SVT-40 firing issue

[GunsNotPuns]

I noticed an issue this morning with my SVT-40. I find that sometimes when the bolt moves forward that there is a small space between the bolt carrier and the receiver, not entirely sealing the chamber at the front.

When I press the trigger nothing happens. When I notice that space (and it doesn't always happen) and push the bolt slightly forward and then press the trigger, the usual and expected magic happens.

Is this common with the SVTs or do I have one with "character"?

 

[kage123]

Sounds like the bolt isn't closing. Make sure its clean, it's a tilting block design so make sure the area the bolt tilts into is clean and everything moves freely.

Check the spring too, usually the carrier slams home pretty hard.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

I did check it and it was clean and properly oiled. I should have noted that I was manually cycling and action and dry firing -- perhaps with ammo the issue won't be there. The spring(s) certainly seems to be in fine shape as well.

Lord love a duck, I wish the weather would improve so I can go out and shoot the damned thing. I bought it in October and never got a chance to take it out and have some fun thanks to the late fall fishing, early fall hunting and then snow.

 

[Megaclocker]

I bet it would be a dirty chamber.

Maybe the magazine is scratching the case while pushing it into the chamber. Making it hard for it to chamber completly ? (I had that happen)

Do you get fail to feed sometimes ? (Tip of the bullet hitting over or Under the chamber hole ?)

 

[GunsNotPuns]

The problem occurred when the magazine was in and out of the rifle. As I have no dummy rounds I couldn't do a proper function test and the idea of live rounds being chambered in my work room didn't appeal to me

That said, perhaps I'll clean the chamber again and see if I can eliminate the problem.

 

[kage123]

You could take the bolt out and insert a round into the chamber to see how it site.

 

[points]

Are you allowing the bolt to go forward on its own? I see a coomon problem where shooters unfamiliar with a semi, tend to hold the bolt handle at least lightly on the forward stroke. It needs to be let go to close on its own.
Just a thought.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

No, that's not it either. I allow the bolt to close freely.

 

[Nic3500]

I had the same issue with some surplus ammo. I measured it and it was slightly longer than some other brand I had. So I called it an ammo issue and moved on...

 

[Horilka]

This is safety feature which was (and still is) pretty common among semi-auto of that period. Only fully locked bolt will bring down the "disconnector safety sear" and will allow releasing the hammer. And if bolt is not closed completely or sear is broken then to prevent out of battery discharge hammer will not be released. Funny thing that Garand M1 designed in a stupid way to allow out of battery discharge if safety is broken or worn out.
Now the possible reasons why OP bolt does not fully close (apart of obvious not properly cleaned parts):
- one has to pull handle of bolt carrier back and then release it and let the spring do the job, do not help or follow the handle with your hand!
- weak spring (less likely)
- messed up 2 springs and 2 guides assembly
- dirt in disconnector safety sear or it's spring preventing it from being fully depressed
All above is only for OP (dryfiring). Now if one experience this with live/dummy rounds:
- clean the chamber with the brush, clean it very-very good. There are grooves in the chamber to help extraction, but they tend to collect all the stuff you don't need in the chamber. Also hardened cosmo could be sitting there for years and won't clean up with couple of passes of the brush.
- weird ammo. Soviet, Bulgarian and Eastern Block will work 100%. Some ppl report issues with Chinese, some say Chinese work for them, but Eastern Block surplus works like a charm.

 

[Butcherbill]

I find the same, when manually cycling while dry firing you have to pull the bolt back and let it snap home with full force.

 

[ugh457]

I just got an SVT the other day, after cleaning it I cycled some dummy ammo through it. They kept hitting below the chamber, even letting the bolt carrier slide home on it's spring. I compared my dummy ammo to an actual round. The projectiles were waaayyy small on the dummy ammo....