Cartridge Feeding Issue

[KJK]

Not sure if this is where this belongs but here's the story. Fairly new to handloading and such.

Bought a Ruger M77 used a while back. Finally got around to cleaning it tonight. Stripped it all down and cleaned it. (used Wipe-Out) I had some cartridges already handloaded for it. Hornady casings with Nosler lead, also had some Federal casings.

So I got it all back together and figured I'd test the fit of my cartridges and see how the action, etc cycled. First cartridge I tried loading the bolt only got half closed and didn't want to open back up. Uh oh. Got it out and tried again, gently. Some thing. Tried just a empty cleaned up Hornady casing by itself. Same thing. Measured all the tolerances and they were fine, no expanded casings or too long of a COL.

Decided to try an FC casing. Was a bit snug but went in and bolt closed. So I put a lead in an un-primed empty FC casing. Went it fairly well. Cycled it a few times and there was a little snuggness about 3/4 of the way of the bolt closing but nothing I haven't felt in other rifles.

Got brave and decided to carefully try one of the loaded Hornady cartridges again. Went in just fine. Cycled four in and out in a row and no problems. Really confused as to why it happened.

Sorry for the novel but I figured this was the place that may have an answer as to what the hell happened. Thanks in advance!

 

[dead meat]

Only a guess but maybe you didn`t get all the bore cleaner out of the chamber? Can`t think of anything else right now, maybe have a whiskey and dwell on it a bit.

 

[Skyhawk]

Finally got around to cleaning it tonight. ... So I got it all back together and figured I'd test the fit of my cartridges and see how the action, etc cycled.

I'm assuming that all this fitting activity you describe in your post happened at the shooting range with the RO giving you permission to cycle your action while pointed down range?

Otherwise if you did this in your bedroom in your parent's house, I just hope everyone is okay, and their insides are still... well...inside. We gunnutz have had enough bad press lately. Do not load and cycle your firearm inside your house dude. Seriously.

 

[Alec F]

After a cleaning, bolt removed, then use a larger cal. mop to clean the chamber and lead, then be certain that the bolt cycles on the empty chamber prior to thinking about chambering the cartridge- even the sized empty- sometimes there might be a speck of something on the boly guides.

 

[KJK]

Yes, thanks Skyjack, I was at your moms house cycling it. I was outside on my quarter section of land actually. Appreciate the concern but not everyone is an idiot.

Thanks everyone else for the input!

 

[Skyhawk]

Yes, thanks Skyjack, I was at your moms house cycling it. I was outside on my quarter section of land actually. Appreciate the concern but not everyone is an idiot.

Thanks everyone else for the input!

Although you may insult me, you should perhaps acknowledge my potential concern when you said you cleaned it, then loaded it and cycled it numerous times at night (tonight). If you stripped it, cleaned it, loaded it, then cycled it many time in your "quarter section of land" tonight, then that's just dandy and good to hear

Hence my "Otherwise" indication in my previous post. I hope that clears up any misunderstandings.

 

[KJK]

Yes, I honestly appreciate the concern and also agree. Tonight doesn't mean dark and stepping out a door isn't tough. You simply could have asked instead of making condescending remarks and jumping to conclusions. But again, I totally agree with and support the message you were trying to convey.

 

[Skyhawk]

Yes, I honestly appreciate the concern and also agree. Tonight doesn't mean dark and stepping out a door isn't tough. You simply could have asked instead of making condescending remarks and jumping to conclusions. But again, I totally agree with and support the message you were trying to convey.

I apologize. You definitely don't sound like an idiot or some kid who is playing Rambo in their bedroom.

As far as your problem is concerned, there has to be some dimensional differences between the rounds that properly chamber and the ones that do not (I think?).

 

[KJK]

No worries at all, and I apologize as well for being a douche wad.

As for the problem, I'm really thinking that it may have been an issue of me not cleaning out the bore properly afterwards. I've never used Wipe-Out before and may have underestimated the amount of debris it removed. Thanks again for all the responses!