Help Bolt stuck in battery

Red Iron said:
No go so far, mortaring hasn't worked. Dust cover closed no problem, I don't see any visible damage, some carbon around the barrel extension and all over the mag follower, upper came off the lower no problem. Bolt is definitely locked in battery. Will take it to the shop and put it in a vice and try a brass punch on the bolt carrier. May try a 2x4 on the charging handle first. Sucker won't budge. Thanks for all the help so far guys. I will report back. By the way ammo had a firm crimp using a Lee factory crimp die. Just thought of one more question, does the bolt rotate clockwise or counter clockwise to open?
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The bolt rotates counter clockwise as it goes into battery.
 
mikethebike said:
how can you tell if the bolt is unlocked if its stuck in there?
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If the carrier is fully forward the bolt must be locked unless the cam pin is missing, which is not likely.

The bolt is usually locked after a breach explosion since the case will fail and jam the extractor prior to the gas system getting pressurized.

Tapping the lower portion of the carrier is the only way to unlock the bolt. This will require considerable force.

"Mortaring" is an ill advised method of clearing a hard extraction not a breach explosion where the extractor is jammed in the locking recess. The charging handle is aluminum and the latch is held in with a tiny pin. Both are easily damaged.

I have done dozens of these.
 
OK, I have successfully opened the bolt although my charging handle made the ultimate sacrifice. I was able to move the bolt carrier group back enough using a 2x4 on the charging handle to get the bolt unlocked. Then using a brass punch and a BFH I was able to slowly work everything back. I'm going to attach some pics. Hopefully you guys can help diagnose what happened. Obviously something not good very high pressure event of some sort? Or just simply case failure? Now the question is how do I tell what is in need of replacement besides my charging handle. The bcg and bolt slide freely open and closed by hand, lugs don't looked peened to me. Extractor looks worse for wear.








 
As indicated earlier rounds were crimped. The cartridge that failed was the first round from the mag. I push the bolt release to chamber the round
 
OP - What load and components did you use for those reloads?

How were the other rounds ejecting prior to 'the incident'?
Notice anything like it recoiling harder up to that point?
 
Load that failed was 20gr IMR 4198 with WSR primer and Hornady 55gr SP. I started at 18.5gr and went up by .2gr increments. I use Lee dies with the crimp die and was putting a firm crimp on. Brass had been loaded twice previously in a bolt gun. Ejected brass was landing behind and to the right in a fairly neat pile. I didn't notice any difference in recoil and all the spent brass looks good, no signs of pressure.
 
The Hornady book shows 20gr as being the max load for that bullet. Now, having said that, their load data is based on a 26" barrel (who the hell has a 26" barrel on their .223??).

Hornady bullets tend to have a longer bearing surface than some other brands, so that's one of the reasons (as well as abnormally long test barrels) why their load data tends to be on the low side.


What type of brass was it? Federal or Winchester by any chance?

It's possible that your bolt gun has a loose-ish chamber and the brass just failed.......
 
OkayShooter said:
I think weak crimp was your issue.
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I doubt it. That is an old wives tale. I've shot thousands upon thousands of uncrimped rounds FA and never had anything bad happen.



Tenguns said:
Pierced Winchester primer.
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How do you look at the pics on pg 3 and come to the diagnosis of "pierced primer"?

That is like looking at a blown engine and stating it was the result of low tire pressure.
 
OP: The failure looks to be a pretty hefty overpressure. There are several possible causes for that.

1. Too much powder or wrong powder
2. Different case i.e. a military case with much thicker case wall
3. Possibly a case that had been grossly over sized to cause headspace issue - this would be the least likely IMO.

I would replace the extractor as it has likely been bent.
 
Suputin said:
I doubt it. That is an old wives tale. I've shot thousands upon thousands of uncrimped rounds FA and never had anything bad happen.





How do you look at the pics on pg 3 and come to the diagnosis of "pierced primer"?

That is like looking at a blown engine and stating it was the result of low tire pressure.
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Wasnt a statement, or diagnosis. Hit the . Instead of the ?
So, I was just curious is all.
 
Federal brass, FL resized. Definitely serious over pressure and I'll probably never know for sure what caused it. I'm using the latest Lyman loading manual, it lists 21.7gr IMR4198 as max load. I was thinking the extractor will need replacing for sure, looks like a couple small pieces chipped off the leading outside edge. I will clean everything and inspect for cracks or anything that looks unusual. Thanks for all the help.
 
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