[Ridgerunner]

I just bought a "like new in box" .25-06 Ruger M77. The date of manufacture is Oct. 1985. Recently, I took it to the range, to see how it shoots, however I found that it would not chamber a round. This was Federal Premium factory ammo in .25-06. The bolt will come all the way forward, but will not cam down. The only thing I did to this rifle, was to disassemble the bolt for polishing. I took off the extractor, but did not remove the ejector, as the spring is very strong, and I do not have a tool for that. My question is, could I have reassembled the bolt incorrectly? It looks proper to me. The other question is, Could the previous owner have had the action 'trued' and rethreaded the barrel without ever having reset the headspace?  FYI: When I reassembled the bolt, I threaded it all the way in, then removed my strain relief, (temporary pin) thencounterclockwise till the little lug seated in it's notch.           "Ridge"

 

[Alk8944]

Ridgerunner,

I believe you were saying that the problem was with new Federal factory ammunition?  If the bolt operates properly without a cartridge, then mis-assembly is not likely the problem.  Check the serial number on the bolt, does it match the receiver number?  If it doesn't then the mis-match is likely causing an insufficient headspace problem.

If the numbers match, or if they don't, the best solution is probably return it to Ruger.  They will likely correct the situation as a good faith measure.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Alk8944: Thank you for your response. Yes, the serial numbers do match. I am sending this rifle off for a trigger job, and general accurizing, so I will call my gunsmith, and let him know what is coming. I will find out in a week or two, and come back and let everyone know what it was. I looked for burrs, fragmented brass, etc. but found nothing with the naked eye. Take Care.........."Ridge"

 

[IDShooter]

Ridge,
    The only thing I can think of other than an actual headspace problem is that the plunger that ejects the cartridge was somehow jammed and would not depress. You mentioned that the ejector had a very hard spring. Were you able to get it to depress at all? Using a tool such as a brass punch you should have been able to get it to push down flush with the bolt face without much difficulty. Hopefully, since it's on the way to the gunsmith he can diagnose and cure the problem! ID

 

[Ridgerunner]

IDShooter: Yes, I can depress the spring all the way, but it is uncommonly strong. Too strong to depress and then drive out the pin to remove it. Need three hands......LOL. I am assuming there is a type of gripping tool for this purpose. Since I am sending it away, I may try once more to remove the ejector, and if successful, see if a round will chamber with it out of the bolt. Thanks for your response.     "Ridge"

 

[Ridgerunner]

OK Guys, here is the answer: In polishing the bolt with my Dremel tool. I got jeweler's rouge packed down in around the plunger, to the point it wouldn't function properly. Kind of red faced to admit this, but possibly it will save someone else the same boo boo. The rifle will stay at the gunsmith's for accurizing......I am hoping it will group well with the 75 grain V-Max. This should make a nice long range varminter out of it......."Ridge" ... BTW,   ID Shooter: Good Call