Bolt jammed closed

[Father of four]

Anyone know how to free up a jammed bolt in the closed position?

I had purchased a Sporterized 1917 Winchester 30-06 a while back. Today was the first chance I had to test it out. I used factory ammo and everything was fine for the first 19 rounds. (except I couldn't hit a barn with it. Practice, who needs practice? ME!!!!)
Any ways, I loaded the last (5) cartridges into the old beast and continued to miss the target down range. I fired #20 down range and then attempted to pull back on the bolt to extract the spent casing but nothing happened. It was jammed solid. In the closed position. I and 2 other guys tried to pull back on the bolt with no luck, its stuck.

I will take it to the gunsmith but would like to see if I can unjam it. Learn something before I just take it in?

Any ideas?

Thanks, Howard

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[PhysicsGuy]

Try a few good blows with a rubber mallet

 

[Father of four]

To the Bolt handle?

 

[BillM]

Can you lift the bolt handle? Lifting the handle SHOULD cam the fired cartridge back just a bit. Whack the handle a couple of times with a rubber mallet. Still won't go? Drop a 1/4" diameter steel rod down the bore so it goes into the case mouth of the fired cartridge. Take a wrap or 2 of electrical tape around it where it will contact the rifling at the muzzle and a couple of places along it's length.

Stand the gun up on it's butt. Put your foot on the bolt handle like you are trying to push it open. Whack the steel rod with a real hammer. Talk nice to it. If that doesn't
work curse.

 

[Father of four]

Anyone got a bigger hammer? Just kidding, I tried the rubber hammer. No luck.

 

[Father of four]

Nope the handle will not lift any. Many whacks with the mallet. No luck.

 

[Father of four]

Off to the smith. Thanks for the replies!

Howard

 

[iusmc2002]

Make sure you update us on what happened/how it was fixed, if you would please! Always nice to learn something new.

 

[Gunner3456]

Did you get the key for the bolt lock with the rifle, LOL? /joking.

PLEASE let us know what it is?

 

[BillM]

So I have to ask the dumb question. Is the safety on? I'm not 100% familiar with 1917's, but on a 03 Springfield if the safety is on the bolt won't open. Shouldn't be possible with the striker in the down/fired position, but you did say it had been "sporterized"---and sometimes things get changed a bit from the original configuration. I just went out and tried it on one of my 03's. With the safety applied the bolt handle will wiggle but it won't lift.

 

[Old Hick]

You beat me to it BillM, I was just going to ask the same question about the safety.

Let us know what it was.


Stay Safe.

 

[Father of four]

Nope, the bolt still want budge with the safety in any position. The bolt will not wiggle a millimeter.

I will give you all a heads up when I get it back from the smith. I will drop it off there later this week.

 

[Gunner3456]

I think the first thing your smith will try is the heat/freeze thing. You heat the action with a heat gun and freeze the bolt. That increases the clearance and is the first quick and easy thing to try. To freeze the bolt, you use a can of Freeze Spray, or if not available then just a can of electronics "canned air" from Radio Shack. With that, you hold the aerosol can upside down so you get pure CO2 propellant which will freeze the bolt. When the action is really almost too hot to touch and the bolt suddenly freezes, you get a lot more clearance because the action has expanded and the bolt has contracted. Then you move really quickly to tap the bolt open.

I'm betting that a primer popped out or a case length was too long or something like that, but who knows?

 

[Father of four]

I got it to dislodge. I whacked it really hard.

Here is what I found.

 

[Father of four]

I used my brass cleaning rods to get the casing to back out.

The ammo I used was Remington Express-Core-Lokt 30-06 Springfield 180gr PSP R30065

I have used this type for my 30-30, never had an issue.

Bad primmer?

 

[Gunner3456]

I'm betting that a primer popped out or a case length was too long or something like that, but who knows?

I got it to dislodge. I whacked it really hard.

Here is what I found.

Well for the first time in my life I guessed one right, LOL.

Congrats!!!!

 

[Father of four]

The gun is still going to visit the gunsmith for a check-up.

 

[Father of four]

Yep I did , Thanks!

 

[Father of four]

Just a bad primmer?

 

[Father of four]

What caused this to happen? The primmer was not seated properly?
When it fired it the extractor lost its grip?
Somehow it then jammed?

Thanks for all the help you guys.
Howard