Hard to operate 2 pos. Mauser 98 style wing safety.

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I've been cleaning up this old JC Higgins Model 50 that is built on an FN commercial Mauser 98 action. It has the 2 position wing safetly on the left side of the bolt. Enaging the safety has always been a bit stiff, but after disassembling and cleaning the bolt, it's just plain hard to engage. I've tried every combination of turning the firing pin over and the spring around thinking I just got something off a little, but no joy. It is almost as if the cocking sleeve isn't quite coming out quite far enough for the safety to slip being it and the bolt sleeve.

Any idea on what else I can try?

Thanks!

 

[Dale Taylor]

Go to surplusrifeforums.com and do search for low mount safeties. You need to disassemble bolt and file on cocking piece...Go SLOW [email protected]

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Thanks Dale, that's what I was afraid of. I'll check there.

And thanks for your response to me a couple of weeks ago on my ofther question on this rifle.

 

[rivergun]

First thing I'd look at, is if the bolt is hitting the stock when closed. Sometimes when retightening the action screws the stock is compressed slightly and the bolt will not close completely.
Next check the bolt and see if it is in fact properly put together, sometimes the bolt is about one thread from being completely together.
Then Check what the other had to say. I'm sure most of them have had to troubleshoot at least one.

 

[Jim K]

Be very careful. There should be enough gap that the safety will cam the cocking piece back off the sear; if it doesn't, it is likely that someone has been messing around trying to "improve" the trigger. Don't file on anything until you see how the system works. You may need a new cocking piece or a new sear.

If it isn't done right, repair could leave you with a gun that will fire when you release the safety, a very dangerous condition.

Jim

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Well, based on what Jim said, I decided to look at it again from a different angle. It seems that as I lock the bolt, the cocking sleeve engages sear (as one would expect), however it seems to be pushing the sear down more than it should. I say this because if I press slightly up against the sear as I lock the bolt, the cocking sleeve is in a position that allows me to operate the safety. So, it seems as though the sear isn't pushing up hard enough or the cocking sleeve is pushing back too hard. It would seem to me that I either need to get the sear to push up more firmly or keep the cocking sleeve from pushing against the sear so much. Any ideas?

Edit: OK, upon closer inspection, it appears that is the sear is in the correct postion, otherwise it doesn't engage the trigger properly. It just seems like the cocking piece needs to come back a fraction of an inch more so I can engage the safety.

Second edit: I've reassembled the bolt with no striker spring. I've been playing with the cocking piece, varying the pressure on it. Based on this, my gut feeling is that the spring is just applying too much pressure. Does this make sense to anyone? Is there any way I could be assembling it wrong to cause this? The bolt sleeve is screwed all the way on (the stop is right up to the bolt arm). Short of snipping off a loop (unfortunately, I don't have a spare spring to experiment with) or filing on the cocking piece (not sure how much I'd have to take off to get it to engage), I'm at a loss.

Here are some pictures.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I gave up and have admitted defeat. Took it to a local gunsmith who said the problem was due to wear and he would be able to refit it.

Thanks for your help, everyone.