Mosin bolt malfunction

[daniel craig]

Recently, after taking the bolt out of my mosin I have noticed (after putting the bolt back in) that the bolt operates fine with an empty gun but as soon as I put in some empty brass (to simulate bullets) I hauive only been able to chamber a round but I can only get the bolt handle to go down about 45 degrees before it seizes up. Any ideas what could be the problem? Is it a head space issue? If so how do you head space the mosin? I can headspace and time both an M2 fifty cal. And a 240 bravo. I have never headspaced a bolt action though. Is it the same procedure?

Also, I have shot about 50 rounds out of the rifle before taking the bolt pit and encountering this problem. Does that mean anything relevant?

So I cleaned the everloving piss out of that rifle but I'm still having the same issue. Is it safe to attempt to cycle a live round given the malfunction I'm having?

 

[1KPerDay]

Bolt guns are made to cycle sized/reloaded cartridges or new cartridges, not fired brass. Have you sized your brass? Was it fired in your specific rifle?

 

[119er]

My recent M44 purchase was doing the same thing. I removed the extractor to polish it because it was very rough. I tried to remove it again and it broke right near the dovetail because it had a deep gouge there from when it was made. I ordered a new one and same thing. I noticed some small dings in the rim around the bolt face so I removed them. That helped a little, but is would still stick.

My next method seemed to speak a language the rifle understood: a BIG mallet.:

I inserted empty cases and whacked away at the handle. It didn't take much force, but more than is comfortable to the heel of your hand. I did this about 20 times with about 5 cases and it smoothed right up!

Not necessarily a recommendation, but it worked for me.

ETA: Mine takes a fired steel case with no problems, but it did the same behavior on new ammo too.

 

[LAGS]

It sounds like you have an Extractor problem.
Plus even though a Nagant is not a Positive feed system, you really should be feeding the cartridges out of the magazine and not trying to let the extractor Jump over the case rim.
The outside bevel on the extractor can be carefully polished to make it jump over a case in the chamber.
But the angle is important, and can not be over done.
You need to try Cycling your gun with DUMMY cartridges to check functioning, and not Fired or even Empty Casings that have been resized.
To check your headspace properly, you need too get a Headspace Gage.
Most guys just buy the field gage and if it is good on that one, then you are good to go.
But I prefer to see right where my headspace is, so I have the Go and No-Go gages as well.
But for a Field rifle, the Max Field gage means it is safe to shoot.
But if you have to ask how to check the headspace, I would suggest you let a Gunsmith Check it for you.
They will do it for what a gage will cost you , and they know the proper way to use it for correct readings.
And you really need to have the extractor OFF your bolt head to check headspace so you are not getting a False reading from the extractor binding on the gage.

 

[BCRider]

Yep, that's only a valid test if the empty casing you're using was produced out of the Mosin you're checking.

My own empties shot from my gun chamber up just fine in my own Mosins. Yours should too.

 

[Scoped]

Brass expands after being fired; this may be your issue? The empty casing may also be catching on the breech (theres a little lip on the inside). Im sure if you were cycling deactivated or live rounds it would perform just fine. Unless you took the bolt apart and reassembled it improperly i can see no reason why it shouldn't function 100%

-Sc(+)ped