case head separation, bolt now very hard to close

[swampcrawler]

So my mauser 98 suffered a case head separation today. After bringing it home, taking it apart and removing the stuck case (basically by doing a partial chamber cast with sulfur and driving it out, brought the shell out with the cast) the bolt doesn't want to function properly. There may still be some sulfur in there somewhere that I failed to get out, but I really don't think so. The bolt can be forced forward and closed with break difficulty, usually having to be tapped back open with a small mallet.

The bolt will go 80% of the way forward with no issue, only the last perhaps 1/2 inch of forward travel and the camming down of the bolt cause trouble.

I can't figure out what's causing it. The rifle will likely go to a gunsmith but are there any areas particularly susceptible to Cass cutting damage or anything that I should inspect? I more or less gave up out of frustration tonight but will be inspecting everything in grater detail tomorrow.

 

[rcmodel]

Very likely got some casting sulfur stuck in the bolt lug recesses inside the receiver.

Nothing from a broken case would cause any problem like that as it was quite common when those rifles were in military use.

You could have jerked it out with a new bronze bore brush and saved a lot of trouble & stink melting sulfur.

Take a bent wire or something and see what you can dig out of the locking lug recesses.

If it was a blown case head, and not just a case seperation?
Could be damage.

rc

 

[swampcrawler]

Thanks RC. After work today il get back after it with a dental pick. That likely is the case.

 

[d2wing]

Damaged bolt from over pressure? Happened to me once on a Mauser. Made the mistake of using another guys reloads.