your thinking?
The most likely cause is a ‘wet’ chamber. While a wet chamber does not cause higher chamber pressures, it can increase back thrust of the case to the bolt by reducing the case’s grip on the chamber walls. The first few shots would “dry” the chamber and reduce the bolt thrust, reducing the force needed to raise the bolt handle. Drying the chamber prior to the first shot - with a mop or spraying a degreaser into the chamber (my choice) - should prove or disprove this idea.
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If the issue is OAL of the brass why the first three give him the hard bolt lift?
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BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
A friend had a similar problem, it turns out that his chamber was damp with solvent. He had been using the same chamber swab repeatedly to "dry" it. I have a short chamber rod (Sinclair kit) that I use with a used bronze brush, wrapped loosely with a fresh strip of paper towel to dry my chambers If I get ambitious one of these days, I will make a video showing how I wrap the brush. When I have finished the paper is pressed into the shape of the chamber, and throat.
I have an old PH pistol rod and a .410 split jag. It works with about any standard head caliber wrapped in cloth.
Just a thought. The chamber might be too smooth and needs a few rounds to allow the brass to grip the chamber wall.
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
^^^^^This^^^^^^
CW
There would be every reason to assume there is. I know the harm from condensation and especially humidity where you live.
I assume your home is airconditioned. Your car is also. I wonder if putting the rifle say in a garage the night before and then in your trunk first thing in the morning would be a gradual enough change to prevent the condensation.
I don't know if would work but it's a thought.
I did the exact opposite for cold, granted it was the coldest place in North America but what we were going to use the next day hunting went in the shed the day before.
Inside front door. Nunavut. 2019
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Bump the shoulders 0.001 to 0.002 . that should fix the problem. Just my two cents Tommy Mc
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
Let the rifle and the ammunition come to ambient temperature before shooting. I always do this due to the temperature and humidity differential between an air-conditioned/heated living space and the range. On humid summer days, it is not uncommon to see a thin layer of condensation form on the bullets when the ammo box is first opened at the range. In fact, the bullet condensation might take 5-10 minutes before it actually dissipates without being wiped off. The first thing I do upon arrival is to get out the ammo box and open it up to the air, then get out the rifle. They both typically acclimate for at least 10-15 minutes while I set up the rest of my gear, then go put up targets. If your hard bolt lift issues on the first three or so rounds have anything to do with moisture, using some approach such as this should help.
I was thinking of using acetone and then a dry patch since it eliminates moisture. Any reason not to? Also hadn't thought about the ammo sweating. I'll let it acclimate too. Thx
I would avoid it.
Alcohol is your friend, Acetone can be very destructive if used carelessly. Especially to your nice paint job!
Paul
Paul
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