Steyr M95 bolt sticking -- but only after firing!

[GigaBuist]

I got a weird one, and I don't know much about these types of things.

I took a Styer M95 out for the first time last week that I picked up in October. Having never shot a clip fed (like the Garands) before I was hesitant and didn't know anybody else who had. Of course during the cleaning process (packed in grease) I had to tear the gun down and put it back together via instructions on http://www.surplusrifles.com

Anyway, I was pretty confident that I had things in good working order. Until I shot the darned thing.

Fired without a hitch. Loaded nicely and it chambers the first four rounds no problem -- needs new springs or something to get that 5th one in there though.

Here's the kicker: It takes a friggen huge amount of force to get that bolt to come back. Certainly not something I'd expect out of a battle rifle. I'm not a very strong man, but the bolt should be operable. I had to tilt the rifle sideways and whack the bolt forward onto the table to get it loose!

I swear, I must be damned near retarded because I did put 10 rounds through the thing. Every time, same problem. So, I posed the question to some fellow gun nuts tonight at the pub. I got a couple of reasonable answers:

One, the bolt might be "hopping" out of the guides upon firing. Okay, that's not safe, and I'm not seeing anything to show that that's happening but I guess it's possible. That guy had probably had a few too many.

Two, after mentioning that the brass was "sheared" on the rim after I had ejected it another guy that seems more level headed asked if it was old ammo or handloads. Yep, old brass -- I assume surplus ammo as it's corrosive. Old stuff from 1938-1940 it seems from the markings. He suggests that the power has "dried out" and it's running hot.

Now, powder is mean to be dry, but in hindsight the thing was NOT kicking like I had expected. I heard it was worse than an Mosin Nagant M44 and I wasn't feeling that. Perhaps the power has "gone bad" in some way, shape, or form, and it's creating more heat than it should and not burning proper. That would cause the extraction problems and the extractor pulling on that rim to get the thing out could cause the shearing.

I'm leaning toward the idea that the loads are just bad, causing too much pressure, and that's causing the horribly hard extraction and sheering.

Thoughts?

 

[1911Tuner]

Stuck

Howdy Giga,

There are a few possibilities, and if the chamber isn't rough or pitted, the
most likely culprit would be the ammunition itself. Gas-operated rifles operate within a fairly narrow pressure curve/time margin. If the gas
is tapped while the curve is still at or near the peak, there will be problems.
If the pressre is too high, the case may not spring back after expansion and
release its grip on the chamber at the right time to allow extraction. If the
dealy in the pressure drop is late enough, there isn't sufficient gas pressure to operate the bolt.

Most gas rifles are at optimum with powders that are in the medium burn rate range. The pressure curve has to peak and start to drop off before the bullet uncovers the gas port so that the brass will let go of the chamber. It's all about timing.

Check your chamber for roughness or pitting. If it looks good there, try
different ammo...even if you ahve to resort to handloads with a relatively
fast powder. Something along the lines of IMR 4895, 4060, Olin 748 or
Hodgdon's H-335. If it doesn't help, it's time to have the rifle checked out
by an armorer. Overzized gas port, maybe. I'm not familiar with your
Steyr, but since most gas operated rifles essentially work on the same principle, I'd say that the problem lies somewhere within the above suggestions.

Luck! Keep us posted on what you find. I'd be interested in knowing
what's causing it.

Tuner

 

[GigaBuist]

Gas operated?

The Steyr M95 is a straight-pull bolt action rifle designed in 1895.

 

[1911Tuner]

The Steyr M95 is a straight-pull bolt action rifle designed in 1895

LMAO...What a brainfart! Sorry. I had Garand on my mind after reading the responses on the thread on the guy's worn out M-1. I jump
around on these threads a lot, and can't break my train of thought
sometimes.

I'd still look to the ammo. Old powders tend to break down and burn faster than they did when new. Pressures rise and cases get welded to the chamber. Check for pitting in the chamber too.

Head hung in shame...

Tuner

 

[Gordon]

I have , and shoot a cute little 1895Steyr and although the feed stroke is a little stout, it extracts easily. I , like everybody else, uses that 38-39 nazi stuff, and it is superb ammo! Remember this is when Hitler was on top of the world, and their ammo was the best in the word, maybe the best ever! I never saw a dud in the 800 I've shot. I have another 1k stashed! PS it kicks like a mule! A 200 grain bullet at 2300fps in a 7lb gun! I think 1911 tuner was on the track any way with a rough chamber or bolt problem! I don't think there is much room for error in this action, it ain't no M98 Mauser! Better have a good gunsmith look it over or get another and use it for parts!