Bolt action won't open

[jocmurph]

I have a Remington 770 in 300 win mag. I was at the range today and after 7 shots, I could no longer slide the bolt back. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Should I just take to a gun shop? Who here works on bolt action rifles? Any advice or help I greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[17 squirrel]

Does this t have a fired case in the chamber ????? If so, Wack the bolt handle with a rubber mallet.. Put a piece of wood on the bolt handle and wack it with a hammer.. Start soft and progressively hit harder until the bolt opens.
Is this factory or reloaded ammo ?
Was the bolt hard to close on a loaded round ?

 

[singlesix]

^^^^^^^^^^Happened with my Savage once, fired the round and the bolt was stuck, gave it a whack and the bolt opened up no problems.

 

[jocmurph]

It's factory ammo, and the round is spent. I'll give it a whack tomorrow.

 

[churchmouse]

Put a proper sized rod down the barrel....Un-latch the bolt and pop the spent casing out. The bolt was not made to be hit with a hammer. Wood block or not.

Yeah it may survive but still.....same way t get a stuck steel cased spent cartridge out of an AR.......works.

 

[oldpink]

This makes me wonder if you had an overpressure round.
Once you're able to extract the fired case, carefully examine it for pressure signs.
That would include a flattened or cratered primer, blown primer, deformed case head, or shiny spot on the back of the case head where the extractor plunger was.

 

[1911ly]

Put a proper sized rod down the barrel....Un-latch the bolt and pop the spent casing out. The bolt was not made to be hit with a hammer. Wood block or not.

Yeah it may survive but still.....same way t get a stuck steel cased spent cartridge out of an AR.......works.

This right here. Listen to him!

Avoid whacking the bolt handle. I had one given to me last year that someone did not trim his reloaded brass. After he got it stuck he whacked the handle with a 2x4 and broke it off. I was able to get the round out and re-silver solder the bolt handle back on. Free rifle to me but a lesson learned for the fellow.

 

[singlesix]

IIRC, my bolt wouldn't unlock completely, don't know if using a rod to push out a spent case would work. Whacking maybe a strong term, it was more likely tap, tap, tap, until the bolt unlocked.

 

[churchmouse]

Also.....clean the chamber with a proper brush and solvent......just because.....

 

[Hookeye]

On a 700 the cocking pc rides along an angled edge on the bolt.
Matte finish guns have a rougher surface and if not lubed will stick.
This is actually a common problem......on new guns. Lube that section.
Or disassemble the bolt, polish, reassemble and then lube.
A little Shooters Choice grease and you should be good to go.

Angled surface in the pic

 

[Hookeye]

If that's OK and the gun rather new, you could have a burr in the chamber, proly right by the belt.
I got a like new '74 tiger striped walnut BDL in .300 mag.............that had such a burr.
It was like new for a reason!
I was able to get the stuck case (about round 10) out and see the drag on it.
Careful polish and it was fine.
Took it to a gunsmith first, and he said he could do it..........but was going to use way rougher sanding material.
I decided I'd rather do it myself, went more reserved and it took two attempts to remove the offending burr.
40 rounds at the bench and they slid out slick as a whistle.

 

[Hookeye]

Rod down the bbl and tap will help on an AR but not on a standard bolt action.

 

[jocmurph]

Thanks all. I got it fixed and gave it good cleaning and lube job. Hopefully I have better luck on my next trip to the range.

 

[churchmouse]

Rod down the bbl and tap will help on an AR but not on a standard bolt action.

I have done it......a few times. Bolt un-latched and it will tap out no problem. If the bolt will not rotate and un-latch....no it will not work.

 

[17 squirrel]

Thanks all. I got it fixed and gave it good cleaning and lube job. Hopefully I have better luck on my next trip to the range.

Can you post a couple of pictures of the brass that got stuck ? The peeps here want to seeeeeeee....

 

[oldpink]

Seconded on wanting to see the brass, particularly extreme closeups of the sides and the rear of the case head.