Rem 700 very stiff to chamber a round

[tiriaq]

This thread is about hard seating a round on bolt closure.
Extractor interference could be a cause.
The bullet making contact with the leade could also be a cause. The easiest way to diagnose this is to apply soot or marker to the bullet and see if the bullet is making contact with the rifling. Nowhere was it suggested that a jammed round be fired.
It is very unusual for the bullet in a factory cartridge to make contact with the leade in a factory spec. chamber. With non-standard ammunition and chambering it is a possibility. But certainly this is a possibility worth ruling out.

 

[OkayShooter]

Could also be a out of spec chamber from a worn out reamer.

I mean these are mass produced, anything can be possible.

 

[tiriaq]

There are different possibilities - that's why a systematic analysis is a good idea.

 

[OkayShooter]

There are different possibilities - that's why a systematic analysis is a good idea.

So have they tried removing the extractor, closing the bolt, still doing it?

If the extractor the culprit, wouldnt it effect the headspace guage? So possibly that it is out a little?

 

[tiriaq]

It would certainly be worth removing the extractor and ejector and seeing if the problem persists. A seized ejector can certainly cause hard seating.

Trying to diagnose a problem over the 'net is difficult. Possible causes can be suggested, but without the rifle being physically present, it is all guesswork.

 

[bearhunter]

the throat creates internal volume and a slow transition to rifling to lower the pressure below failing

Only when foolish handloaders don't do their own due diligence and exceed those capacities. Large chambers, short throats, squib loads and a myriad of other issues can create the same condition.

Match shooters purposely create the condition you describe as "explosive" almost every time they load a round, forcing the bullet into the leade to ensure uniform contact before they fire the round.

 

[bearhunter]

So have they tried removing the extractor, closing the bolt, still doing it?

If the extractor the culprit, wouldnt it effect the headspace guage? So possibly that it is out a little?

The OP did try the rifle without the extractor and had no issues.

 

[bearhunter]

Could also be a out of spec chamber from a worn out reamer.

I mean these are mass produced, anything can be possible.

If a reamer were that badly worn, there would be a lot of issues with cutting the chamber in the first place.

Not unheard of though to find an incorrectly ground reamer was used. Under ideal conditions that would be picked up before leaving the factory.

 

[Fyn]

Hey guys, I'll repost the steps I have taken just to clarify a few things.

-tried several types of factory ammo to eliminate a concern with a certain kind or brass/ammo
-removed extractor, cleaned bolt face, reinstalled original while I waited for a replacement (PTG)
-I've marked up (using a Sharpie) a dummy round (a piece of FL sized brass with a bullet seated), no markings that I could see in the chamber/throat/bullet/etc.
-ammo appears to be nowhere near jammed into the rifling
-I removed the extractor, the rifle feeds easily with the extractor removed
-while the extractor was removed I checked headspace with a go and no-go gauge
-I replaced the extractor with a PTG unit, seemed like a minimal improvement, I removed and slightly bent (opened the C shape) and reinstalled prior to my last range trip, this made a noticeable improvement, it still has a tough time jumping over the rim, however it's definitely improved, in the bolt is operated quickly it's not noticeable, feeding slowly it is. Still being rough on brass (noticeable marks where the extractor snaps over the rim, shavings)

My next step will be trying to improve the extractor fit as tiriaq and guntech mentioned.

 

[guntech]

Sounds like you are on the right track... with the bolt out of the action, try pushing a round onto the bolt face, straight back ... that should show any edges that need rounding/polishing.

 

[blackburbot]

Small base resize the brass? Or run factory stuff and see

 

[dan belisle]

OP has been given a lot of things to check here, and some good advice. I would make a list of those things and work through them, one at a time to see what alleviates the situation. Including measurements and comparisons of the ammunition being used. - dan

 

[Bigbubba]

I had a Remington 700 in 257 weatherby that had that exact problem. Since it was new, I sent it to their warranty center. They fixed it and there was a “repair code” written on the paperwork I got back.

Not knowing what that code meant I posted here and Dennis said that code meant they replaced the extractor.

My 2 cents. I’m not a gunsmith…nor near as knowledgeable as most of these posters.