Browning XBolt 7mm feeding issue?

S

Still alive

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
79   0   0
Location
Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
Hey guys!
Not sure if this is a reloading question or a rifle issue so Mods, please move this post if it's in the wrong place.
I'm asking this question for a buddy who recently acquired an awesome Browning X-Bolt in 7mm. The seller is an experienced hunter, reloader and all around good guy. He included 50 rds of 140gr. Nosler tipped ( white tipped) reloads with the deal. First time out, all 7 rds we tested shot awesome. 1 moa groups with a bipod only. Our second time with the rifle was not the same. The rifle would not chamber ie. the bolt won't lock in battery with some rounds. We ended up cycling the remainder of the cartridges through the rifle and 25 of them won't lock and the remaining 18 locked up fine. We are not reloaders and are not sure what the problem is. Is it the gun or the ammo? The gun locks fine with nothing in the chamber. We visually compared the ammo and could not see any difference. ( No calipers, just eyeing) Has this happened to anyone out there and if so, what is the problem? I can see one round not feeding but 50% of them strikes me as weird seeing as the seller is an expert reloader. Advice please! Thanks!
 
A couple rule of thumbs.
Accepting others reloads isn't the best idea unless you really trust the chap.
I always chamber my reloads to be absolutely sure they in fact fit the chamber.
No surprises when out hunting.
Go buy yourself some factory and I can almost bet your problem will disappear.
 
Last edited:
kamlooky said:
Go buy yourself some factory and I can almost be your problem will disappear.
Click to expand...
^^ This ^^ .... I've seen brass that was fired in another rifle not fit in a chamber that might be a bit smaller in size even after FL resizing.

Buy new brass, same brand as some factory loads and keep it separate from other rifles.
 
Not a feeding issue, a chambering issue. Has this problem with some PRVI 7 mags not chambering in a custom Ruger, couldn't get the bolt to lock up. The rifle has a very tight chamber in a Douglas barrel. I measured the new rounds and found that they exceeded the max OAL SAAMI spec. Put them through the press and seated the bullets to the spec length and no further problems. Pulled one first to make sure there was room to do this without unduly compressing the powder. Incidentally the bullets loaded in the cartridges were 175 gr.
 
I had a problem in my x-bolt 7MM Rem mag also,bolt was stiff when locking with brand new Nosler brass,just with the odd one.After they were fired and full length sized they were ok.Brothers X-Bolt did the same thing with the new Nosler Brass to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom