The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I was surprised to realise that when I pulled the trigger the hammer was realised and the firing pin engaged etc. Clearly this would allow for a round to be fired - if all the right conditions were in place - out of breach

After reading the replies and further investigation, I no longer believe that the firing pin is engaged whilst the bolt is not home.

I was going to have a play with some empty cases with primers in, then decided that playing with sparks in the loft was possibly going to earn me a place on the Darwin awards, so rather painfully, I had to use my Mk1 finger. Clearly I could not get the bolt to close any closer to the breach than the width of my finger, but at that distance to pin does not appear to be hit.

I would like to have tried with something that allowed me to close the bolt almost home but still not touching, but the best I could come up with was using blue tack but after a frustrating search was informed that it had been thrown out as the children were eating it?

Similar occurs with my shotgun, which is even more painful on the finger, but not of course with the bolt action.

Having taken the rifle apart yesterday I got a good understanding of how it all works. Sliding the bolt back wards and for wards without the upper assembly in place was very informative and made me realise just what a good bit of engineering this is.
I think the subject of cleaning the buffer tube spring has been covered before, but I found that after cleaning the bolt was much easier to manipulate.
(The small post that keeps the spring in place can be pushed down with a flat blade screwdriver - it is sprung). Just how often this Will need to be cleaned remains to be seen

I am convinced that the magazine is at the source of my problems, or more to the point the feed lips. With the top assembly off, I could see how the bolt was picking up some snap cap rounds. Rounds on the right hand side of the magazine wear proving difficult to catch on the rear and were sometimes getting caught along their case and moved out by friction.
On reassembling the rifle and putting many dozens of snap caps though it, I could see that is is always the right hand bullet that causes the feed problem. On this occasion, every single last round failed to feed.

I had a tentative go with the pliers to try and get the lips to move slightly, but they are actually quite rigid (unlike Glock mags), so I decided not to force anything and contact SGC to see what they think.

DM

How about cardboard instead of your finger? Will allow closer contact and should mark up nicely if the primer ignites although the bang should be a giveaway?

I think the place to play with primers is on the range - I do my reloading in the attic and as much as I run a tidy ship, I am not prepared to burn the house down and have a Viking style cremation whilst I am still living!
My garden is overlooked and I have no wish to be making friends with the Surrey ARV's and Mr Worm, especially as the garden is rather wet.

I was wanting to get to the range on Tuesday or Wednesday but the wife has other plans for me - mainly childcare, so I may have to wait for a week or two before I can get there.

I would hope that by then an Official verdict may have been given as to what happened to the catastrophic failure,

DM

Idea

Drop a BIC pen down barrel - tip pointed to muzzle

If when firing pin hits out of the fp hole it will hit cap end of pen
If pen bounces or flies out the pin is existing out :G

Any particular ink colour?

DM
Very prudent primers are more powerful than people credit, try a disk of selotape over fp hole see if it gets pierced. Also check the buffer for rough edges and clean with scotch brite to smoth it up.

TW

"Socks are on your feet and in your shoes.

Socks are in two places at the same time.

Socks are more cunning than people give them credit for"

Courtesy of IC.

Pink flounces
Blue bounces
Red for dead
Black is best :55:

Red flies best!

Just got a reply from Shooting Supplies, Bob at SGC is returning the gun to them by this weekend along with his report, SS are going to ring me when they get it.

I've emailed back as I would assume Bob would have discussed the report and asked what he's said.