Ejection Problem -- NEED HELP

[cjkostic]

So I built this 6BR.

Started with a well-used blue-printed Rem 700 action that started life as a 220 Swift and came to me with >7500 rounds down the tube (first 10" of barrel was smoothbore, but still shot ). Had the bolt handle replaced with a straight one, just for grins. Added a used, but not used up Brux 1:8 twist HV barrel chambered in 6 Dasher and re-chambered to 6BR. Added a used Stocky's Accu-Block tactical/target stock. Looks like it should shoot pretty well for a pile of used parts.

Here's the rub -- when working the action checking extraction and ejection using an empty case, I found that the case hangs up when about half of it is visible in the port. It seems like the top half and neck are hanging up in the bolt locking lug race. The bolt stops with normal pressure. I have to give it an extra jerk to get the case to continue out and eject. The ejected case is left with a tiny lengthwise scratch on the shoulder -- not deep, but deep enough to feel with a fingernail. Thing is, I have another 700 chambered in 6BR using same reamer that extracts and ejects as smooth as silk.

What do you think is happening -- too much pressure from ejection plunger? All opinions appreciated.

Photos attached.

 

[mikeinct]

Cut down the ejector spring.Too much pressure on the brass...EDIT:.If you can hone & polish the ejector button, clean the whole bolt face carefully.....mike in ct

 

[joshb]

Boy, that’s a gunked up bolt face! Could be part of the problem. The base of the case might be binding in all that gunk. I’d clean and polish it and see if that fixes it. Then lower the pressure on your ejector. I’d also peak inside the action to see what’s scratching your case. Might be a burr in there.

 

[AlNyhus]

You need to reduce the ejector spring pressure. On my 700's chambered in 22BR and 6BR, I took about 2 1/2 coils off...ended up about .875 long according to my notes. On another, I used this kit...the lightest one worked great.

http://erniethegunsmith.com/catalog/i17.html

Now about that bolt face.....

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[johara1]

I would bet it is so gunked up in the plunger hole is the problem. I don't like to cut springs but get a lighter one, And clean that bolt I would be worried about the the other side of the lugs if they look like the front, it also looks like the front of the lugs are hitting the barrel. I hope you use grease on them.... jim

 

[moondog]

Cut down the ejector spring.Too much pressure on the brass...EDIT:.If you can hone & polish the ejector button, clean the whole bolt face carefully.....mike in ct

Same thing I had on an Eliseo with a 700
Less spring tension fixed it

 

[johara1]

It also looks like you blew primers, the bolt face is etched, you need to take the bolt apart and clean everything and remove the plunger ejector and clean the hole outlet a lighter spring and may need to bush the firing pin if it is blowing primers..... jim

 

[carlsbad]

Don't clean that boltface, it's like bedding compound for each round.

 

[lpreddick]

CLEAN THAT BOLT! Have a gunsmith true the boltface and lap the lugs. Remove the ejector/spring completely if you don't wish to trim it. You will have to remove fired cases manually. That ejector under that very stout spring is canting the case against the chamber and if your chamber is sloppy, the bullet is lined up off center, esp if jumped.

 

[johara1]

From the color of the bolt face and ejector looks like with the crud everywhere it will not retract from dirt on it and plus the heavy spring maybe. All a lighter spring will do is shorten the distance it throws it. The problem is it binds up ..... jim

 

[AlNyhus]

All a lighter spring will do is shorten the distance it throws it. The problem is it binds up ..... jim

It binds up because the heavy spring jacks the case hard against the side of the receiver.

With a short case like the BR, the case gets into the locking lug recess and hangs up.

 

[johara1]

The only reason to need a lighter spring is for the cases to stay on the bench, it will not retract once the case neck drops in the raceway. that has nothing to do with the springtime plunger will not retract from filth in the plunger hole. The way it blew primers and the condition of the bolt face, you can see where the front of the lugs are dragging on the barrel, so no clearance. It needs a serious cleaning and a firing pin needs bushed and clearance needs checked and I would bet the lugs are galled..... jim

 

[cjkostic]

Thanks for all the help, guys. The common threads I see -- clean the thing and lighten up the ejector tension. Ordered a bolt tool. Will report back when the job is done.

 

[AlNyhus]

Sounds good.

 

[AlNyhus]

....plunger will not retract from filth in the plunger hole. jim

That fact that a case can be chambered tells us the ejector moves. -Al

 

[cjkostic]

Back -- so, I removed the ejector, cleaned it, the spring and its hole in the bolt. Everything cleaned and lubed. Nipped a few coils off the spring. Put it back in andddddddddd....same problem. So, I removed the bolt from the other 700 6BR that I have and put it into the rifle in question andddddddddddd.....same problem. As I mentioned in my original post, that 700 shoots great (small group of the match at last outing -- 1.770 5-shot group at 600 yds) and extracts and ejects spent cases slicker than snot on a door knob. All that said, it apparently is not a bolt issue. The little scratch in the case and the ejection hang-up are apparently a rough-edge-in-the-action issue. Time to get the digital borescope out and see if I can find the spot. Stay tuned....

 

[johara1]

Back -- so, I removed the ejector, cleaned it, the spring and its hole in the bolt. Everything cleaned and lubed. Nipped a few coils off the spring. Put it back in andddddddddd....same problem. So, I removed the bolt from the other 700 6BR that I have and put it into the rifle in question andddddddddddd.....same problem. As I mentioned in my original post, that 700 shoots great (small group of the match at last outing -- 1.770 5-shot group at 600 yds) and extracts and ejects spent cases slicker than snot on a door knob. All that said, it apparently is not a bolt issue. The little scratch in the case and the ejection hang-up are apparently a rough-edge-in-the-action issue. Time to get the digital borescope out and see if I can find the spot. Stay tuned....

Pull the barrel and stone off the leading edge on the bolt raceway, the corner is what cuts them, why is it blowing primers?.... jim

 

[cjkostic]

Jim and others -- rifle is not blowing primers. Bolt face was dirty, but not as dirty as the photos might have indicated.

The issue has been identified -- the raceway must have a sharp edge. I took the "problem" bolt and put it into the "good 700" and voila -- case extracted and ejected smoothly. Now I just need to do as Jim suggested -- stone the raceway edge.

 

[cjkostic]

Issue confirmed further -- took an empty case and colored it with black magic-marker around shoulder and short distance down case walls; added an indexing mark near base. Sure enough, there is a light scratch in "black indicator media" from the top of the raceway and a heavier scratch from the bottom of the raceway.

 

[AlNyhus]

Glad you found the issue.