Hard bolt lift after cleaning

[oneraggedhole]

Ive got a 4 groove bartlien 8twist 6dasher that is an absolute hammer but after cleaning it, i tend have hard bolt lift for 5-6 rounds and then just quits from one round to the next. It won't have it again until next barrel cleaning.

I'm using a bore guide not to spread oil or solvent, I mop and patch the chamber several times after dry patching the barrel. I've also tried blowing chamber dry with air compressor after cleaning, dry mopping and dry patching.

Barrel was cleaned at arrival from new, shot 3rds and had hard lift at 32g on all 3.
cleaned, shot 5rd and had hard lift at 31.5g on all 5.
cleaned and shot 10, had hard lift on 5 at 31.5g and went away at 6th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 10 more and had hard lift on 6 and completely went away again on 7th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 30 for load development. After 5 of hard lift it went away again. Started stepping charge up and ended at 32.3 and showing no signs of pressure. Cleaned and had hard lift again for 5 rds at 32.3 and went away again for remainder of 30 more.
I'm not seeing any pressure signs as far as primer flow, no markings on bolt face, i can't find and dimensional differences in length or length to shoulder dimension from the "hard lift ones" to the brass fired later on in the cycle. It's a kelblys atlas, 8twist 4groove bartlien, varget powder, alpha brass, cci 450 primer, 108 berger .010 into lands. Currently has 111rds and is consistent in the pattern still. Never had this in any other rifle as long as chamber was dry and clean. What am I missing???

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Try isopropyl alcohol on a swab to clean out chamber of any cleaning oil residue

 

[Chaotik]

Try isopropyl alcohol on a swab to clean out chamber of any cleaning oil residue

^^^^^ This.

 

[oneraggedhole]

End of my cleaning regiment for the last 30yr has been to swab chamber only with starting fluid and then dry mop and dry patch after.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

It will cost you about 1.50-2.00 to try the isopropyl as a final step if you don't have it in the bathroom.

 

[rdremsek]

Try lapua brass maybe it's the alpha brass

 

[jxb]

Are you leaving the barrel dry after cleaning or running an oil patch through it followed by a single dry patch to pull any excess oil before shooting? If dry, you might try the latter. Seems from your write up you're getting pressure until you've fouled it a bit.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Make sure to clean the lugs also. I was not cleaning mine good and got a hard bolt lift. I always grease the back of the lugs after cleaning but you will be surprised how dirty it gets in there..

 

[Mark W]

Years ago I was having the same problem until I started swabbing out the chamber with a clean patch and isopropyl alcohol as my last step in cleaning. It’s never happened since.

 

[oneraggedhole]

I'll try alcohol over starting fluid today and report back. Thanks

 

[escopeta]

Try to get 99% as less water.

 

[Wild Bill IV]

Ive got a 4 groove bartlien 8twist 6dasher that is an absolute hammer but after cleaning it, i tend have hard bolt lift for 5-6 rounds and then just quits from one round to the next. It won't have it again until next barrel cleaning.

I'm using a bore guide not to spread oil or solvent, I mop and patch the chamber several times after dry patching the barrel. I've also tried blowing chamber dry with air compressor after cleaning, dry mopping and dry patching.

Barrel was cleaned at arrival from new, shot 3rds and had hard lift at 32g on all 3.
cleaned, shot 5rd and had hard lift at 31.5g on all 5.
cleaned and shot 10, had hard lift on 5 at 31.5g and went away at 6th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 10 more and had hard lift on 6 and completely went away again on 7th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 30 for load development. After 5 of hard lift it went away again. Started stepping charge up and ended at 32.3 and showing no signs of pressure. Cleaned and had hard lift again for 5 rds at 32.3 and went away again for remainder of 30 more.
I'm not seeing any pressure signs as far as primer flow, no markings on bolt face, i can't find and dimensional differences in length or length to shoulder dimension from the "hard lift ones" to the brass fired later on in the cycle. It's a kelblys atlas, 8twist 4groove bartlien, varget powder, alpha brass, cci 450 primer, 108 berger .010 into lands. Currently has 111rds and is consistent in the pattern still. Never had this in any other rifle as long as chamber was dry and clean. What am I missing???

The posts above are great suggestions!! If cleaning solutions are left in the chamber, alcohol will revive it!!

However, there may be a hidden issue!!! Getting cleaning solutions in the lug receivers can cause the same problem until the solvents is carbonized (burnt up)!!! I use a long, thin hemostat with cut off Q tips to clean those areas and slid a long tygon tube over it to prevent scratching of the chamber!!! Once scrubbed, I shoot gun scrub into those areas, then use compressed air to blast any debris out!! Clean the lugs on the bolt, apply HOPPIES GUN SLICK to the bolt lugs, and work the bolt!!! Pull the bolt, add a thin layer to the shiny wear spots, work the bolt again!!!

I avoid polymer greases!!! They will run with a little cleaning solvent and will burn up!! The gun slick will stick better and the high graphite content will not burn up!!!!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I'll try alcohol over starting fluid today and report back. Thanks

Is the starting fluid the spray type in the can?

 

[escopeta]

Diesel starting fluid is ethyl ether. Highly flammable and evaporates quickly, but can leave water condensation depending on conditions. Personally I use charcoal lighter fluid (Naptha) for cleaning. Does a good job and not harsh on finishes or plastics.

 

[Lone Hunter]

I'll try alcohol over starting fluid today and report back. Thanks

This is the action cleaning set from Brownells I use. It works in the lugs area and recess very well.

SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL ACTION CLEANING TOOL KIT | Brownells

Check out SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL ACTION CLEANING TOOL KIT | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Gun Cleaning Kits products are available in our Tools & Cleaning Department.

www.brownells.com

 

[Clancy]

Even if you clean the chamber out with alcohol, if you immediately return the rifle to a vertical rack, residual solvent or oil is going to find its way to the chamber.

I do my normal cleaning, then run a patch of lock ease then one dry patch. I then swab out the chamber with a 3” patch over a bore mop and let the rifle sit muzzle down either overnight or until I use it.

 

[oneraggedhole]

I spray the starting fluid on a swab and scrub real fast before it evaporates. I tried alcohol today as well with the same results. I also screwed the barrel off and cleaned lug abutment real well but they were already pretty clean and dry as well.

 

[shoot4fun]

Ive got a 4 groove bartlien 8twist 6dasher that is an absolute hammer but after cleaning it, i tend have hard bolt lift for 5-6 rounds and then just quits from one round to the next. It won't have it again until next barrel cleaning.

I'm using a bore guide not to spread oil or solvent, I mop and patch the chamber several times after dry patching the barrel. I've also tried blowing chamber dry with air compressor after cleaning, dry mopping and dry patching.

Barrel was cleaned at arrival from new, shot 3rds and had hard lift at 32g on all 3.
cleaned, shot 5rd and had hard lift at 31.5g on all 5.
cleaned and shot 10, had hard lift on 5 at 31.5g and went away at 6th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 10 more and had hard lift on 6 and completely went away again on 7th cycle.
Cleaned and shot 30 for load development. After 5 of hard lift it went away again. Started stepping charge up and ended at 32.3 and showing no signs of pressure. Cleaned and had hard lift again for 5 rds at 32.3 and went away again for remainder of 30 more.
I'm not seeing any pressure signs as far as primer flow, no markings on bolt face, i can't find and dimensional differences in length or length to shoulder dimension from the "hard lift ones" to the brass fired later on in the cycle. It's a kelblys atlas, 8twist 4groove bartlien, varget powder, alpha brass, cci 450 primer, 108 berger .010 into lands. Currently has 111rds and is consistent in the pattern still. Never had this in any other rifle as long as chamber was dry and clean. What am I missing???

Try lapua brass maybe it's the alpha brass

As mentioned the Alpha brass may not be matching up well with your chamber dimensions.
If you have a blade micrometer or calipers and a way to get on the .200 line measure fired v. virgin brass.
You may find the .200 line is not expanding enough to grab the chamber walls and that causes the case head bolt thrust into the bolt causing excessive bolt lift.
Also, and I know this sounds counter to everything but stop cleaning the chamber past just wiping it out with a 3" patch over a bore mop. It's quite possible (again Alpha related) that those first few shots of hard lift are because you have the chamber too clean.

 

[WSnyder]

It's not uncommon to have short term pressure issues (hard bolt lift) after cleaning and it has nothing to do with oil or solvent in the chamber. It can be caused by that but it also doesn't have to be. I have one currently that if you get it too clean it'll pressure for 3-4 rounds. Solution is to not clean it too aggressively.

 

[LCazador]

Measure the .200" line of fired and virgin brass to see how much brass head has expanded since new. If it's over .001" your load is too hot.