Bolt-action rifle marring the casings

stebolicious

stebolicious

Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
1,655
Hey there folks,
I hope this isn’t a super dumb question...
I am now the proud owner of a Remington 700 SPS 30-06. Its brand spanking new, hasn’t been fired yet, as i just took it home today. I put a couple shells in it just to check the action and get a feel for the cycling (im new to bolt guns), and when i picked up the ejected shells, i noticed something odd..
There are big scratches down the side of the casings. they aren’t deep, or causing any threat to the functionality of the shells, i was just concerned it might have something to do with the gun.

I looked inside, and the feed lips had a slight brass residue on them, and the bolt face did as well.
I just didnt know if that was normal and i just need to break it in?

Ive never had a brand new gun before, i have bought all my guns used so i dont know what the break-in period is like.

Any info on this?
 
Watch carefully as the cases feed, and youll see where they're
being scratched. You'll find sharp edges left from machining the inside of
the action where the box magazune fits. The sharp edges can be deburred
(carefully) with a small diamond file or stone.
Mine did the same thing 30- years ago...!
 
Russ Andrews said:
Watch carefully as the cases feed, and youll see where they're
being scratched. You'll find sharp edges left from machining the inside of
the action where the box magazune fits. The sharp edges can be deburred
(carefully) with a small diamond file or stone.
Mine did the same thing 30- years ago...!
Click to expand...

Yep, i checked that. It definitely is the feed lips on the internal mag.

Do you think it will get better on its own or should I file it.
 
I don't think it would be a huge deal unless you end up cycling the same few rounds through the action a hundred times. But it probably won't work itself out on its own. Brass is quite a bit softer than steel, and the sharp edge will likely take a long time to wear down from normal use. So if it bothers you, the above-suggested filing should be easy. With that said, I've never had this problem on a new bolt gun before, but I always avoid Remington rifles.
 
There is a bur- take it to the local shop. 5 min fix if someone knows what their doing.
 
If it is a new gun I'd contact remington first, if you're sure that it is the magazine they'll probably just send you a new one. I have dealt with them in the past and found their customer service good. My uncle bought a savage 30-06 that had a magazine issue they just sent a replacement drop in.

I'm not a Remington 700 guy so can't say if it's the magazine causing it. I've had it happen with a burr in the chamber before (mauser) and because of a too tight extractor not letting the case up on the bolt face before it started passing the belt counterbore (springfield). Magazine is a good easy fix so I'm glad if that's what you've got.

Red
 
just a thought, but you could try running a bit of cloth around on all the surfaces to detect anything that catches. I'm no expert, but it sounds like a minor problem, and a little filing, sanding or even a fine stone would take care of it. the truth of the matter is that all most all modern firearms are like any other machine, and small fitting or machining errors can get missed from time to time. As long as cartridges are not getting stuck, no biggie.
 
Hmm, all my postings are double-tapping today...
 
Last edited:
stebolicious said:
Yep, i checked that. It definitely is the feed lips on the internal mag.

Do you think it will get better on its own or should I file it.
Click to expand...

DON'T FREAKING FILE ANYTHING!

Hope I caught your attention.

Shoot it observe it, forget about it.

If you still feel the need to remove metal from your gun, I would suggest that you use very high grit polishing emory paper, wrap some around your finger or a dowel and make a few very light passes. -Still don't think you need to do anything though.
 
Thanks for all your help guys,

As i had said in the first post, i am new to bolt guns. I just wasn’t sure if it was normal.
I am gunna leave it as is, its not jamming or anything, the action is just a litttle bit scratchy because of it. No biggy. Ill get over it.
 
For new bolt guns, I like to sit there and work the bolt a few hundred to thousand times, when I'm watching TV at night. This will help turn that action to "butter smooth". I've even used "gritty" toothpaste as a polishing compound, but no longer think that is necessary.
 
CWL said:
For new bolt guns, I like to sit there and work the bolt a few hundred to thousand times, when I'm watching TV at night. This will help turn that action to "butter smooth". I've even used "gritty" toothpaste as a polishing compound, but no longer think that is necessary.
Click to expand...

A little goes a long way!!!
 
I thought marring of the cases was the function of the Remington 700 action because it needs the spring plunger, extractor and utilizes the chamber as the way the 700 feeds and ejects. The chamber,claw extractor and spring plunger work together simultaneously to kick out the case the moment it clears the chamber.

It's not "controlled round" feeding like Mauser or Winchester M70's, they have a claw extractor that grabs and holds the head of the cartridge the moment it is stripped from the magazine and chambered. The cartridge is still firmly held until the bolt is worked to the rear where the ejector kicks it out in the back of the action.

If I remember, the Remington does not have an ejector but uses a spring loaded plunger in the bolt head recess. So when the cartridge is stripped from the magazine, it is loose till the claw can grab the rim thereby compressing the plunger and using the chamber wall as to hold the cartridge in place within the bolt head. The chamber is the only thing keeping the cartridge in the bolt because the compressed plunger is trying to kick the cartridge out already, placing pressure on the chamber wall the whole time. The case marring is from the chamber wall.

Frank De Haas explains it, I am going off memory which could be slipping. LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top