Remington 700 SA weirdness.

[redshooter]

I have this Rem 700 I haven't been using, took it to the range recently, and when closing the bolt I get some odd resistance, followed by a distinct loud click. This happens if you close it slowly with little forward force on the bolt handle, firm forward force it closes the way it should. I have another 700 SA it offers slight resistance at about the same point, but the "click" is barely audible, it's not a huge difference, but it is bordering on it, and slightly oversized brass exacerbates it badly.

No marks on the bolt, nothing I can see to cause it, any ideas?

 

[guntech]

Does it occur as the cartridge is forced over the extractor?

After closing the bolt, open it and only withdraw it a short distance so the cartridge is still under the extractor and close the bolt again. Is the click gone?

 

[Grizzlypeg]

That's my thought too, the last bit of closing forces the extractor over the rim of the cartridge, and that might be related to what you are sensing. Can you look at the position of the extractor and compare it to photos you see online of how it should be positioned?

 

[maynard]

If it isn't the extractor snapping onto the case, check the length of the front bedding screw.

 

[guntech]

The op appears to be elsewhere

 

[redshooter]

Was waiting for a part to arrive before I started fiddling with it again...and making 35 rounds with the brass sized as small as my die will allow for tomorrow.

I thought initially it could be the extractor, or the ejector, but the click happens with, or without a cartridge.

The Action Screw isn't the problem, I know that because I put it in an MDT Field stock, and the provided action screw stood a hair to tall, had to grind it a bit shorter, so not that. Also changed the rail, everything looked fine there too.

I've worked the action a few hundred times over the last 12 hours, or so, it seems like it's not as loud. Whatever it is, it's happening just as the bolt closes.

 

[guntech]

When the bolt closes the cocking piece is engaged with the sear and the cocking piece disengages from the little indexing groove in the back of the bolt body. I think something in this process is making this noise. It could be when the cocking piece puts pressure on the top of the Sear Safety Cam pushing it down to the sear.

With an empty chamber hold the trigger in a fired position when you close the bolt... is this 'click' still there?

Have you taken the firing pin assembly out of the bolt body and cleaned lubricated it? When is the last time you had the trigger cleaned? Lubrication on the locking lugs?

 

[Beeron]

Here’s another thought.
Do you have rings or ring bases on the action and by any chance are the screwa too long.
I have had this happen myself and as the bolt cam made its way past the screw, there was a wee click.

 

[redshooter]

Thanks guntech, under those conditions, no click, I'll take the bolt apart later check the firing pin assembly, Thanks for the replies gents.

 

[redshooter]

Further to my 700 SA issues, I have a bolt disassembly tool ordered, as the string penny trick won't work with my bolt, no where for the penny to go.

The real issue is likely the short chamber, a little too short for me to size brass for it unless I shorten a die/shell holder.

I'm going to ream by hand, I have a Manson T-15 finish reamer, and would like some opinions on how the extra freebore will effect .224" 62 gr FMJ seated at the cannelure...and yes I know it's not the right reamer for the job, but I have it.

 

[guntech]

Further to my 700 SA issues, I have a bolt disassembly tool ordered, as the string penny trick won't work with my bolt, no where for the penny to go.

The real issue is likely the short chamber, a little too short for me to size brass for it unless I shorten a die/shell holder.

I'm going to ream by hand, I have a Manson T-15 finish reamer, and would like some opinions on how the extra freebore will effect .224" 62 gr FMJ seated at the cannelure...and yes I know it's not the right reamer for the job, but I have it.

With your chamber empty and the bolt in a cocked position, is there not a small notch exposed on the side of the cocking piece, just by the back edge of the shroud where you could place the edge of a dime? Place the dime there and pull the trigger. This should capture the dime against the shroud and you should be able to remove the bolt and unscrew the firing pin assembly.

If your cocking piece does not have this little cutout/slot, it must not be a Remington part.