Loosening R700 Bolt?

Kevin M.

Kevin M.

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Hey,


The bolt on my Remington 700 is ridiculously sticky when trying to push it down and pull it up. It is very hard to work the bolt when benchrested, and it is getting to be a bit irritating.

I have had about 200 rounds through the gun, and I have worked the action several hundred more times to attempt to loosen the action, but to no avail.

Is there any way that I can loosen the action up a little bit? I have a shop with all the tools that would be required to fix the problem, but I do not know what exactly is causing it to stick. Would a cautious sanding on a certain part of the bolt be safe, or am I stuck with it the way it is without the help of a gunsmith?

Thanks.
 
First thing I would do is make sure that the threads and cocking cam surfaces are clean an properly lubricated. Disassemble the bolt, clean and lubricate.
Edit - the above would be the second thing - hs suggested the first thing to check - make sure the scope base or front action screws aren't fouling the locking lug as the bolt rotates.
 
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Do you have a scope mounted? If so check the front mount screw that is closer to the action, it may be to long and binding the bolt. Also you can try the action screws. Take the action out of the stock and try the bolt.
hs
 
First take the bolt apart and clean everything [ you can down-load a Manual from Rem web-site shows how to take the bolt apart ]/ I,m sure you will find the cocking thread to be your problem / the interial thread is a little harder steel then the exterial thread / by using a thread file [ from a machine tool supply house ] you should be able to polish and clean up any damaged threads on the softer externial thread / then use a Moly type lub on the thread / reassemble
Best CJ-Jim
 
Some questions that may help to isolate the problem:
.. has this happened since the rifle was new or is it a recent problem?
...does the bolt only bind when a round or spent casing is in the chamber or all the time?
.... if it is binding only with a round/casing in the chamber are there marks on the brass? how do you resize? using the correct brass? something on the face of the bolt that shortens headspace...
....if it happens without a round/casing in the chamber are there marks on the outer edges of the lugs suggesting a mounting/action screw protruding into the action lug recess.
....
 
Kevin M. said:
Hey,


The bolt on my Remington 700 is ridiculously sticky when trying to push it down and pull it up. It is very hard to work the bolt when benchrested, and it is getting to be a bit irritating.

I have had about 200 rounds through the gun, and I have worked the action several hundred more times to attempt to loosen the action, but to no avail.

Is there any way that I can loosen the action up a little bit? I have a shop with all the tools that would be required to fix the problem, but I do not know what exactly is causing it to stick. Would a cautious sanding on a certain part of the bolt be safe, or am I stuck with it the way it is without the help of a gunsmith?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Does it do it when no ammunition or case is used?

If it does it do it with no ammunition or case does it do it with the front action screw backed off one turn?

If it is still doing it with no ammunition or case and with the front action screw backed off one turn try backing the rear screw of the front base off a turn.

If none of the above has made a change take it to a gunsmith.

There is a possibility the locking lugs have galled. The correction to this is machining the lugs true and the locking lug recesses and setting the barrel back to correct headspace. Do not lap lug trying to correct this. If it is galled surfaces you might as well have the action trued.
 
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Thanks guys, lots of good responses for me to troubleshoot before I take it to a gunsmith.



AP said:
Some questions that may help to isolate the problem:
.. has this happened since the rifle was new or is it a recent problem?
...does the bolt only bind when a round or spent casing is in the chamber or all the time?
.... if it is binding only with a round/casing in the chamber are there marks on the brass? how do you resize? using the correct brass? something on the face of the bolt that shortens headspace...
....if it happens without a round/casing in the chamber are there marks on the outer edges of the lugs suggesting a mounting/action screw protruding into the action lug recess.
....
Click to expand...


The problem has occured since the rifle was new.

It binds all the time, regardless of if there is a shell in the chamber.

No marks on brass.

I am using factory Remington UMC 30-06 150 Gr. Core Locked.

I will check the outer edges of the lugs and see if there is a screw protruding.




guntech said:
Does it do it when no ammunition or case is used?

If it does it do it with no ammunition or case does it do it with the front action screw backed off one turn?

If it is still doing it with no ammunition or case and with the front action screw backed off one turn try backing the rear screw of the front base off a turn.

If none of the above has made a change take it to a gunsmith.

There is a possibility the locking lugs have galled. The correction to this is machining the lugs true and the locking lug recesses and setting the barrel back to correct headspace. Do not lap lug trying to correct this. If it is galled surfaces you might as well have the action trued.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I will go through the list and see if one of those is the problem.
 
My money is on a too long screw used on the bases and contacting the bolt, if not, use a bit of good grease on the bolt lugs and have at 'er.
 
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