Ruger American jams to lands with factory ammo?

[CptnAwesome]

Okay. Finally got to sit down and spend some time on the Ruger American 7mm-08 I just bought from a co-worker. He owned it for two years, His reason for selling it was because he wants a 270.

Well checked the magazine, no feed problems at all, took a Dremel to the forend to get the stock completely off the barrel (got a boyds stock on the way for it anyway). Got scope mounted and leveled and all good except,,,

When I go to chamber a round it really feels like I'm jamming the bullet into the lands. It's very tight, and this is with factory ammo. Hornady custom lite, and Hornady American whitetail. I can chamber the round and and see rings around the bullet (i assume from touching the lands) when I eject it.

They will chamber though with just a lil force, I just don't know what to think about it.

Anybody else run across this problem?
How concerned should I be?????

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Pics?

Jamming into the rifling will generally leave a number of rectangular marks (6 I think for the RA) around the bullet on the ogive, not circles.

 

[VoodooMountain]

You'll know if the ogive of the bullet is jamming into the rifling. It leaves a very distinct mark as mentioned above.

I would guess your gun is set at minimum headspace assuming the rifle is clean.

 

[Cypress]

Not trying to be a jerk but did you double check the stamping on the barrel to make sure it's a 7mm-08 and not .260 or something. Crazy things happen. I once bought a .22 revolver from a buddy that turned out to be .22 mag. I've learned to think horses before zebras when troubleshooting.

 

[CptnAwesome]

@ThePenguinKnight- Pics?

@Cypress- Did I check the stamping on the barrel? Yes I did. That DOES seem like a stupid question but I know its one that's very necessary to ask

Here is a pic.
Also I've never owned a rifle with a one piece bolt like this one. It may just be the way it feels when chambering a round but I've never noticed marks like this with any of my other rifles, it feels very tight to me

You can tell me what you think

 

[mshootnit]

It looks to possibly have two marks from the lands but the rings are not due to the lands and also, I will say unusual. I would have it checked by a gunsmith. They can cast the chamber.

Are you SURE the bullets you are using are 7mm NOT 30 cal

 

[CptnAwesome]

Yeah. I'm sure. Two different boxes and types of factory ammo, both labeled 7mm-08

 

[Llama Bob]

That looks to me like it's hitting the lands. I would take it to a gunsmith who has the appropriate GO/NO GO gauge set, and proceed from there.

 

[Axis II]

I have a savage axis that's harder than the other to chamber and I get a sharp cut ring around the bullet where to ogive is. savage wants mine back so I would call ruger my friend.

 

[MEHavey]

OP's Pic:

Yowsa... that's well into the lands.

See if anyone near you has a Hornady OAL gauge set and find out what the Distance-2-Lands really is for that bullet.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd check with Ruger. Those are definitely land marks -- that barrel is short-chambered and could be dangerous.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Is the ammo loaded to spec? Even if factory, they do mess up. Easy to check that with a mircometer or even a ruler to get close.

 

[Corn-Picker]

Just so I understand what's happening here, is the term "lands" the same as rifling? Are the "square wave" type marks on the bullet the proof you are looking for?

Looking at the OP's picture there is some copper discoloring that looks like this:

__|``|____|``|__

Would this situation result in there being no "free bore?" Why is that dangerous (I believe that it is, I just have no idea why)?

 

[CptnAwesome]

Thanx for all the info guys. Heading to the range in the morning but won't be firing this one. Will be on the phone with Ruger asap. Will update with what i find out.

 

[Llama Bob]

Just so I understand what's happening here, is the term "lands" the same as rifling? Are the "square wave" type marks on the bullet the proof you are looking for?

Looking at the OP's picture there is some copper discoloring that looks like this:

__|``|____|``|__

Would this situation result in there being no "free bore?" Why is that dangerous (I believe that it is, I just have no idea why)?

Conventional rifling consists of lands (high areas) and grooves.

Assuming the ammo is to-spec, what you see in that picture results from some sort of undersized chamber issue. There are a series of debugging steps that need to be followed (go/no-go gauges, cast the chamber, etc.) to figure out what the issue is.

Jamming the lands in not always dangerous, but it IS dangerous in this case. Being jammed into the lands increases pressure quite a bit. It can be OK on reloads that are specifically designed to be lower pressure to cope with that, but on commercial ammo that expects a jump to the lands it may create an over-pressure situation.

 

[gwpercle]

Get a bore brush and copper cleaner and clean the heck out of it first, just to make sure it's not just some built up fouling.
I'm thinking it just might be some built up crud in the throat ....the circular scuff mark sort of leads me to think this.
Gary

 

[rem1858]

To the OP;

Did you purchase your ammo from a store or did this ammo come with the rifle transaction ?

Just a thought cause the factory loads you mention usually have a cannelure but I may be wrong, not the first time, just trying to get to the root problem, maybe thinking these are reloads.

Good luck resolving your issue, kind of sucks with new to you rifle and all.

Clarence

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Jamming the lands in not always dangerous, but it IS dangerous in this case. Being jammed into the lands increases pressure quite a bit.

Jamming in the lands is only acceptable with handloads, IF you develop them that way. In other words start with a low charge, and an OAL that puts the bullet into the lands and slowly work up. If you develop signs of high pressure, back off.

With factory loads it is definitely not acceptable.

This rifle needs to go back to the factory.

 

[CptnAwesome]

@rem1858 To the OP;

Did you purchase your ammo from a store or did this ammo come with the rifle transaction ?


Yes. Bought both boxes of ammo from Cabelas

 

[Bartojc]

I had a similar issue with a Ruger American in .243 that I purchased private sale, unfired. Same symptoms, mine was probably a little harder to close the bolt than yours. I knew there was an issue. Like a fool I fired 5 rounds though it without issue, but I knew it was not right. My LGS took care of me even though I had not purchased it from them. They looked at it and said it needed to go back to Ruger, and agreed it was not right. 5-6 weeks later I had a new rifle from Ruger. No explanation, just a new rifle. New one is very accurate and bolt closes properly.

-Jeff

 

[TimSr]

I agree with what others have said. All dimensions need professionally checked.

I am curious as to what the factory ammo is you are trying, especially the bullet weight. I'm wondering if the original owner never saw the same problems because his ammo may not have shown the problem if he was shooting 140gr and you were shooting 175's or something like that.

 

[AABEN]

Send it to Ruger!

 

[CptnAwesome]

UPDATE,,,

Took the rifle to my local gunsmith to check the headspacing. First thing he asked me was if I was using hornady ammo (and I was). Told me he had the same problem with hornady in his rifle and wouldn't shoot it.

Checked the headspacing and inspected the chamber for burrs. Chamber is in spec and no burrs were found. Cleaned the chamber more and lubed the bolt. Cycled some remington ammo through it and no marks were left on the case or bullet at all,,,

BUT!!!,,,

Some rounds were still hard to close bolt on so after a lil head scratching and a lot of inspecting he figured out it was the extractor making it hard to close the bolt. He added a lil more lube and played with it and it got easier but still tight on some rounds.

He told me to clean it thoroughly and play with it some more and if the problem persists to do what most of you said,,, call Ruger!

I'm gonna play with it some but still gonna call Ruger and see where that goes

 

[Snyper]

If you call them all they can or will say is send it to them.
If it's not perfect that's what you should do, since they will correct it

 

[CptnAwesome]

If you call them all they can or will say is send it to them.
If it's not perfect that's what you should do, since they will correct it

And I won't hesitate to do so.
Any idea on how long it would take to get it back anybody?