Winchester 30-06 sticking cases

BullOnParade

BullOnParade

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Eastern Ontario
I'm not much of a gun smith, dabble here and there when I want to achieve something, usually spend way more time researching the platform than I do actually working on the gun.

I was reassembling a model 700 at work the other day and my boss said he's having trouble with one of his rifles. He doesn't remember the model number, but it's a Winchester, semi auto, 30-06. I pulled up some pictures of a model 100 and he said that looks right. I realized later the m100 doesn't come in that caliber, so I don't know what he's got.

Apparently, intermittently, a case becomes stuck in the chamber after firing. He claims sometimes the head is ripped off - or torn at - the rim. He wants to take the barrel off and try polishing the chamber. I cringed and told him I'd be happy to look at it for him.

What would be the first things you'd look at? I'm thinking the extractor could be loose or worn, loose because the issue is intermittent.

Again, can't confirm the model until he brings it in. Just looking for some more experienced opinions to troubleshoot this before he does something to mess up the chamber.
 
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The first thing I would be looking at is the chamber. It doesn't take much to cause a case to stick in the chamber and as the cases are being ripped it doesn't sound like the extractor is not doing it's job. Ask him to bring some spent cases with him when he brings it in you can see quite a lot if you know how to read fired cases.
 
Definitely would take a close look at chamber for crud or nick/dents. Next would be head spacing.

A quick scotchbrite in the chamber on a wooden dowel is an effective way to clean/polish a chamber.
 
X3 re the chamber. Should be shiny smooth and clean - like a mirror, including the neck area. Any crud or burned residue to make a "lump" or any scratch or divot or rust pit creates a place for the brass to deform against and create a mechanical lock. If the rim was ripped or partially ripped off a cartridge, the cause is likely in the chamber, or an over pressure cartridge, but may have resulted to damage to the extractor.

Cleaning the chamber is not going to "mess it up". Going in with picks, awls or screwdrivers or emory cloth likely will. Not much coming back from a rust pitted chamber.
 
90 % this is crud in the chamber .. Start with a good cleaning job - inspect chamber with a borescope.

Most of those hunting semi auto are not cleaned properly and most owner don’t know how to put them apart for maintenance. I guess this is the case since he do not even know the brand and model of his gun..
 
I once had to fix one of those semi auto deer guns with the exact problem and it could not be cleaned from the breach and had to be cleaned from the muzzle (Remington 7400) all it needed was cleaned and a new dust cover. It's amazing how many problems can be cured by a good cleaning.

edit: he was also using pretty old and crappy ammo its not just .22lr semis that can be ammo picky another reason I ask for spent casings.
 
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If I can tear it down from enough to access the breach, a good chamber brush is what I'll try first. Unfortunately we live and work in Toronto, so I can't just try it out behind the shop.
 
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