stuck home load in .243
- Thread starter Hussar
- Start date
The safest advice is to take it a gunsmith...but you know that.
I hesitate to suggest anything...I don't know what your toolkit or skill set is either which doesn't help.
I would suggest as a start, that you gave more information, as much as detail as possible, about the circumstance prior to it getting jammed, and the type of rifle, in case anybody else can advise.
Can you access the case's extractor groove to get a grip at all?
Did other rounds from the same batch chamber and cycle okay?
How tight is it? How much force did you apply when trying to chamber it?
Did the extractor break or the case rim shear when you managed to get the bolt out?
Did the bolt go fully home or did the cartridge jam on the way in?
Is it the correct bullet in the case?
Sorry I can't be more helpful, but good luck.
Be careful.
Alan
I hesitate to suggest anything...I don't know what your toolkit or skill set is either which doesn't help.
I would suggest as a start, that you gave more information, as much as detail as possible, about the circumstance prior to it getting jammed, and the type of rifle, in case anybody else can advise.
Can you access the case's extractor groove to get a grip at all?
Did other rounds from the same batch chamber and cycle okay?
How tight is it? How much force did you apply when trying to chamber it?
Did the extractor break or the case rim shear when you managed to get the bolt out?
Did the bolt go fully home or did the cartridge jam on the way in?
Is it the correct bullet in the case?
Sorry I can't be more helpful, but good luck.
Be careful.
Alan
If you are sure of the correct load, I would take it to a safe backstop & fire it, then if still stuck, knock it out with a suitable rod.
HowaU
Well-Known Member
First do not fire the round at all. The possibility that the case might not be the right size/dimension is big.
Remove the firing pin from your bolt, re-try extracting it like normal be aware to not ram the case in deeper if it is only a little way in.
if the above fail get your bare cleaning rod and from the muzzel end push it out of the barrel.
if that fails rifle smith might be your next stop.
points to note, do not fire the round as thisnwill only expand the case even further.
good luck
Remove the firing pin from your bolt, re-try extracting it like normal be aware to not ram the case in deeper if it is only a little way in.
if the above fail get your bare cleaning rod and from the muzzel end push it out of the barrel.
if that fails rifle smith might be your next stop.
points to note, do not fire the round as thisnwill only expand the case even further.
good luck
reloader54
Well-Known Member
can you confirm it's the correct calibre by the head-stamp.?
did you full length or neck size the case?
do you know what time your local gunsmith opens.?
did you full length or neck size the case?
do you know what time your local gunsmith opens.?
puntgunner
Well-Known Member
I take it you are not on a range - or out stalking - so the assumption is you have travelled with this rifle in its present state.
I can imagine you embarrassment at the thought of having to take this to your local gunsmith, but that is the best advice you will get today.
Call ahead so you are not a surprise walking in with a loaded rifle, make sure the bolt is not in, and get it to an expert.
This is not a 'biggy', but handled incorrectly could end badly - with either damage to your firearm or yourself being the outcome.
Many offer advice on a number of subject on here, not all of it should be followed.
I can imagine you embarrassment at the thought of having to take this to your local gunsmith, but that is the best advice you will get today.
Call ahead so you are not a surprise walking in with a loaded rifle, make sure the bolt is not in, and get it to an expert.
This is not a 'biggy', but handled incorrectly could end badly - with either damage to your firearm or yourself being the outcome.
Many offer advice on a number of subject on here, not all of it should be followed.
Have you tried knocking the cartridge out with a cleaning rod from the muzzle end? Probably best to have a jag and patch attached to keep it centred properly in the bore and prevent damage to cleaning rod and bore.
Seems to be the simplest solution to me. There could be some debris in the chamber that has stopped the cartridge chambering properly, or just an oversized case or bullet seated too far out that's stuck in the rifling.
Seems to be the simplest solution to me. There could be some debris in the chamber that has stopped the cartridge chambering properly, or just an oversized case or bullet seated too far out that's stuck in the rifling.
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I think that travelling to a gunsmith's with a live round up the spout - even with the bolt removed - would be a very risky thing to do.
Unfortunately, I can't suggest an alternative, other than fire the rifle and then knock the case out with a rod. I think I'd be clamping the rifle in a vice and using a long piece of string on the trigger...
Unfortunately, I can't suggest an alternative, other than fire the rifle and then knock the case out with a rod. I think I'd be clamping the rifle in a vice and using a long piece of string on the trigger...
If you can get the bolt almost completely forward, it's not a do'nut at the body:shoulder junction.
Had you just fired another homeload and damaged the extractor? The bolt might feel a solid stop to turning it down if the extractor has broken.
If it feels like you could force the bolt down with more force, it could be a protruding primer or a tight neck, a stretched case(how many times fired?).
What make rifle?
flying felix
Well-Known Member
Without more information about the circumstances preceding the jam I think it not wise to advise firing the gun. Did the bullet from the round before get jammed into the barrel due to lack of powder and that's preventing the new cartridge to load?
The OP needs to at least answer the questions posed which will help with analysis, or take it to a gunsmith for him to make a direct assessment.
Alan
The OP needs to at least answer the questions posed which will help with analysis, or take it to a gunsmith for him to make a direct assessment.
Alan
I've had this with a .223 homeload which I had not re-sized. I'm sure safety should be paramount but I stuck the cleaning rod down the barrel and tapped it gently. Then a little harder and out it came - all the while I was doing this, I was protected from a problem at the breech and did not hold on to the cleaning rod. I would do the same thing again but its your rifle and your health.
Fair enough when it is your own load, and your are aware of what went before.
I keep getting the heebies that without knowing the circumstances there are too many "what ifs". What is the reloading routine of the OP? Could there be a stainless tumbling pin stuck in the flash hole just waiting to be prodded into the primer?
I agree that with a cleaning rod up one end making it look like a spear gun and no bolt in the other the rifle becomes a bit like Oscar Wilde's horse...dangerous at both ends.
Alan
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No, I don't think so. If a round accidentally detonated in the manufacturers packet it wouldn't go far. However, within the confines of a firearm it's going to go very far in whatever direction the barrel is pointing.
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Surely it would probably barely make it out of the barrel, more likely if it were to accidentally go off, although why it would any more so than a round sat in a box. The case wouldn’t obturate and expand, instead it would simply be forced back and out of the action, almost all of the energy would be lost.
reloader54
Well-Known Member
"what if,what, if,what if" I'm all for common sense solutions but come on guys every question seems to generate no single answer, just a habitual dismantling of the previous answer. remove the bolt put a wooden dowel [this avoids damaging rifling] down the barrel and measure the distance it travels, this will tell you if there is a previous bullet lodged part way down, if the measurement indicates there is only one round present then gently tap the dowel if the bullet moves into the case remove the rod and squirt oil down the barrel this will prevent both powder and primer from causing any further problems. obviously don't stand directly over it but to the side, now tap a little harder and it will come free. clean up the mess and check everything before loading another round. if you don't feel happy about doing any of the above take it to your gunsmith and obviously put the bolt in your pocket and call and tell him your coming with a live round in the chamber. good luck.
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paul o'
Well-Known Member
tap it out as others have said that's all the plumber is going to do and charge you for it, the copper bullet won't ignite the powder in the brass case all your end up doing is pushing the bullet into the case at worst. just use a brass end rod with a hole to centre the bullet and tap it out with a few nice hits .
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