Ross M1810 Help Needed

[usmcret]

This is my first post here, but have been lurking and reading for awhile and it is aparrent that there aew some people who are knowledgeable about these rifles. I got a 1910 as part of a multi gun deal. I have been collecting milsurps long enough to know what it was and I knew that bubba had his busy little paws on it at some point since the stock had been cut halfway down, Other than that, it appeared to be all there. ( No front sight hood, which i think it is supposed to have and obviously no bbl band). At the time of the sale neither I or the seller could get the bolt open, but I thoght there might be a trick to it which I would figure out when I did some research. In the past several days I have discovered some problems that I need some help on;
1. The reason the bolt would not open is that there is a spring loaded piece (part of thr trigger group) that drops into a recess in the rear of the bolt when it locks up. The only way to open the bolt is to take the stock off and raise this piece with your finger. Methinks there are some parts missing here, but I dont have an exploded schematic to check that.
2. As if this werent bad enough, the receiver appears to be sprung, bent or twisted since the bolt will not travel in the ways without pounding it with a rubber mallet. I notr the receiver looks a bit flimsy as compared to say an SMLE or a Garand. Was it common for them to develop this problem? Can it be fixed?

3. The chamber seems tight. Tried sever brands of 303 andthey would not go in at all with finger pressure. Since the bolt doesnt wor, I couldnt try easing them in that way. Do I have a parts rifle?

 

[H Wally]

To be honest it sounds like you own a parts gun.

To bend a ross reciever takes a fair amount of pressure, possibly from some former attempt to remove the barrel.

If you search ross rifle in google images you'll find a cut away image of the ross MKIII/1910.

If you measure from the muzzle to the back of the reciever ring, it should be 30 1/2 inches (aka muzzle to where the bolt head disappears into the reciever). Anything less and it has been cut down.

How is the barrel condition? If it's good, you could strip it down, remove all the spare parts, and rebuild a cut barrel ross!

I'm not on my home comp, or I'd post some pics. Others should be along shortly to help.

Oh, and :

 

[PerversPépère]

Your first problem is simple: either there's a spring missing or some gunk or corrosion keeps the part in its up position. Usually, that part is kept low by spring tension and rises with pressure applied on the trigger
As for the receiver, I would check it without trigger assy on it. Check the barrel root for traces of removal; a failed barrel removal does leave some marks.
If a loaded round doesn't fit inside, check for remains of a separated case. This could explain many things.
Good luck!
PP.