Shultz and Larsen bolt stuck after firing

[dave 67]

The safety catch part on my S&L that interferes with bolt operation is a single piece that when in the rear position it bolts the bolt, in the middle position it bolts trigger operation only and in the forward position it allows both trigger and bolt operation.
If the safety is in the forward position then the piece that locks the bolt should have moved down and out of the way, so barring a breakage or some other foreign body getting in there and jamming the bolt hitting it with a rubber hammer shouldn’t cause and damage if it’s just a stuck case.
personally I would also remove the action from the stock as the rear bolt comes up into the rifle bolt area and if debris has got in there it could be fouling the bolt.

 

[Old Codger]

Have a look at you tube.
Shultz and Larsen do demo videos of trigger adjustments.
It may help you to figure out how to release trigger/ safety.
BE CAREFUL,

 

[Woodsy]

Had action out of stock and nothing looks amiss with trigger mechanism. Thanks for all advice. I was hoping another Shultz and Larsen owner may have had a similar issue and could advise on what problem is. As I don’t really know what I’m doing I will get it to a gunsmith ASAP. Will report back once it’s sorted (hopefully sooner rather than later!).

 

[dave 67]

Sorry i don’t think these pictures are in order, my bad.
The picture with the safety to the rear you will see in the bolt handle cut out a piece that interferes with bolt opening, photo with the safety in the middle position you will see that has dropped out of the way letting the bolt lift up.
The picture down the barrel in the bottom just in front of the feed ramp is a screw the is used to locate the barrel when changing to a different calibre, if that has moved up it could be interfering with the bolt also, I’ve never had to touch mine so don’t know if it bottoms out to set the height or it’s loctited in.

 

[dave 67]

One last thing can you push the bolt release lever in?
The one you press to take the bolt out, not sure how that could be damaged enough to stop bolt left but it doe# hold the bolt in the correct alignment till it gets past a certain point then it will allow the bolt to be closed

 

[Woodsy]

Sorry i don’t think these pictures are in order, my bad.
The picture with the safety to the rear you will see in the bolt handle cut out a piece that interferes with bolt opening, photo with the safety in the middle position you will see that has dropped out of the way letting the bolt lift up.
The picture down the barrel in the bottom just in front of the feed ramp is a screw the is used to locate the barrel when changing to a different calibre, if that has moved up it could be interfering with the bolt also, I’ve never had to touch mine so don’t know if it bottoms out to set the height or it’s loctited in.

Thanks. Yes it could well be something to do with that screw having moved. Trouble is I can’t see it because the bolt is stuck in there!

 

[Woodsy]

One last thing can you push the bolt release lever in?
The one you press to take the bolt out, not sure how that could be damaged enough to stop bolt left but it doe# hold the bolt in the correct alignment till it gets past a certain point then it will allow the bolt to be closed

Yes, have tried that and can push lever in, doesn’t seem to be connected to issue. But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Woodsy]

Sorry i don’t think these pictures are in order, my bad.
The picture with the safety to the rear you will see in the bolt handle cut out a piece that interferes with bolt opening, photo with the safety in the middle position you will see that has dropped out of the way letting the bolt lift up.
The picture down the barrel in the bottom just in front of the feed ramp is a screw the is used to locate the barrel when changing to a different calibre, if that has moved up it could be interfering with the bolt also, I’ve never had to touch mine so don’t know if it bottoms out to set the height or it’s loctited in.

With reference the other pictures - my safety is stuck in ‘safety off’ position (fully forward). So that bit that stops bolt opening should be well out of the way…

 

[Heym SR20]

Trip to gunsmith planned for Monday morning but just curious whether any other Shultz and Larsen owners have had this happen.

Shot a doe this morning, intention was to shoot another out of the group but went to work the bolt and it was stuck. Exactly as if the safety was on. It would move a bit but locked solid. Safety is stuck in ’safety off’ position. Trigger is still in fired position. Empty case in chamber.

Not sure whether this is a bolt issue or something to do with the safety mechanism. Any thoughts?

I would strongly suggest that it is a stuck cartridge in the chamber. Probably due to overpressure.

Given that you tried to reload and it wouldn’t, very doubtful its safety mechanism. Besides many rifle safeties cannot be applied when the action is uncocked.

Unless you really know what you are doing, leave it to a competent gunsmith.

 

[triggertrix]

Another trick is to remove from stock, stand muzzle up, spray oil or pour oil into barrel, which will gradually feed into the chamber and help release the stuck case

 

[Heym SR20]

Another trick is to remove from stock, stand muzzle up, spray oil or pour oil into barrel, which will gradually feed into the chamber and help release the stuck case

And probably worth removing the scope and scope mounts before starting to attempt an mechanical fixes.

 

[triggertrix]

And probably worth removing the scope and scope mounts before starting to attempt a mechanical fixes.

Very good point, esp, if whacking with a mallet to avoid optical damage

 

[triggertrix]

As a side note, been through this myself a couple times with Sako and Tikka rifles home loading on the edge of safety, and both times required a severely firm blow with the mallet to get the bolt handle to lift.

Never really felt good, but worked.

What you don’t want of course, is to break the bolt handle off if it’s pinned and dovetailed or welded. If cast, should be ok, but if dovetailed and pinned or welded on to the Bolt body, worth considering putting receiver into a vise and using a mechanical lever like a raised off the floor car lifting/tire changing device to apply firm and gradual upward movement.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Bunch of wooses - apply some gentle persuasion - just like this oul fella…

 

[dave 67]

Thanks. Yes it could well be something to do with that screw having moved. Trouble is I can’t see it because the bolt is stuck in there!

I you remove the action from the stock you can access the bolt from below, shouldn’t have moved but you never know, think it’s a hex bolt so an Allen key should let you try to move it.
It could be as some have said just over pressure round, but worth ruling other things out before reaching for the watchmakers hammer
Make sure that pin is in though if you do decide to try to knock the bolt with a hammer otherwise your whole barrel will spin round.

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

I have a Legacy and whilst I have had the odd hard extract when a friend and I were formulating reloads I have never had a stuck bolt. That screw below the feed ramp is the forward stock screw I believe, the barrel screws are twofold and go right to left under the barrel and are not visible from within the chamber area when the bolt is rearward. As above, it will be worth taking the barreled action out of the stock in which case a fouling stock screw would cure the bolt release issue.

This video shows things;

 

[Klenchblaize]

Just be careful in how you present the rifle to your Gun Shop Sales Assistant. It must be their worst nightmare to have a rifle pulled from its slip and passed across the counter with the bolt closed and told there’s a stuck case in the chamber!

K

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

Just had a look at mine and that screw is certainly the forward stock screw, the one on mine does not protrude above nor into the chamber area.

 

[ejg]

I would remove the action from the stock and remove trigger assembly then oil up from barrel and from outside before applying any force.
edi

 

[VSS]

Just be careful in how you present the rifle to your Gun Shop Sales Assistant. It must be their worst nightmare to have a rifle pulled from its slip and passed across the counter with the bolt closed and told there’s a stuck case in the chamber!

K

Reminds me of the local farmer who got a live round stuck in his 22lr one evening, and for some reason it wouldn't fire either. He was busy next day, so he got his wife to take it into town with her and drop it off at the gunshop....