Hello all. I need some help from the hundreds of years of experience on this site. I am stumped.
I inherited a VZ24 that was rebarrelled and rechambered to 30-06. I changed the stock on it, drilled and tapped it for scope mounts, changed the bottom metal on it, etc. The first few years I used it, I only used federal ammo in it. Mostly 165 grain Fusion.
Never any issues clambering or extracting after firing. In fact, this rifle is capable of sub MOA consistently.
The trouble started when I started handloading for it. I have not yet been able to use any recipe that doesn't cause the bolt to lock before I have completely cycled it. To describe it fully,. I fire, the bolt raises about 3/4 of the way then stops dead. It takes considerable effort to free it. I never start at max and have reduced my charges. Every time I try.
I took it to a gunsmith in Edmonton, after checking the chamber, he told me that the it was within normal tolerance
but was probably fairly tight and to reduce my loads further. He also recommended only using virgin brass instead of once fired.
I tried this again yesterday at the range, I still had the same thing happen, but not for every round.
Today I handloaded some slightly lighter loads and left the overall length slightly longer, but still less than max. I chambered one in the rifle to make sure it would cycle and when I went to eject it, it stuck. When I finally pulled the bolt open, powder flew everywhere, the bullet stayed in the barrel and the case mouth had a dent in it. I am at a loss this is a new one.
Just before chamnbering the last bullet, I had cleaned the barrel and chamber. Thinking maybe with the age of the rifle the chamber had a build up in it making it extra tight.
Anyone had similar problems with their sporterized, rechambered mausers?
I inherited a VZ24 that was rebarrelled and rechambered to 30-06. I changed the stock on it, drilled and tapped it for scope mounts, changed the bottom metal on it, etc. The first few years I used it, I only used federal ammo in it. Mostly 165 grain Fusion.
Never any issues clambering or extracting after firing. In fact, this rifle is capable of sub MOA consistently.
The trouble started when I started handloading for it. I have not yet been able to use any recipe that doesn't cause the bolt to lock before I have completely cycled it. To describe it fully,. I fire, the bolt raises about 3/4 of the way then stops dead. It takes considerable effort to free it. I never start at max and have reduced my charges. Every time I try.
I took it to a gunsmith in Edmonton, after checking the chamber, he told me that the it was within normal tolerance
but was probably fairly tight and to reduce my loads further. He also recommended only using virgin brass instead of once fired.
I tried this again yesterday at the range, I still had the same thing happen, but not for every round.
Today I handloaded some slightly lighter loads and left the overall length slightly longer, but still less than max. I chambered one in the rifle to make sure it would cycle and when I went to eject it, it stuck. When I finally pulled the bolt open, powder flew everywhere, the bullet stayed in the barrel and the case mouth had a dent in it. I am at a loss this is a new one.
Just before chamnbering the last bullet, I had cleaned the barrel and chamber. Thinking maybe with the age of the rifle the chamber had a build up in it making it extra tight.
Anyone had similar problems with their sporterized, rechambered mausers?
