Headspace Question?

[bearcat]

I have a Remington 700 300 Ultra Mag. When I chamber a round, the bolt is hard to close at first. After the round is chambered, I can lift the bolt and close it over and over and it is easy to close. I tried the bolt out of a friends Model 700 300 Ultra Mag, and his bolt closes easy in my rifle. I have fired around 100 rounds through the rifle, and there have been no signs of excessive pressure. The bolt is easy to open after each shot. The bolt is only hard to close when first chambering a round, It does this with a live round and an empty shell. Do I have a Headspace problem or is my bolt the problem?

[tedicast]

Re: Headspace Question?

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe if it were a headspace problem, it wouldn't do it on an empty shell.

[popgun]

Re: Headspace Question?

You did not mention if these were re-loads or factory ammo.

I have seen re-loads swell to fit the exact size of the chamber and afterwords, not want to fit well in a different rifle.

.....popgun

[AJ]

Re: Headspace Question?

If they are reloads, I would suspect you are doing one or more of the following:

1. Your COL is too great. this comes from seating the bullet too far out. Bullet is being seated deeper by closing the bolt.

2. Case length is too long. Your cases may need trimming to be at proper length. Usually if this is the problem, you will get excessive pressure signs on most of your loads, not just hard to lift bolt, but flattened primers, blown primers, excessive case head expansion, etc.

3. You may need to bump the shoulder back a thousandth (0.001") or two. If you are neck sizing you do need to full length resize occasionally. Your bolt's camming power forces the case into the chamber and after that it will open and close normally.

4. If you are crimping the necks, you may be flaring the shoulder to neck juction slightly. Again your bolt's camming power is resizing it .

If its doing this on factory ammo, you may have a problem with your bolt. You can grease the cammins surface of the bolt to see if that makes it any easier.

[bearcat]

Re: Headspace Question?

I do not use reloads. These are Remington Factory loads that I am using. Could the problem possibly be with the extractor? I am not sure, does the extractor lock around the case rim as soon as the cartridge stops or on the down stroke of the bolt?

[AJ]

Re: Headspace Question?

Yes the extractor does slip past the case rim as the bolt is closed. It is spring loaded and will flex as it goes around the rim. You may have debris built up under the extractor, but if that was the case, you would have had problems all along. Unless you have really abused the gun, it should not have build up under the extractor. How long has you had this problem?

[bearcat]

Re: Headspace Question?

I bought the gun in 2000. As far as I can remember, the bolt has been hard to close from day 1. I keep all of my guns clean and in like new condition. I said earlier, with the bolt from a friends rifle the problem doesn't exist. I have heard that this is not an accurate test of headspace problem. I was told that each bolt is matched for headspace for the particular rifle in which it came in. Is this the case? If not maybe I could get Remington to sell me another bolt. Remington wants me to take my scope off and send the rifle to one of their repair centers. I will have to pay all frieight and for all repairs. I guess I should have took this step before the 2 year warrnty run out.

[AJ]

Re: Headspace Question?

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I have heard that this is not an accurate test of headspace problem.

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You are correct. This is not a headspace test at all. It will not tell you if your gun has excessive headspace or has zero headspace.

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I was told that each bolt is matched for headspace for the particular rifle in which it came in. Is this the case? If not maybe I could get Remington to sell me another bolt.

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When a gun is headspaced by a gunsmith or at the factory, a measurement is taken from the bolt face to the center of the shoulder (rimless chambering)and the chamber is reamed that amount. When the bolt will close on a GO gauge the rifle is chambered deep enough. Now the gunsmith has to insert a NO-GO gauge into the chamber and insure the bolt does not close. Just because your buddies bolt closes easily, does not mean its the correct one for your gun. each bolt can be different. Headspace is not a one size fits all deal.

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Remington wants me to take my scope off and send the rifle to one of their repair centers.

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Sounds normal.

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I will have to pay all frieight and for all repairs. I guess I should have took this step before the 2 year warrnty run out.

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Like they say, hind sight is 20/20. If it were mine, I would take it to a good gunsmith near me and see what the deal is. Why send it back to Remington if you have to pay for it? Go to a good gunsmith.

[bearcat]

Re: Headspace Question?

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my questions. AJ, I am taking your advise and taking the rifle to a local gunsmith.