Thanks - FYI the bolt seems pretty nice with Hornady Precision Hunter - the two I tried that were stiff was PPU & Norma Whitetail - both softnose. I like the idea of trying rust blueing at some point, however, atm I am really pleased with the result of the cold blueing.
Interesting on the mag spring - it does feed the other 4 perfectly well. On the extraction I have to remind myself to pull the bolt back all the way in a positive manner else it doesn't quite eject like my Bergara - but I assume this is a mix of my first CRF and my first long action cartridge?
I am today order a set of inletting tools and carving chisels. Also - making the workshop a sane place again as I haven't been in there for a while and it has all the rough lumber for a large workbench build in it, plus the cut outs for a large biltong maker - it has turned into the wild west. Really looking forward to having a crack at a full stock. Next week I should be picking up the donor rifle too. Then it will be ordering up all the Recknagel extras, irons sights, barrel band etc.
I have found that PPU is often quite long in terms of headspace and can be a little tight to chamber / close the bolt. Should still be within CIP specs but on the limit.
A Bergara, Remington etc are push feed actions with a spring loaded plunger ejector which is compressed as the bolt goes home. At the same time the extractor claw pops over the case head. It’s why you need to push the bolt firmly forward as you close. The plunger puts pressure on one side of the cartridge case and as soon as the case mouth comes out of the chamber the spring pressure will flick the case out of the action. As the spring gets older or clogged by grease and powder residue gunk ot will have less force to flick cartridge out.
The Mauser 98 does not have any spring ejector. Instead it has a blade underneath the bolt removal bit. This blade runs in a groove in the side of the bolt.
The cartridge case is held firmly by the extractor claw. As the case is pulled backwards it stays firmly attached until it hits the ejector blade. If the bolt is moved slowly the case will just gently be pushed out of the action. If it is worked more vigorously the case will fly out.
Usually there is still a little more reward travel on the bolt. As gets right to the rear the the next round pops up under spring pressure in the magazine and the bottom edge of bolt can then push the cartridge forward. As the bullet starts to enter the ramp of the chamber the rails on the side of the action release the back of the cartridge and cartridge rim pops underneath the extractor, and bolt and cartridge are in effect one piece. You the push the bolt fully forward and drop the bolt handle.
If you, for whatever reason juts pull the bolt handle back, the case or cartridge will come back with the bolt and eject.
With your Bergara, if you pull the bolt back without first fully chambering the cartridge, the cartridge can easily remain in the chamber and if you take the bolt all the way back then you can push another cartridge forward resulting in a jam with cartridge in chamber.
Next procedure is to dirty your underwear as the beast charging you turns you into toe jamm. Its why Dangerous Game rifles use control round feed actions.
However Mauser actions as designed only feed from the magazine. You have to push a cartridge down into the magazine for it to then feed up under the extractor claw. This is the case with all the original military mausers.
Some commercial mauser actions, along with some military ones used as the basis for hunting rifles will have extractor bevelled and with a sufficient cutout on the barrel tenon to allow the extra to pop over the rim of the cartridge if the cartridge is just put into the rifle without being pushed down into the magazine.
You need to check this carefully and very gently. If the extractor is not modified you can do a lot of damage by shoving the bolt hard forward on a loose round.
It was never a problem with military use as cartridges were carried in clips and you reloaded from a clip not as loose rounds.
