Steyr Aug Z bolt won't lock forward when chambered. Help?

[Nathwraith]

Hi all,

I have recently purchased a steyr AUG Z straight pull.

I have discovered that when chambered it does not lock the bolt fully forward which is preventing the firearm from firing and also means that the round does not get extracted and ejected.

I have stripped and cleaned everything to no avail.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Daryll]

It sounds like its broken, and you should sell it me for a fraction of what you paid for it..

But seriously... does it lock up with no round in the chamber..? try closing the action on an empty chamber, then put a cleaning rod up the barrel and see if the bolt will move when you push on the rod.
If it does lock up, then it could be an ammo problem... are you using factory or homeloads..?
If homeloads are they over the standard COL..?

If the bolt doesn't lock on an empty chamber, then you could have a different problem.

If you strip it, does the bolt move and turn freely in the bolt carrier..?

[Nathwraith]

You know what, I'm an absolute fool.

When I was racking the action, I was holding on to it as it returned so that there wasn't enough force to chamber the round.

Pulling the cocking handle and then releasing it, works fine now.

[jmc67]

Mines the same. Just pull it back and let it go, don't try and ride it forward. Mine also doesn't like it when loading the first round after the bolt is held open after emptying a mag. I find it better to close the bolt, then insert the full mag, and then rack it back and let it go. Have fun with it - quirky gun but so far mine seems very accurate. They tend to like heavier bullets if you're in the process of trying stuff out (mines in 69gr at the moment).

[Nathwraith]

Ah thanks for the tips.

Currently got some 55grn Hornady training (cheap stuff).

Hopefully going to try out this weekend if the scope arrives in time.

Got a Vortex Spitfire Prism x3 mag on order.

[jmc67]

Couple of other things which might help you. The standard mechanism for pulling the bolt back is 'hard on the fingers' to say the least. If you're interested, Armalon used to do something which made that process easier, a sort of modified cocking lever. Not sure whether they still do it but might be worth giving them a call if your having problems with it. Also, if you want to add a bipod, again Armalon used to do a rail which attached in place of the front vertical grip, which is ideal for adding a bipod to (I have one of those handgrip/bipod combos on a rail on mine and I can post a pic of it if you want to see how it looks).

Not sure how the price matches up to the Hornady stuff, but give PPU 69gr match a go when you get the chance.

[Blackstuff]

Was it the Raptor charging handle you were thinking of?

https://www.manticorearms.com/raptor-ch ... andle.html

I had one on mine (when I had an AUG) and it does make a significant difference. Only problem was it made the brass fly even further so if I wasn't on the extreme right of the range, or using a brass catcher I'd be raining brass on people 3 shooting positions away

[jmc67]

Was it the Raptor charging handle you were thinking of?

https://www.manticorearms.com/raptor-ch ... andle.html

I had one on mine (when I had an AUG) and it does make a significant difference. Only problem was it made the brass fly even further so if I wasn't on the extreme right of the range, or using a brass catcher I'd be raining brass on people 3 shooting positions away

No, mines different. It uses a cam system to make it easier to use. I'll get a pic of it which will show it better. Oh and yes I got a brass catcher for mine too, saves showering the person to my right at the range.

[jmc67]

As mentioned some shots of my setup, showing the cammed bolt handle, lower rail and bipod, and brass catcher.

[Blackstuff]

Yes that certainly would make cocking it easier!! Is that off a Browning M2??