So this morning I decided to take a break from shooting scoped rifles and take a iron-sighted M14 out. The plan was to see what this pretty accurate Norc with NM aperture rear sights could do at 200m with me as a driver. Assuming the prone position and with a full load on board I let the bolt fly and hunkered down, got a good sight picture and slowly squeezed the trigger and ........click. Huh ? WTF ? Yanked on the op rod and extracted the cartridge - mmm, see a slight indentation on primer and thought 'hard primer/defective round'. I tries again - same result.
Well after four tries and on fourth the cartridge was hard to eject I pack in - I don't want to risk a fifth and have a live round chambered that can't be taken out - and shoot something else.
Later, at home, I totally strip down the Norc looking for any indication that something was amiss. Everything looks normal. Putting a cleaning rod down the barrel I find some resistance - probably 2.79" from the chamber and guess what - yes a mushed up patch was stuck there. Last time I cleaned the rifle I guess the patch came off inside the chamber and didn't drop down the magwell. Seeing the clean brass rod appear in the action I removed the rod and put the rifle away.
My lucky day as any further in the barrel and the round would have properly chambered, fired and the blockage in the pipe and resulting pressure would have been a problem for me and the gun.
I reckon a final check down the barrel will be in order from here on in.
Well after four tries and on fourth the cartridge was hard to eject I pack in - I don't want to risk a fifth and have a live round chambered that can't be taken out - and shoot something else.
Later, at home, I totally strip down the Norc looking for any indication that something was amiss. Everything looks normal. Putting a cleaning rod down the barrel I find some resistance - probably 2.79" from the chamber and guess what - yes a mushed up patch was stuck there. Last time I cleaned the rifle I guess the patch came off inside the chamber and didn't drop down the magwell. Seeing the clean brass rod appear in the action I removed the rod and put the rifle away.
My lucky day as any further in the barrel and the round would have properly chambered, fired and the blockage in the pipe and resulting pressure would have been a problem for me and the gun.
I reckon a final check down the barrel will be in order from here on in.
