Pick your brains on FTF scenario

[norlandgeese]

I would like your input on a FTF scenario.

I have been shooting my 858 casually for a few years, not high volume. Only non-corrosive always.
For the last year or so I have not cleaned it, several hundred rounds, 30 or so rounds each session over the last year or two.
No failures ever before, bolt is tabbed.
Yesterday, I took it out to plink, and experienced some FTFs at the beginning of the session. Seemed to be only last round from the mag caused FTFs. When it FTF'd the bolt got stuck open, the round did not go into the chamber. One time the bullet got push back into the case (I chucked that round), another time the round stopped half way into the chamber. So not very consistently the same FTF.
The issue stopped recurring after plinking 6 or so mags.

Is it because the gun is getting dirtier than it can handle? Or something else? Mags?
The mag are same as what I have used before, didn't have FTFs before.

Cheers.

 

[Ganderite]

First step would be a thorough cleaning and lube.

 

[norlandgeese]

I figured its a possibility I've reached the boundary of how dirty a 858 can get before FTFs, but was hoping to get farther than a few hundred rounds.

 

[CanadianBaconPancakes]

I figured its a possibility I've reached the boundary of how dirty a 858 can get before FTFs, but was hoping to get farther than a few hundred rounds.

I have got up to 900 rounds in one sitting with no issues. The gun made a huge mess in my truck it was leaking so much crap out on the way home. I used abit to much oil that day and went home with black specks all over my face from it splashing back crap. Was a good day out shooting.

Try cleaning the gas system if nothing else then give it another try.

 

[DT741]

If you load your mags to 4, does it still happen on the last round ?

 

[Dad003]

ammo is your problem i believe , use surplus like it was designed to use and you most likely wont have that problem

 

[norlandgeese]

ammo is your problem i believe , use surplus like it was designed to use and you most likely wont have that problem

I am using Canada Ammo non-corrosive.
The Ukraine newly manufactured stuff, you think that's a problem?

 

[norlandgeese]

If you load your mags to 4, does it still happen on the last round ?

The rest of the session I loaded 3 only and it did not fail.

 

[gewehr76]

As it was suggested earlier.
Clean and lube, first. Try again.

 

[norlandgeese]

As it was suggested earlier.
Clean and lube, first. Try again.

For sure, it was a half hearted experiment to see how long I can go without cleaning. Thanks!

 

[supahdave]

As long as your using fmj surplus ammo it shouldn't be ammo related, try the clean, then all mags. Is it when it strips off the left or right side of the mag?

 

[norlandgeese]

As long as your using fmj surplus ammo it shouldn't be ammo related, try the clean, then all mags. Is it when it strips off the left or right side of the mag?

Based on pure observation, it failed in such a way that looked like bolt was held open, the projectile/bullet tip was catching on something.

 

[supahdave]

When you load your mags do you use stripper clips or load by hand? When you load do you make sure that the rounds are pushed back all the way to the rear of the mag? I usually give the mag a tap tap against a bench or something to make sure they are all lined up to the back. If ammo isn't lined up nicely it can be troublesome feeding.

 

[norlandgeese]

When you load your mags do you use stripper clips or load by hand? When you load do you make sure that the rounds are pushed back all the way to the rear of the mag? I usually give the mag a tap tap against a bench or something to make sure they are all lined up to the back. If ammo isn't lined up nicely it can be troublesome feeding.

A possibility, it was a plinking session and I let newbies load their own mags.

 

[norlandgeese]

When you load your mags do you use stripper clips or load by hand? When you load do you make sure that the rounds are pushed back all the way to the rear of the mag? I usually give the mag a tap tap against a bench or something to make sure they are all lined up to the back. If ammo isn't lined up nicely it can be troublesome feeding.

I think that's the first test I will redo before I even do any cleaning, I will report back after a range session.

 

[kolik1]

I have the same issue with one of the mags that came with my CSA VZ58. Experienced it with both the surplus Romanian I had and the DA stuff from Canada Ammo. The other mag runs fine though. I'm not sure what it is either, perhaps the feed lips are 'closed' a little more than they are supposed to be adding resistance?

 

[gewehr76]

If it was SKS, I'd say go ahead. With VZ/CZ however experiment like that, that's just asking for trouble.

For sure, it was a half hearted experiment to see how long I can go without cleaning. Thanks!

 

[norlandgeese]

Thanks all for the input, the winner is...... supahdave

I just took it out again, this time by myself with just one gun, not as part of a plinking guns line-up for newbies. No additional cleaning, same mags.
Ran through a dozen mags as I would load them, zero failures.
Then loaded them as supahdave suggested, was able to reproduce the issue as observed on the plinking day.

I guess on the plinking day I was super focused on SO'ing the safety of the newbie shooters, i.e. watching their fingers and muzzle directions, not so much how folks loaded the mags back at the gear table.