what could cause this (possible out of spec chamber)

[Detritus]

I'm having a problem with my less than year old Rem 700 SPS-Varmint.

from the first time i took it to the range it was occasionally a bit stiff when i closed the bolt (on factory fresh ammo), and almost always stiff on extraction to some degree.
Now i can't even get it to close on neck-sized once fired brass!!

all the brass is within normal specs, and every piece was fired in this rifle. so as i understand it it all should fit. this has happened with LC, PPU (Prvi Partizan [same as wolf gold]), and winchester cases

I can find no obstructions or obvious deformities etc in the chamber or bore

other than a short chamber i am flumoxed as to what could cause this. so i'm asking the forum of input before i call remington and possibly make a fool of myself over an overlooked factor.

thank you for your time and any input you can give me.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'm thinking something more mechanical. Because if fired in that chamber even if short the brass should rechamber.

Do you have a scope mount or action screw protruding too far into the bolt raceway?

 

[Detritus]

Well i'll be.... :banghead:

readjusted one of the scope mount screws, and now it's back to just being firm (normal) to close/open.

now what I want to know is,

• why there wasn't any drag closing it on an empty chamber? seems to me it'd be interfering witht he bolt not the brass
• since it did seem to be binding on the brass/rounds why was i not seeing any obvious scratches ont eh cases (i did look for signs of this on the brass)

anyway, thanks for the help, now i feel like a doofus, but my rifle looks to be functional again, so it evens out

 

[R.W.Dale]

It may be that with a piece if brass in the bolt face the bolt had less clearance to be deflected downward on closing by that long scope mount screw

 

[Bobarino]

sounds like it might be a headspace issue. see if you can find a smith in your area and if they have a go/no go gauge to check it with.

how do like how it shoots? i just finished a project using an SPS-V and had great results. it did best with Hornaday 155gr A-Max match loads.

 

[Detritus]

how do like how it shoots?

Well, to be honest as of right now i don't like the groups I've gotten out of it. But I also am not yet convinced that the rifle is the problem...

see most of the ammo I've put through it so far was Prvi Partizan 175gr "match" ( ) . which after a little looking/asking around isn't a loading to judge a gun by. Also the first scope i put on this rifle, failed the day i tired to run the first batch of Handloads through it.

one thing i absolutely don't like is the lack of pillars, or a bedding block in the stock. In price point and overal features this gun appears to be meant to compete with the Savage 12FV/10FP series rifles which are pillar bedded, or in the case of some of the newer models have an extraordinarily stable/strong bedding system. Plus having used both now, I truthfully prefer the Accu-trigger system to the X-mark.

But i didn't really buy this gun to keep it in box stock condition. i bought it as a project gun, and I knew from the start I'd restock it as soon as I could (can't aford to yet), and probably change out the trigger in time as well. and it was still less than a bare Savage "target action".

 

[KAC1911]

I owned a Rem 700 VLS (I think the VLS is correct it was a laminated stock) in 22-250 with Lepold Scope and it was a tack driver at 200 yds. It also had a nice factory 26" I believe bull barrel on it too. You will also get better results once it has been shot some. I've owned numerous calibers in
Rem700's and was very pleased with all of them. Try to slide a dollar bill between the barrel and stock. Should be able to slide it back to the action. If not you can try to remove small amounts of material inside the stock where the barrel is touching the stock until you can slide the dollar through. Once your accuracy gets to a point where you are at the best you can achieve you may want to think about pillar bedding the action yourself or have a gun smith do it. I don't believe mine was piller bedded either and it really shot great. Agree with other poster about the head space test too. A good scope and secure mounts and rings really make a difference too. Good luck.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

why there wasn't any drag closing it on an empty chamber? seems to me it'd be interfering witht he bolt not the brass

That's an easy one. The cartridge forces coaxial alignment of the bolt axis (raising the bolt face end) and the bore; with no cartridge present, the bolt can rest slightly below the line of the bore, albeit within tolerances of the machined bolt and receiver.

 

[Fremmer]

Yup, I saw the same thing happen with a Weatherby rifle one time; the clerk from the chain store didn't catch it after he installed the new scope. You think you had a hard time figuring it out, you ought to see 5 yokels trying to figure it out at 4:30 a.m. on the opening day of deer season. Heck, we darn near took the bolt apart trying to figure it out. Doh!!!!!

 

[Detritus]

Now I've got a different problem!! I just cant seem to catch a break with this rifle!:banghead:

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