Stiff Mosin Extractor

[RaspberrySurprise]

I recently purchase two M91/30's a 1944 and a 1922 Hex receiver. On both of them the extractor is really stiff and I believe is what is causing the bolts to stick as I have scrubbed both of them thoroughly inside the chamber.

On my M38 which cycles with one finger the extractor can be flexed with firm pressure against it, but on both 91/30s it takes a heck of a lot of force to get the extractor to budge and then it only moves a tad.

The bolts only stick after firing and mostly on the upstroke of the bolt. I can't find and dings or odd marks in the extractors and they don't appear to be damaging the rim either. Also the bottom of the extractor is flush with the bolt head.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

 

[stubbicatt]

If I understand your dilemma, you have difficulty opening the bolt with a fired case in the chamber?

It seems unlikely to me that the extractor would be the cause of that. Stiff extractors generally become obvious upon the closing of the bolt when they are called upon to snap over the case rim. Upon opening, the extractor is only holding the case head against the bolt face.

If I were to guess I would say that the chamber has some crusty cosmoline in it, or some pitting or other imperfection which is preventing the spent case from turning and slipping from the chamber as the bolt is turned towards the vertical, and the primary extraction forces are at work.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Sticky bolt syndrome. It's crud in the chamber. Best thing to do is get a 20gage bore brush and scrub the thing out after firing a few rounds at the range. Use an aerosol cleaner. If you have a long enough steel rod, use a cordless drill on the end o the brush and get a bunch of spins.

My friend's 91/30 needed a swift kick to get the bolt open on the first few shots, but would loosen up after warming. The cosmoline melts with the heat and frees up the casing. Did the above and no more sticky bolt.

 

[RaspberrySurprise]

Yes it is fired cases that are hard to cycle. I can get the same fired case to cycle in the M38 without much problem or if I use the M38's bolt. The chambers feel smooth on both M91/30s and I have brushed them out.

This is a picture of two cases from the M91/30 that cycles the worst. The other leaves the same marking though they are about half the length and slightly shallower.

I don't it's cosmoline in the chamber as I have cleaned the chambers with a brush and drill on both of them but I'll do it again to be sure. It's gonna have to wait until I get off work tonight though.

 

[stubbicatt]

That mark on the case body isn't caused by the extractor. That is some burr in your chamber methinks.

The extractor merely snaps over the rim of the cartridge. That mark shows something is dragging in the chamber, some sort of protrusion it looks like.

 

[RaspberrySurprise]

It must be a small burr then since I can't feel it in the chamber. Guess I'll be getting some sandpaper today if I can before work. Thanks for the help

[Edit]
On later inspection the Hex 91/30 has a rather noticeable burr when using my much brighter LED flashlight. I think I may have found one on the other rifle. [/Edit]

 

[rangerruck]

soak the bolt assy in a little pot of brake parts cleaner, for a few days, then blow it out with fast, hot , running water, then hair dryer it dry, then poor out a bottle of motor oil lube over it, and let it drip dry of the oil.
And yes, you do have sticky bolt syndrome, so clean that chamber real good.
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