03 a3 loose bolt

[jd25q]

I have a smith corona 03a3 with a loose bolt. That is when it is closed, the handle will easily fall open. All it takes is (with the rifle parallel with the ground) for the rifle to be turned upside down and the bolt handle falls open. Whether or not a round is chambered makes no difference.

This is a sporterized model, probably done back in the 60's when a lot of them were converted. Has a Fajen stock and a lyman peep sight. Nothing special, but was my dad's and I'd like to use it more.

I've shot it a fair amount, no signs of excessive headspace although I haven't checked it with a guage.

Is there something internal to the bolt that should be creating some friction to keep it closed, or are the lugs likely not tight when closing?

Thanks for any ideas,

 

[tark]

If you have shot it without any signs of excess headspace then it is locking up just fine. I am not familiar with the 1903-A3 action but I seem to remember that there is some mechanism to keep the bolt from doing what you describe.

Those wiser than I will answer your question.

 

[rcmodel]

Spring pressure from the cocked striker should provide enough friction to keep the bolt from 'falling open' when held upside down.

I can't imagine a way to could be that loose when cocked.

rc

 

[Topkick]

Loose bolt

If it were mine, I'd get it checked out by a competent gunsmith, just to be safe. Always err on the sidde of Safety.

 

[Topkick]

Loose bolt

If it were mine, I'd get it checked out by a competent gunsmith, just to be safe. Always err on the side of Safety.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

It's a lack of spring tension.

You'll get the same activity if you take the spring out of play by cocking and then engaging the safety. Your safety isn't engaged is it?

So -

It's either been sorrily modified or there is an internal spring failure.

I recall being able to reassemble an '03/'03-A3 incorrectly a couple of ways but don't recall either resulting in this behavior.

When your bolt is in battery, and the cocking piece is forward as if having already been fired, is there significant tension when you attempt to manually cock the firing pin/cocking piece?

 

[jd25q]

Thanks for the replies. Good information,

Yes, once fired, there is what I would consider normal tension required to open the bolt and re-cock the cocking piece. Likewise if I manually cock it by just pulling it back.

I do typically have the safety on when I this happens. Are you saying the safety, when engaged will hold the spring pressure that would otherwise be needed to hold the bolt closed? How else would you safely carry such a rifle in the field?

Thanks again

 

[morcey2]

Thanks for the replies. Good information,

Yes, once fired, there is what I would consider normal tension required to open the bolt and re-cock the cocking piece. Likewise if I manually cock it by just pulling it back.

I do typically have the safety on when I this happens. Are you saying the safety, when engaged will hold the spring pressure that would otherwise be needed to hold the bolt closed? How else would you safely carry such a rifle in the field?

Thanks again

What type of safety do you have on it? If it's the 2-position low-swing safety that replaces the original 3-position safety, the "safe" position usually locks the bolt. At least that's how most of them are manufactured. If it's a side safety that is part of the trigger group, it won't lock anything. Lots of the 2-position safeties get modified to be able to remove the bolt with the safety engaged. It makes bolt-disassembly much easier, but one of the unfortunate side effects is the behavior that you're seeing.

Something to think about is whether you will be hiking through brush with this rifle while hunting. If you do, the brush can pull the bolt open without you ever realizing it until it's time for a shot.

Matt

 

[rcmodel]

The rifle started out with a wing safety on the bolt sleeve.
Switched to the right, the gun is safe and the bolt is locked shut.

Switched to the vertical position, the gun cannot fire, but the bolt can be opened.

Switched to the left, the gun is off safe and can be fired and cycled normally.

So, what kind of safety does yours have on it?

rc

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I do typically have the safety on when I this happens. Are you saying the safety, when engaged will hold the spring pressure that would otherwise be needed to hold the bolt closed? How else would you safely carry such a rifle in the field?

Thanks again

If you have the safety tab on top of the cocking piece then yes, when the safety is engaged in the upright position and assuming the rifle is a bit loose from use - yes, it will drop open when up-ended.

This safety position is as much of a "flag" as a safety and there is the far right position which will keep the bolt closed.

 

[Maj Dad]

I have an 03-A3 that will open easily when the safety is vertical - as soon as the safety is turned to 9 o'clock (off), it will not open without normal effort on the bolt handle. My RIA 03 is a little less polished than the A3 and will open if you jiggle it (with the safety vertical). I don't think anything is wrong with mine...

 

[jd25q]

Mine still has the 3 position safety. So it sounds like this is as designed? I prefer carrying in the middle position as it's quicker to move to "fire" but can see why that may not be possible.

 

[Slamfire]

Mine still has the 3 position safety. So it sounds like this is as designed? I prefer carrying in the middle position as it's quicker to move to "fire" but can see why that may not be possible.

The “safety lock” was designed so the bolt could be opened with the wing safety in the middle position. Since the cocking piece is cammed back with the safety in the middle position there is no pressure against the sear to keep the bolt tensioned. Do not carry the rifle with the firing pin forward with a round in the chamber. I do not recommend carrying the rifle with a round in the chamber and the safety in the middle as the bolt will open with little to no resistance. The proper way to carry this rifle with a chambered round is with the wing rotated clockwise far enough that only "safe" is visible. The bolt will lock into position with the safety applied as long as the nose of the safety is properly dimensioned and rotated into the cam hole in the back of the bolt.