Failure to extract

[oldsfer 0]

I had thought B 3957 was unfired. I've had it more than twenty years, and the buddy from whom I inherited it hadn't fired it to my knowledge. The last time it was disassembled was when Joe Scott showed me how up at the "Big E" some years ago. In preparation for for the range this week, I disassembled and cleaned, expecting to get dust out of the bore. I was surprised to find powder residue.

I cleaned to shiny bright, greased and lubed, and went to the range. After the first round, when the bolt was still forward, I just figured I don't have a hold-open catch. Pulled the bolt to the rear and extracted/ejected case. Loaded another single round, with same result. After the third similar result I quit to come home and try to analyze. Disassembled and cleaned and made sure I had correctly re-assembled. Son-in-law put one inch wide white tape on barrel adjacent to forward stock/radiator. Friday went back to the range, SIL stood to watch tape instead of scoping target. Barrel recoiled to beyond the tape, but no extraction. Quit after four rounds, but saved the cases this time. This morning, I loaded a live round and pulled the bolt rearward, with normal extraction/ejection. Then loaded expended case, with full spring force to close the bolt. I could not extract. SIL (big guy) finally got it out. Suspected enlarged chamber, and tried to compare live round to expended case, but with Harry Homeowner micrometer and zero knowledge of cartridge taper specs was unproductive. Suspected ammo, but tried out my new CMP Garand at the same time with no problems with Greek stuff from CMP. Cases are shiny bright from base to up 1/4 inch. Above that, it looks like it was sanded, and seemingly more so at the shoulder. I now suspect dirty/rotten chamber, since it's not as shiny as bore. Don't yet have a 30-06 chamber brush, so tonight I used an oversized nylon brush with bore cleaner and CLP. Am I missing something? Any and all suggestions welcome. By the way, groups were good, even through that teeny peep sight. Thanks in advance. Gene

[Joseph Scott 0]

Poor or no extraction are almost always due to fine pitting in the chamber due to corrosive ammo and cleaning only the bores. Try cleaning with a shotgun brush and bore cleaner. If they still stick, polish some loaded rounds by chucking in 3/8" drill on the bullets and holding skotch brite, polish cases. After you fire them, inspect with magnifier looking for fine spots of pulled/smeared brass where it went into the pits. If you have this, bore will need honing. A rear pain but usually can save barrel.

[oldsfer 0]

Thank you, Joe.I was thinking along similar lines. Will give it a good workout this week. I'll probaly never stop wondering who and when all that firing came from. I'll let you know the results. Gene