.22 Bolt Action Issue

G'day folks,
I have a Harrington and Richardson .22 Plainsman bolt action rifle that I have had for years and years, I had put it away 10 - 12 years ago and couldn't remember why. Now I have it out again because my eldest Daughter (21 this Nov) has decided she wants to start shooting again. This was the rifle she first learned to shoot with back when she was 10 - 11 - 12 years old until the novelty wore off.
Now after pulling the rifle out from the back of the gun locker and squeezing off a few rounds I have worked out why we put it away and started using another rifle.
Once a round has been fired, and you pull the bolt to eject the spent cartridge, half way through ejecting it all jams up.
Could or would anyone have an idea as to why this is happening...........
It doesn't do it every time, say every 3rd or 4th round. And it seems the gentler you are with it the more likely it will bind up.
I have sat and gone over this thing for hours and can't see anything jumping out at me that could be a problem.
Any help would be much appreciated.


Matt

Not familiar with that particular rifle, but I'd pull the bolt out and have a close look for wear/rub marks and burrs, etc on the bolt and and action, as they might highlight what is causing the jam.

These sort of things can be hard to work out without having the rifle in you hands and "playing with it".

Hi Matt,
I don't have any experience with this brand, but have had similar problems with another brand. Doe's this happen without ammo in it, or only with ammo? I've had it with the ejector not gripping the rim of the casing properly. When you get the casing out does it look distorted or swollen? Check the rim where the ejector grips it, any unusual markings? Do you have a micrometer or vernier to measure the case diameter? Is the ammo clean, I've also had similar, where the casing had been in a leather belt and been there a while causing it to grow green fur!
Kryn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Hi Matt,
I've had it with the ejector not gripping the rim of the casing properly. When you get the casing out does it look distorted or swollen?
Kryn

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I've also seen similar caused by a worn ejector not gripping the casing properly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Hi Matt,
I don't have any experience with this brand, but have had similar problems with another brand. Doe's this happen without ammo in it, or only with ammo? I've had it with the ejector not gripping the rim of the casing properly. When you get the casing out does it look distorted or swollen? Check the rim where the ejector grips it, any unusual markings? Do you have a micrometer or vernier to measure the case diameter? Is the ammo clean, I've also had similar, where the casing had been in a leather belt and been there a while causing it to grow green fur!
Kryn

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

I've also seen similar caused by a worn ejector not gripping the casing properly.

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Thats what I was hoping was not the case:(:no:
I have been searching online and making a lot of phone calls to see who carries spare parts for this brand and model, but to no avail.........
I would look at making new parts myself, but I have no way of knowing the origional specs.
Fingers crossed someone here will see this post and chime in who has one or knows about them......

Thanks for your replies gents

Matt

I think, you might need to contact a gunsmith. Used to know a few about 20 year ago Sorry.
Kryn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matthew_g

G'day folks,
I have a Harrington and Richardson .22 Plainsman bolt action rifle that I have had for years and years, I had put it away 10 - 12 years ago and couldn't remember why. Now I have it out again because my eldest Daughter (21 this Nov) has decided she wants to start shooting again. This was the rifle she first learned to shoot with back when she was 10 - 11 - 12 years old until the novelty wore off.
Now after pulling the rifle out from the back of the gun locker and squeezing off a few rounds I have worked out why we put it away and started using another rifle.
Once a round has been fired, and you pull the bolt to eject the spent cartridge, half way through ejecting it all jams up.
Could or would anyone have an idea as to why this is happening...........
It doesn't do it every time, say every 3rd or 4th round. And it seems the gentler you are with it the more likely it will bind up.
I have sat and gone over this thing for hours and can't see anything jumping out at me that could be a problem.
Any help would be much appreciated.


Matt

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Hi Matt

whenever I've seen this happen (20+ years in the Army Reserve), the cause has been grunge on the face of the bolt and/or in the receiver

Have you given the rifle a through cleaning ?

Might be time to pull the bolt apart and give it a good clean as well.

Hi Matt
has the chamber been burred over by dry firing, dry firing a rimfire is in most cases a no no the firing pin hits the edge of the chamber and over time peens it over causing a burr which can cause ejection hangups, have a good look at the chamber where the firing pin hits the rim of the round and see if you can see a mark where it may have been hit by the firing pin. It can be polished out with carefull use of wet and dry held onto a thin dowel rod.

Google "22 rimfire firing pin burr " there is plenty of advise out there on how to polish out the burr if indeed that is what is wrong.

Another thought, does it do it with different brands of ammo? Could it be a bad batch of ammo, or slightly differing cartridge shapes to what that rifle needs?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matthew_g

G'day folks,
I have a Harrington and Richardson .22 Plainsman bolt action rifle that I have had for years and years, I had put it away 10 - 12 years ago and couldn't remember why. Now I have it out again because my eldest Daughter (21 this Nov) has decided she wants to start shooting again. This was the rifle she first learned to shoot with back when she was 10 - 11 - 12 years old until the novelty wore off.
Now after pulling the rifle out from the back of the gun locker and squeezing off a few rounds I have worked out why we put it away and started using another rifle.
Once a round has been fired, and you pull the bolt to eject the spent cartridge, half way through ejecting it all jams up.
Could or would anyone have an idea as to why this is happening...........
It doesn't do it every time, say every 3rd or 4th round. And it seems the gentler you are with it the more likely it will bind up.
I have sat and gone over this thing for hours and can't see anything jumping out at me that could be a problem.
Any help would be much appreciated.


Matt

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If its an Model 865 Plainsman they seem to be well regarded around the net for accuracy.

I fell over a schematic for it when sniffing around on the net.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufact...sman-38770.htm
Diagram may help with self disassemby.

Some parts still available by the looks but need to be imported by gunsmith or possibly someone with special license .