Ruger Precision Rifle spontanious bolt disassembly?

Just had a curious incident and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue, or might know the root cause.

I took my RPR to the range Sunday and fired 50 rounds, ranges 400 yds to 1,020 yds, it shot fine, I didn't notice anything off while shooting, no funny fliers, bolt lift, etc. I bring it home, get busy and finally go to move it from my case to the safe today. I racked the bolt 3 or 4 times feeling the action and making sure everything was moving right, and on the last rack when the bolt reached the rear of it's run I heard a click and felt some odd rattling. Looking at the bolt raceway I realized that the firing pin assembly (uncocked position) and shroud had been ejected from the back of the bolt into the stock tube!

This rifle has about 2,100 rds down the tube, and maybe several hundred more dry firing cycles, I know my way around it pretty well by now. It's probably been 500 rds since I disassembled the bolt, and maybe 100 to 150 rds since I've taken the bolt out of the gun. I'm really not sure how this could happen, it doesn't look like it would be mechanically possible unless the keyway in the bolt that retains the forward portion of the spring/sleeve assembly somehow got worn to the point that the sleeve slipped through.

I'll go take some pictures, but when I looked at the parts, they all seemed pretty normal. Just curious if anyone else has had this happen to their RPRs or RARs?

Bolt handle keyway


Firing pin assembly mounted through bolt handle








Reassembled

LoonWulf said:

Bit of a surprise.

Id assume the only way ti could turn enough would be that when it was seated last time it was apart that the flange wasnt quite into the groves and just took a while to wiggle over...I need to go look at my spare bolt handles I cant remeber if my RAs had those groves for the flanges.

Click to expand...

Yeah, after looking at it again last night, I think that's the only way it could have happened, there's really not much wear at all on the components. I would have thought that the groove would certainly capture the flange while you're rotating the cams into position if not before.

I suppose that's something to look for upon reassembly, it was just so odd to have a rifle I've shot so much jump apart on me unexpectedly while cycling, at least it wasn't when I was at the range or shooting a match, resetting the cams can be kind of a bear.