Sticking case

[subdude]

Folks,

I have an old Stevens 322 in 22 Hornet. Nice little gun, quite accurate. But it has developed a habit of sticking the fired case in the chamber after it's been fired 3 or 4 rounds. It gets very difficult to turn the bolt and extract.

I'm assuming that the chamber is fouled. I've tried soaking it with solvent, then scrubbing with a brass brush with no success. Is there something else I can do without resorting to having the chamber reamed?

FYI, it was my father-in-law's rifle, and sat for many years in an attic closet, subject to temperature fluctuations. It's not rusty, but I'm sure that didn't do it any favors.

Thanks for any input!

 

[Sunray]

Sticking cases, hard to extract, hard to operate the bolt are symptoms of excessive headspace. Have that checked first.
Mind you, finding a smithy who has .22 Hornet gauges might be problematic. It's also something you can do yourself for little money. You can rent a Go and No-Go headspace gauge set for 3 days for $7. Buying 'em runs $30 each. Kind of pricey for a one time thing
https://www.reamerrentals.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=22Hor.g
You just slip the gauge under the extractor and gently close the bolt. It should completely close on the Go, but not on the No-Go.

 

[LoonWulf]

Nother thing to consider is what rounds you shooting? are they older, been sitting in the attic with the rifle? If you can find it easily try a box of new manufacture hornet bullets...unless you already are.

Also check for rust, and crap in the bolt lug recess. And look into the chamber with a flash light and see if there is any rust and or pitting.

Headspace on those guns is vairly easily adjustable if it IS off, same basic process as the newer savages. Still probably worth taking it to a smith unless you happen to have the tools or dont mind pipe wrench marks lol.

 

[mag1911]

Did the sticky cases happen right from the beginning or after you took it out a few times?

First things I'd try: clean barrel/chamber well again, use a dry patch to remove ALL excess oil from the chamber, use a box of new factory loaded ammunition.

Let us know what happens.

 

[subdude]

Fresh factory ammo. Started after maybe 25 rounds or so. I'll try cleaning again including the lug and check the headspace.

 

[Zeke/PA]

You can check the headspace somewhat using a fired case ( de-primed) and some Scotch or masking tape.
Place one thickness of tape on the case rim and with a razor knife trim carefully to suit.
With the bolt DIS- ASSEMBELED , very gingerly try to close the action on the case. DON'T force it. Build up the tape till the bolt meets some resistance and then calculate the thickness of the tape.This will be your headspace.
My guess is that you have extractor/ ejector problems.

 

[fguffey]

I have an old Stevens 322 in 22 Hornet. Nice little gun, quite accurate. But it has developed a habit of sticking the fired case in the chamber after it's been fired 3 or 4 rounds. It gets very difficult to turn the bolt and extract.

I have no ideal what head space has to do with ammo that will chamber, fire and the eject. And then after firing chambering and ejecting becomes a problem after firing 4 rounds. I would check the cases for soot, I would check the rifle for push feed and control feed.

I suggest you check the condition of the chamber and barrel.

F. Guffey

 

[boom boom]

I agree with F. Guffey--get a really bright led borelight and check the chamber carefully--it may have pitting, burrs, rings, and need polishing/cleaning or have some built up crud that is really hard to see.

One sign that headspace is too long is your new brass will have a shiny ring around the case webbing where the case has stretched--if it is grossly out of headspace, you can take something like a bent paper clip with the end sharpened to a knife point and feel where the case separation is about to begin by running your homemade brass tool into the case.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I agree with all these other guys.
Headspace is NOT your problem.

 

[Wireman]

Well, with so little actual information from the OP, I won't even try to fix this with my keyboard. But I do have a few questions. To be fair, the concept of head space in a rifle cartridge involves the neck as well as the rear of the case.

You might want to ask - did this gun have a problem before it was stored? Was it a high-miler? Depending upon its age, there is a possibility that the chamber was made with different dimensions than the new ammunition. Are you using steel cased ammo? Do they even make steel cased ammo for a .22 hornet? If so I would try something else.

Storing a firearm can always create trouble where you don't expect it, so you would have to gather some specific facts before breaking out the reamers and files. Fired brass can tell you a lot about the condition of your chamber. Will one of those "sticky" fired cases go back into the chamber using finger pressure? Maybe the bolt is getting sticky as it warms up?

Measure new cases and fired cases and compare with the SAAMI specifications for that caliber, especially in the neck area. Chambers can become "smaller" after storage as oil turns into a hard varnish. Let us know what you find.

WM