Problem with Browning BAR 7 Rem. Mag,

[Onty]

Friend phoned me today, thrilled that he finally found Browning BAR 7 Remington Magnum, older, with steel housing and long 65 cm (25.6") barrel, in a very nice shape.

Well, he and few others, took it to the range to see would it work properly. Ammo was GECO Plus https://geco-munition.de/en/ammunition/geco-centrefire-rifle-cartridges.html?tx_tweprivacy_eprivacy[action]=banner&tx_tweprivacy_eprivacy[controller]=Subject&cHash=365181cfb7fbc94d551219880bfeb948#!0/3/10 .

Out of five rounds, 2 times (1-st and 3-rd) rifle didn't cycle, and on 3-rd round bolt got stuck so they could not open it by hand, but to press with foot a bolt-operating handle to open it.

Ammo was purchased about 4-5 years ago, appears normal in bolt action rifle (M98 type).

Friend returned rifle and suppose to be inspected and serviced by a gunsmith. He will try it on a range again.

Any idea what is causing problems, could be negligence in cleaning and/or using wrong oil?

Thanks

 

[LoonWulf]

Rusty chamber is my first guess

 

[gotboostvr]

Rusty chamber certainly would cause that.

Could possibly be an ammo problem. Weaker loads and or soft brass.

The outside may be clean, but inside it could be full of gunk. I've seen that a few times, a Marlin 35Rem you couldn't work the action fully it was so bad and a Rem1100 12ga that wouldn't cycle even heavy loads. Cleaned them up (so much gunk) and they both ran like tops afterward.

 

[troy fairweather]

Clean the chamber, and try different ammo.

 

[Frostbite]

Thorough cleaning seems required.

 

[Onty]

Old folks told me, when I was a kid, to store any firearm with barrel muzzle down. Well, it doesn't look glamorous in a cabinet with glass doors, but keeps mechanism from all that oil and dissolved stuff from barrel that will inevitably slide down:

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/gun-maintenance/store-guns-muzzle-down-92081

https://shotgunreport.com/2014/10/23/store-guns-muzzle-down/

 

[SwampWolf]

Old folks told me, when I was a kid, to store any firearm with barrel muzzle down. Well, it doesn't look glamorous in a cabinet with glass doors, but keeps mechanism from all that oil and dissolved stuff from barrel that will inevitably slide down

The old folks are right but, in my experience, you don't have to store them "upside down" forever. After cleaning and lubricating any of my rifles or shotguns, I let them sit muzzle down for a couple of weeks or so and then place them "right-side up". Most stuff that migrates via gravity will have vacated the premises by then. If you want to be certain, put a piece of paper towel or a cleaning patch under the muzzle and keep it there, periodically checking until any evidence of lube or solvent is gone before placing the gun for storage butt side down.

 

[jmr40]

The purpose of storing them muzzle down was to prevent oil from seeping into the wood stock and weakening the wood on SxS shotguns. Oil can get into the action regardless of whether it is muzzle down or muzzle up.