Perplexing Mauser problem: SOLVED!

[jajbellsouthnet]

I have a minty 98K Mauser (all no.'s match, shiny bore) with a "headspace" problem that defies logic.

When I chamber a round, the bolt requires a sharp downward blow with my palm to get the round to seat.
(Insufficient headspace, says I....wrong!)

If I retract the bolt until I can see the back of the round, the bolt will then cycle like silk. Wouldn't do that if headspace were the problem.

If I eject the round, and try again with the same round, I get the same problem.

I have neck-trimmed and resized the case and checked it's dimensions. Right on. The base and rim of the case are perfect. After cycling there are no scratches, new shiny spots, etc.

The face of the bolt, lugs, extractor and breech are clean and unscratched.

The safety takes way too much effort to engage. The notch in the firing pin is .0005 or so too far forward. Effort required to engage the safety is not affected by whether the round chambers or not.

Any ideas? Has anyone else ever had this problem?

[DM]

Are you sure the "rim" of the case is "under" the extractor when you close the bolt? If not, it would cause the exact problem you describe...

DM

[Wyobuckaroo]

Got a question......

If you load a factory round from the magazine, does it do the same thing ?

If you load a round of surplus military ammo from the magazine, does it do this ?

Two things I'm trying to get at is this.
Like what was said, is the round moving up under the extractor and sitting on the bolt face like it should when it goes into the chamber.

Now, I'm also going to presume you are using reloads since you mention trimming and sizing. Lube your expander plug when you re size your brass so the expander plug does not stretch the shoulder. This can be a problem with thick necked, stiff necked, reformed from 30-06 brass cases.

Yes it will take a little time to clean the inside of the case neck when you clean the outside of the case after sizing. But it may help.

Now if none of this helps, try to chamber the factory and surplus rounds without the striker/firing pin in the bolt.

As far as your safety goes you may have to change the head on the firing pin to get one that works better.

Good luck
Wyo

[jajbellsouthnet]

I have part of the answer. This rifle does like to seat commercial, surplus military or handloaded rounds. Or empty brass for that matter. The problem is the extractor. When I load a round onto the bolt and then chamber it, the bolt works smoothly. The extractor must be hanging up on the rim of the round. Since the round checks out, I have to start looking for something amiss on the extractor or the surfaces it mates with in the receiver. I am reluctant to take a stone to the hook on the extractor. Deepening the slot or removing some of the hook's height would probably result in a broken extractor. Will keep you posted if I find the source of the problem.

[Mr.B]

Sometime I find that when working with older surplus rifles that being rough with the bolt as far as charging a round and extracting a round seems to seat the rounds really well.

I had a problem with working the action of my Russian Captured K98, turns out I was being too easy with it since I was use to working the actions of sporting rifles. Throw that bolt around....Well thats what I think


-B

[macgeoghagen]

i have a yugo postwar M48 that does the same thing if i cycle the bolt slowly. i have to cycle it quickly and firmly to get the big extractor to slide over the rim and into place. if i do it slowly the extractor just pushes the cartridge into the chamber and then the bolt won't close because the lock isn't lined up.

[Wyobuckaroo]

I forgot that..........

What has been said. Work it like you are killing snakes......
Always load from the magazine, never directly into the chamber.

Don't be gentle with it. Also, don't work on the extractor hook yourself. Take it to a pro who has done it before. Or you can end up with other problems you really won't like worse than this. Like brass stuck in the chamber.........

Good luck
Wyo

[hunter63]

Always load from the magazine, never directly into the chamber. *
Good luck
Wyo
Real good advice.

This is true for all bolt guns, though the new ones are more forgiving.

[ArmySGT.]

Sounds like the extractor needs beveled. The cartridge is not slipping up under the extractor. The bottom inside edge needs beveled, maybe the lower point, and the inside of the hook where it turns 90 degrees.


Take it to a Gunsmith that has actually gone to a school. Avoid those online or video degree types.

[jajbellsouthnet]

Wyobuckaroo had the answer all along! If I take his advice and cycle from the magazine, the problem goes away...TOTALLY! Fed from the magazine, this rifle can now be cycled with the top and bottom of my right thumb! No work at all! I haven't a clue why it works that way......thought I knew something about guns........

[macgeoghagen]

I took out my mauser and tried a few things. my observation:

1. when feeding from the magazine, note that the extractor is on the side, allowing the rim of the casing to slide between the extractor and bolt face. as the round is pushed forward by the bolt, the shoulder of the case causes enough resistance against the bottom edge of the chamber that the back end of the case is cammed up, pushing the rim between the extractor and bolt face.
load a round into the magazine and watch the extractor and case rim to see this in action.

2. when the round is just dropped into the feed/eject port and pushed forward by the bolt, the round is pushed into the chamber by the front of the extractor. the extractor can only be engaged with considerable force after the round is chambered. Unless the shooter slams it in, forcing the extractor to cam up and over the rim and fall into place, the bolt will not close. This is because the last few millimeters of distance needed for the locking lugs to line up has not been covered.
Put a round in the feed/eject port and try to chamber it to see the front of the extractor push the round in, then fail to fully close and lock.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Now........ Here is another little trick you can use.

But BEWARE........ IT TAKES SOME PRACTICE...........

What you can do is this. Load 5 rounds in the magazine the usual way. Then take another round and hold it down as far into the magazine as it will go. With your other hand close the bolt slowly and let the rim of the 6 th case slide under the extractor in the normal way. Again, you have to be careful the first few time, and practice it or risk messing up the extractor.

This may not work on some rifles, or some calibers.
Your millage may vary.

Good luck
Wyo