Remington 788 bolt stuck after 25 years in storage

yoden

yoden

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I recently acquired a couple rifles that were stored behind a hot water tank for 25 years. Not the best place. The bolt on the 788 is stuck halfway open. I haven't sprayed any WD 40 in there, or forced it, I thought I'd seen some advice first.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this free? It could be rust, because there is a small but of rust on the end of the barrel on the muzzle.

Thanks!
 
Remove any scope mount screws to start with... take the stock off... apply a penetrating oil to the bolt body and action, let it sit for a few hours... apply more oil and lightly tap the rear of the bolt back into the action... if it moves a little, try pulling the bolt rearward... if it is rusted in place this should work it out...
 
The bolt is soldered on don't hammer on it. On the other hand can a brass rod be inserted from the muzzle to rest on the center of the bolt face.A gentle tap may be all it needs if the bolt is half open perhaps the lugs are disengaged?
 
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Odd that it would be stored with bolt half open. I had a guy bring one of these a while ago, he had broken the handle off trying to get it open. Turned out one of the locking lugs had broken off and jammed it up. The handles are brazed or silver soldered on, so they won't take much force or hammering.
 
smokinbarrel said:
Odd that it would be stored with bolt half open. I had a guy bring one of these a while ago, he had broken the handle off trying to get it open. Turned out one of the locking lugs had broken off and jammed it up. The handles are brazed or silver soldered on, so they won't take much force or hammering.
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Could be like some where they flick up the bolt as a safety, Then close it when they are ready to fire. So could be loaded, Or they left it with the bolt unlocked and spring tension of the mag just preventing the bolt from sliding fully open.
 
To get the bolt out of those rifles you need to push the safety all the way forward to drop the bolt stop. Keep WD-40 and Fluid Film away from it and use a good penetrating oil on it or G-96.
 
When you say "bolt halfway open" do you actually mean bolt fully forward but the bolt handle halfway up? If so then there is probably a case or round stuck in the chamber. If this is so, then take it to a gunsmith and have the barrel removed before you break the bolt handle off.
 
Sniper_485 said:
To get the bolt out of those rifles you need to push the safety all the way forward to drop the bolt stop. Keep WD-40 and Fluid Film away from it and use a good penetrating oil on it or G-96.
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An aquaintance had a Winchester '94 that had been left out in the rain and then shoved in a garbage bag and left in the garage for a few months. The action was frozen tight - and there was rust everywhere - big F'n surprise. I sprayed G96 into it and left it for 24 hours. Had to work at it a bit, but got it freed up.
 
pjs said:
When you say "bolt halfway open" do you actually mean bolt fully forward but the bolt handle halfway up? If so then there is probably a case or round stuck in the chamber. If this is so, then take it to a gunsmith and have the barrel removed before you break the bolt handle off.
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That's a good catch... if the handle is half way up it could well have a stuck case... and a gunsmith should be used... the OP is online at the moment... and he should be responding...
 
My dad had wrapped it up in a moving blanket, probably for camouflage, and left the bolt open, probably for safety. I think the bolt was held in this halfway position. Overall the rifle is very dusty.

2mZTdNr


That's good to know about the bolt handle soldered on, I did resist the urge to put all my monkey paw strength on it. The chamber is empty, so I am all good in that department
 
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Safety is fully forward.

I haven't tried a rod yet. Would hoppes or rem oil be safe to try?
 

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Not "normal", for sure. However you have been told several times to soak with a penetrating oil. I do not think hoppes or rem oil are good penetrating oils. But maybe just me. Maybe that is all that you have, and have reasons not to go get the proper stuff. Is your rifle, I presume - do as you wish ...

On those rifles, there is one scope base screw about where your bolt is hung up, behind the ejection port. As mentioned above - remove those screws - I think that one is a through hole - you will be able to dribble penetrating oil in there.

Looking at your picture - if that was mine, I would remove the barrelled action from the stock, and then dribble penetrating fluid through the magazine opening underneath the bolt, as well as through the ejection port.

If you don't have correct fitting screw drivers, so the screw slots do not get messed-up, better take it to a pro. Your bolt is part way open - is nothing in the chamber - that gun has no potential to fire - so, as is, is "safe"... As is, you can peer down the barrel from the muzzle end - have good light at the ejection port - see what the bore looks like - you might or might not have more issues for a "pro"...
 
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Take the barreled action out of the stock. No point in applying the penetrating oil to the wood.
Use a penetrating oil. Hoppes, RemOil, 3-in-One, what ever won't do any harm. A good penetrating oil will creep in better.
Let the oil soak in.
Put a block of wood against the bolt plug, tap it with a hammer to see if the bot will shift forward. If it moves, you're golden. Don't tap it all the way forward, just try to move it.
Put a little piece of hardwood against the bolt nose. Tap it back.
You just want the bolt to start moving. Once it does, just keep working it back and forth until it is open all the way.
The bolt handle is induction brazed in place. The bolt handle is not a good place to apply fore.

I would avoid using a rod down the bore.
 
guntech said:
Remove any scope mount screws to start with... take the stock off... apply a penetrating oil to the bolt body and action, let it sit for a few hours... apply more oil and lightly tap the rear of the bolt back into the action... if it moves a little, try pulling the bolt rearward... if it is rusted in place this should work it out...
Click to expand...

Remove any scope mount screws to start with... take the stock off... apply a penetrating oil to the bolt body and action, let it sit for a few hours... apply more oil and lightly tap the rear of the bolt back into the action... if it moves a little, try pulling the bolt rearward... if it is rusted in place this should work it out...

lightly tap the rear of the bolt back into the action, not the bolt handle
 
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