Harder Bolt Lift

[DaveTooley]

Just a thought. The chamber might be too smooth and needs a few rounds to allow the brass to grip the chamber wall.

So the chamber goes from smooth to rough then back to smooth every time he cleans it.
It's probably a damp chamber. It does not affect accuracy. It's a mental issue more than anything.

 

[dcali]

There will absolutely be condensation on the inside of the barrel if it's on the outside. Let it warm up, and maybe swab out the chamber and bore and I bet that clears it up.

 

[rogn]

A trip down to the local musical instrument store will open a world of brushes/mops that can be used to clean chambers and actions. They are inexpensive and can be solvent washed or soap and water washed. And they have a long wire handle on them already.

 

[rogn]

Alcohol is your friend, Acetone can be very destructive if used carelessly. Especially to your nice paint job!

Paul

Acetone, It's not wonderful for the internal mechanism of the human body either!

 

[DaveTooley]

There will absolutely be condensation on the inside of the barrel if it's on the outside. Let it warm up, and maybe swab out the chamber and bore and I bet that clears it up.

I always take my cleaning equipment to the range. I also always push a patch down the barrel and swab out the chamber before firing the first shot. Just part of my routine. Can't tell you how many times I've dumped powder when sticking a bullet in the barrel requiring a good cleaning and knocking out the bullet. I have cleaning equipment for my work bench but i have a traveling kit. A small fishing tackle box carries everything but the rods.

 

[dcali]

Acetone, It's not wonderful for the internal mechanism of the human body either!

That's a bit of a misconception. Acetone is relatively safe, which surprised me when I looked into it. Turns out many "green" "acetone replacements" are more toxic. The dig against acetone is it's very high flammability. And it dries your skin out like nobody's business if you don't wear gloves, and gloves that the stuff doesn't eat are kinda pricey.

 

[jackieschmidt]

^^^^^This^^^^^^
CW

This.

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.




.

+3 on this

 

[rogn]

That's a bit of a misconception. Acetone is relatively safe, which surprised me when I looked into it. Turns out many "green" "acetone replacements" are more toxic. The dig against acetone is it's very high flammability. And it dries your skin out like nobody's business if you don't wear gloves, and gloves that the stuff doesn't eat are kinda pricey.

Relatively is a relative term is it not. It does have enough dangerous properties that caution is wise. Slashing as into eyes is not good, respiratory effects are not good. Every case is individual and some are more sensitive to it than others- as regards to liver, etchttps://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0006.pdf

But you are right there are many more dangerous substances available to replace it.

 

[timeout]

Late to the party, but my final step in the cleaning process is the proper sized chamber mop soaked with Brakekleen to remove any possible trace of oils, etc. Your problem may very well be the condensation though.

 

[Skeptic123]

Alcohol is your friend, Acetone can be very destructive if used carelessly. Especially to your nice paint job!

Paul

Thanks again. I hadn't considered that and knowing me, it would have been a mess.

 

[Bill K]

A slight amount of length to the brass can cause it to stick into the lead some and after fire

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Many the time when I have been photographing in Asia, have I forgotten to warm the camera at ambient temperature afetr taking it from an air-conditioned hotel. The camera bag does a great job of insulating it from the temperature and humidity. I suggest that removing the rifle from an air conditioned car will cause condensation issues internally. leave it, bolt out for 15 minutes and then wipe the chamber and barrel.

 

[Skeptic123]

Just wanted to give an update. Went shooting this hot humid Florida morning. Bore mopped my chamber with alcohol and dried with a chamber patch after I set up. Woohoo - no hard lift. Thanks again everyone who chimed in and offered help.

 

[Bojo]

OP as you have by your last and first post, condensation is your problem. Let your gun stabilize prior and still mop out the bore and chamber.
Sweat on on the outside surfaces on action and barrel also mean sweat on the outside surfaces that are on the inside of your gun.

While i do not have your issues when summer shooting as i am a gun in truck bed or windows down guy , I do have your issues during hunting season. It is extremely rare that i take a gun into a warm climate once i take it out into the cold durning the 4 to 5 weeks i might gun hunt.
If i do take my rifle back indoors they get put in a pastic / foam lined gun case to slowly acclimate.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Just wanted to give an update. Went shooting this hot humid Florida morning. Bore mopped my chamber with alcohol and dried with a chamber patch after I set up. Woohoo - no hard lift. Thanks again everyone who chimed in and offered help.

Often it is just the simple things.

A few weeks ago, a relative new shooter at our local range was having problems with what he thought was a problem with not pushing the shoulder back the correct amount while resizing. I had previously made him a gage so he could check his shoulder bump.

I measured his cases (30BR), and everything was right. The sized case easily went in and out of the rifle With the proper shoulder set back.

The problem turned out to be simple. He was not seating his primers in all the way. They were sticking out just enough to interfere with the bolt closing.

 

[dcali]

Just wanted to give an update. Went shooting this hot humid Florida morning. Bore mopped my chamber with alcohol and dried with a chamber patch after I set up. Woohoo - no hard lift. Thanks again everyone who chimed in and offered help.

It's always great when the peanut gallery actually gets something right. Glad you got it sorted.

 

[Dub]

It is simply excess solvent in the bore. Be sure you dry patch it out and check your chamber for excess solvent also.