Bad Ammo? Or Bad Chamber?

[cheek9075]

Ruger American 7mm08 rifle.
Federal Non typical white tail soft point 150gr factory ammo.

23 rounds fired, on the 23rd this happens. I'm think bad factory ammo. What's you thoughts?

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Looks like a bad case...to me
How'd it shoot ?

 

[SSL]

If the rest don't show signs of incipient cracking in the same place, I vote for the ammunition being at fault. Possibly a weak point when the brass was drawn. I would closely examine each fired case for a while until I was sure the chamber isn't the culprit.

 

[cheek9075]

LSG wants me to drop rifle and ammo off to them. I'm thinking ammo is the issue. Wonder why I bought factory loads to start off with

Bolt on the rifle is hard to close with out ammo. I know this is a cheaper made rifle... does anyone have experience with Ruger American? Is all the bolts hard to close?

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

They have good reviews ! Looks like bad ammo. If you dial caliper the other cases it will show if there is a chamber problem, i dought it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That ammo is junk

 

[Mudcat]

federal is notorious for soft, crappy brass. Ruger, on the other hand, while the American line of rifles is "budget minded" they are pretty much built like tanks. 3 lug, heavy bolt, solid receivers (park is a bit light though and mars easily) and the bbls are pretty decent. Just put a worn out palma bbl on one and wow, does it shoot. Not sure I would let LGS (FYI, this did NOT mean "Local Gun Smith" to me, but LGS, as in I was under the impressing he was talking about a chain sporting good store) finger hump my rifle. I agree with the other guys, turd of a rifle (no clue what the autocorreted to, but shouldnt be that.....its bad brass, nothing wrong with the rifle). If the chamber is bad, you should sign some signs of that. If the rest of brass looks good, isnt swelled at any point, it would seem federal had a case get thru that had a thin wall. but, ultimately, its YOUR face behind that bolt, so you do what you feel comfortable doing. (so everyone that quoted this stuff above can just take a chill pill and get over it)

 

[cheek9075]

Looks like a bad case...to me
How'd it shoot ?

Dont know, never seen impact...

 

[cheek9075]

federal is notorious for soft, crappy brass. Ruger, on the other hand, while the American line of rifles is "budget minded" they are pretty much built like tanks. 3 lug, heavy bolt, solid receivers (park is a bit light though and mars easily) and the bbls are pretty decent. Just put a worn out palma bbl on one and wow, does it shoot. Not sure I would let LGS finger hump my rifle. I agree with the other guys, turd of a rifle. If the chamber is bad, you should sign some signs of that. If the rest of brass looks good, isnt swelled at any point, it would seem federal had a case get thru that had a thin wall. but, ultimately, its YOUR face behind that bolt, so you do what you feel comfortable doing.

I trust lGS. Owner will do me right! 22 rounds fired good. Although holding less the an MOA. I thought federal was good ammo ( guess maybe not). Only thoughts with rifle is the bolt. Hard close, seems like it is loose. Not easy to close, slomp at first then hard to chamber even with empty chamber. It loosened up after cleaning and greasing. Not as I thought it would be.

It's not face behind the bolt, it's my 12 year old sons face. That's what worries me most. It's his bday present. I want to make sure it never happens agian.

Again, mostly never fire factory ammo, but he wanted to shoot it so I bought some....

 

[cheek9075]

federal is notorious for soft, crappy brass. Ruger, on the other hand, while the American line of rifles is "budget minded" they are pretty much built like tanks. 3 lug, heavy bolt, solid receivers (park is a bit light though and mars easily) and the bbls are pretty decent. Just put a worn out palma bbl on one and wow, does it shoot. Not sure I would let LGS finger hump my rifle. I agree with the other guys, turd of a rifle. If the chamber is bad, you should sign some signs of that. If the rest of brass looks good, isnt swelled at any point, it would seem federal had a case get thru that had a thin wall. but, ultimately, its YOUR face behind that bolt, so you do what you feel comfortable doing.

 

[cheek9075]

Mudcat,

What do you mean by this??? First you said Ruger is build like a tank. Then you stated "I agree with other guys, turd of a rifle"?

 

[tsyarnall]

Did your bolt closing issue start after the ruptured case?

 

[cheek9075]

Did your bolt closing issue start after the ruptured case?

No, it seemed hard to close new before a round was put in the chamber. After looking at it, it seemed the bolt was sloppy and had play in it (I dont like the design with the bolt release). Once I got passed the bolt design and got into closing the bolt it was hard to close. Racking the bolt was hard, locking the bolt into the action is ruff. If this the way Ruger makes rifles, this is my first and last, budget rifle or not.

 

[tsyarnall]

No, as you describe the problem with you bolt, is not typical of Ruger American or any Ruger rifle for that matter. Nothing but good has normally been said about them.

 

[cheek9075]

No, as you describe the problem with you bolt, is not typical of Ruger American or any Ruger rifle for that matter. Nothing but good has normally been said about them.

That's what I've heard also. That's why I decide to purchase one. Not what I expected even though a " budget rifle".

 

[LaMan]

No, as you describe the problem with you bolt, is not typical of Ruger American or any Ruger rifle for that matter. Nothing but good has normally been said about them.

Well I don't know about that, the roughness and grittiness of the bolt movement and closing is what I noticed on the two Ruger Americans I handled. Might have been my bad luck but kept me from buying.

 

[gman47564]

Keep the lugs on the bolt greased up and it will smooth up somewhat with cycling it.. im personally not a fan of anything federal but thats just me.. im guessing its just a bad case..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That particular line of federal ammo is junk. The rifle should be fine

 

[Texas10]

I'll bet Federal would like to have that case back to investigate. Send them that pic and maybe they'll offer you a free premium box of ammo in return for it.

 

[Will Henry]

That is a faulty piece of brass. The split goes back past where the brass should be solid. It also appears that particular piece of brass may be under size. By the way, soft brass doesn't split like this. This usually seen with old, brittle brass. The grittiness in the bolt may well be the result of abrasive debris blown back into the action. WH