Problem with ruger M77 RLS in 270

[spike.t]

Wondering if anyone might have an idea as to what's wrong. I had this rifle and some others that were in storage shipped out, and they arrived just before Christmas...got them licensed and brought some up to takeri to have a play...now when I tried to load it the bolt wouldn't close. It looks controlled feed but isn't. I googled it..now when you start to push the bolt down to close it you can hear the claw snap over the rim of the case as I presume it's supposed to do...but that's as far as I can get the bolt to go....no way you can try to get it to go any further in closing... @PeteG Was here and we both tried but no chance...I used am a 410 brass brush to try scrub the chamber and even though I flattened it so it actually would enter the barrel it didn't make any difference...tried pmp, rws ,prvi and sako to see if it was a problem with the ammunition, but none will work.....I bought it new in 1990 and I haven't fired it in probably 30 years...any ideas?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Mike, I have a Ruger M77 with a tang safety. They are indeed push feed. The one I have in 7mm Rem Mag. Never had any issues with it. My dad bought it new in the 70s and I've had it now for about 20+ years. What I would suggest with your rifle is to try different brands of ammo. Another rifle I have (CZ550 in 6.5 Swede) doesn't function too well with Norma brass. I think Norma brass must be slightly thicker in places and is just enough to make closing the bolt a bit difficult.

 

[spike.t]

Mike, I have a Ruger M77 with a tang safety. They are indeed push feed. The one I have in 7mm Rem Mag. Never had any issues with it. My dad bought it new in the 70s and I've had it now for about 20+ years. What I would suggest with your rifle is to try different brands of ammo. Another rifle I have (CZ550 in 6.5 Swede) doesn't function too well with Norma brass. I think Norma brass must be slightly thicker in places and is just enough to make closing the bolt a bit difficult.

Hi dave..I have tried with 4 different makes....but same thing....got a WhatsApp with possibly the problem...waiting to hear back after sending photos of the bolt face..fingers crossed its same issue he had, and can explain how he sorted his out

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I know you cleaned the chamber, but how about the bolt raceways. Any crud even a couple gains of powder could gum it up.

 

[MontanaGrant]

Very unlikely but a slight obstruction at the neck of the chamber? Sliver of brass or gunk that’s now allowing it to get that tiny fraction farther into the chamber?

I know you cleaned but I once had a super tiny ring of brass stuck at the very lip of the chamber that was almost impossible to snag out.

 

[spike.t]

Will go give it another going over

 

[Fryeguy]

Do you have a way to clean up the action where the bolt lugs go? I have a tool I bought from Sinclair just for this purpose. It is a very tight tolerance in this area, and if anything is there it won’t close, if you force it it can gall the lugs, then it will forever be rough until fixed. You basically insert this thru action and clean where lugs would contact. My cotton thing needs replacement as you can see

 

[AimSmall]

Cleanliness could be key, but is there any possibility the bolt was exchanged from another rifle?

 

[Fryeguy]

Cleanliness could be key, but is there any possibility the bolt was exchanged from another rifle?

Very good point. Look on bolt, on bottom side near bolt handle, the last 4 digits of serial number will be there. They are faint but there

 

[Papa72]

Could you remove the bolt and get a pic of the bolt face for us?

 

[spike.t]

No the bolt is original...dont think these were too common where I come from...and was only one...

 

[spike.t]

Do you have a way to clean up the action where the bolt lugs go? I have a tool I bought from Sinclair just for this purpose. It is a very tight tolerance in this area, and if anything is there it won’t close, if you force it it can gall the lugs, then it will forever be rough until fixed. You basically insert this thru action and clean where lugs would contact. My cotton thing needs replacement as you can see

View attachment 592781

Nope not got ....Will have a wiggle around in there though...

 

[spike.t]

Could you remove the bolt and get a pic of the bolt face for us?

 

[spike.t]

Also I should have explained that the photos showing the bolt part closed is as far as can get when trying to chamber a round...empty it cycles perfectly and can pull trigger....

 

[AimSmall]

Correct bolt, Clean chamber, caliber verified, different ammo tested,,,,

Does the ejector pin move in the bolt? Maybe the spring is caked/rusty?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Will it function as a controlled feed rifle?

 

[spike.t]

Correct bolt, Clean chamber, caliber verified, different ammo tested,,,,

Does the ejector pin move in the bolt? Maybe the spring is caked/rusty?

Yup...I have slid a case in and also used a round flat ended piece of metal to push it in a few times...its very hard to push in but does go in all the way...the case was flat against the bolt face

 

[spike.t]

Will it function as a controlled feed rifle?

It doesn't pick up the bullet as in a controlled feed...but as you close the bolt you can hear it clock over the rim...then bolt won't move any more...but when you open it the bullet ejects perfectly .....

 

[mauserhunter]

Never shot it, sure they didn't put a 7x57 barrel on it and mark it 270 by accident. Put a bullet in the muzzle and check.

 

[PARA45]

I would say the culprit is something in the bolt, since it closes without a case, and does not with a case. Something in the bolt is preventing the bolt from closing when a cartridge is against the bolt face. Try taking the bolt apart and cleaning the inside.