Is it my rifle or my handloads?

[venandi]

As everyone has already said it sounds like your handloads. Something else that I would suggest is to check your C.O.L. You may be touching or almost touching the lands in which case could cause issues with pressure.

 

[americanmusc1e]

I just checked last night. The same problem definitely happens with the Hornady Leverevolution factory ammo.

 

[americanmusc1e]

Also when I was at the gun store the other day they had a nice pre-64 Winchester 94 on display. I took a good look at it's action and it does lock up exactly like the Mossberg except the bolt is not round. I started Googling my problem on a winchester 94 instead of a mossberg and it seems that there is a good chance that excess case lube on the cases or chamber can cause this. I'm going to look into this further. I'll completely degrease the chamber and cases and try again.

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9267&hilit=bolt+opening+pressure&start=0

 

[PWC]

If it is still with factory ammo the rifle has a problem. Contact mfgr.

 

[americanmusc1e]

Also, here are actual photos of the condition of the gun after I fired the Factory loaded hornady ammo at the range.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm just not understanding how the bolt can open it you have your hand insider the lever and you are holding the rifle normally. Your hand is wrapped around the rifle stock, how can it open unless you are telling us the force is so severe it forces your hand and lever away from the stock, opening the bolt?

 

[americanmusc1e]

I'm just not understanding how the bolt can open it you have your hand insider the lever and you are holding the rifle normally. Your hand is wrapped around the rifle stock, how can it open unless you are telling us the force is so severe it forces your hand and lever away from the stock, opening the bolt?

In short, yes. I own three lever guns. This is the only one that does it. I cannot explain it other than I grip it as tight as I can when I pull the trigger and then the lever is partway open and my hand is pulled away. This is not me moving my hand with the recoil. My 45-70 lever stays closed just fine despite higher recoil levels. The mossberg actually has a "lever safety" which requires you to squeeze up the free play out of the lever before you can even pull the trigger.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

No offense meant, just asking questions to try and help.

You should contact Mossberg but leave out the reloads and only speak about the factory LVR ammo.

 

[rfwobbly]

I too love lever guns, but what you need to understand from the start is that the lever action is inherently a very weak design. This was the impetus for the Winchester 94 and why all performance centerfire rifles after 1900 were bolt action.

Earlier use of your reloads may have damaged this particular action, thus allowing later use of even mild factory loads to open the action. In this way an extremely dangerous situation could have been created. I suggest you send this rifle to the factory, or at least to a competent gunsmith.

 

[americanmusc1e]

If it is still with factory ammo the rifle has a problem. Contact mfgr.

No offense meant, just asking questions to try and help.

You should contact Mossberg but leave out the reloads and only speak about the factory LVR ammo.

I too love lever guns, but what you need to understand from the start is that the lever action is inherently a very weak design. This was the impetus for the Winchester 94 and why all performance centerfire rifles after 1900 were bolt action.

Earlier use of your reloads may have damaged this particular action, thus allowing later use of even mild factory loads to open the action. In this way an extremely dangerous situation could have been created. I suggest you send this rifle to the factory, or at least to a competent gunsmith.

I'm going to resist the temptation to pull it apart and diagnose it myself and instead call Mossberg Monday morning and see if I can send it in to them for evaluation/repair.

 

[Keyfer 55]

Well I have a bolt 3006 that will blow primers and stick the brass with starting loads of three popular 3006 propellants. But I had problems with factory ammo when I tried that too. You need to find a lower pressure load with that combo of components regardless of what is shown as max in the manual. Pay attention to what is happening and change your loads accordingly.

Sounds like you should send it back to the
factory!