What if you fire a shot with the bolt half closed?

[wildcatter]

The cartridge chambered just fine. I size all my brass then run each piece through the gun to make sure the bolt drop perfect. If it’s not I measure the brass, to see what’s up and most of the time just toss it. It was just a thought after the”blam” that possibly I didn’t get the bolt all the way shut.

If you have a Remington go close the bolt just so you can barely feel the lugs engage and pull the trigger. It supprised me how little of lug engagement you need to make the firing pin drop.

The firing pin will not drop any further than the rotation of the ramp will allow!

It is only disengaged and nowhere near protruding from the bolt face!

As the bolt rotates it will continue to allow the firing pin to lower down the rotating ramp!

To think it could possibly drop and hit the primer is just false information! IMPOSSABLE!

Once the bolt is closed enough to allow enough firing pin travel, the breach is totally secure for any relevant chamber pressure. The only way this could be possible would be a DRASTICALY out of spec firing system, and would probably requier some seriously incompetent gunsmithing, if even that could be accomplished.

If this gun has been reliable,,,, as has been said, the shooter has missed something, over loads, obstructions, way to much headspace, to tight of neck tension, oversize projectile. But no way premature firing pin contact on a less than adequately closed bolt!

 

[Pres100]

I have many others and consider my self pretty experienced hand loader. Been loading for 20 years and I shoot ALOT.

Just considering the possibility that residual powder of a diff burn rate was mixed in from the powder hopper causing pressure. You mentioned you didn't load pistol in an earlier post, but perhaps it could have happened from a different rifle round?
Even the most skilled handloaders, can make mistakes.... it's easy to blame something else.
Shooting a LOT may only increase the chances that a mistake can be made. Not saying one was made, just wouldn't eliminate the possibilities.

I have been reloading for 30 years now and fairly experienced, and I'll admit I've made a few bad ones ...
Shit happens and glad there was no injury involved. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I've looked over my Savage Model 10 bolt and Pin Fall with partially open bolt will STRIKE the Cocking Ramp, and rotate the bolt full CLOSED due to spring force.
The pin will end up fully protruded, but the impact force will be absorbed by the Cocking Pin hitting the Ramp. Probably not good for the ramp.
What will happen with most of the impact absorbed BEFORE the pin 'Touches' the PRIMER?
Here is a crude image of what happens.
The RED line is the path the cocking pin makes with a partially open bolt.
The Bolt head lugs will be partially engaged when the Cocking Pin is lifted from the cocked position, held by the Bolt Body, and transferred to being held by the Sear.
I think I got this right

 

[YBPS]

Follow up…..My smith fixed the bolt, inspected the bore, and replaced the extractor. I shot some fire forms and then some full $shithouse loads of 51 grains of H1000 with zero issues. This is 2 grains more than the load I was shooting when I had the issue. Shoots as good as it ever has.

410 yards;


I guess I’ll never know what caused this excessive pressure. But it’s good to know that the out of battery firing is really unlikely and was pry not the issue I had. It’s still just strange to me that I had a velocity drop. I always thought that pressure = spike in velocity.


Thanks-