bolt got stuck on my cousins springfield 1903

[leftym4]

i got a call from my cousin this mourning said he was chambering a round and as he was locking the bolt it got half way and got stuck he can't open it to extract the round and he can't close it to finish

he did not want to tap it with a hammer out of fear that it would go off

does anyone have a clue what is happening ?

thanks

 

[nicholst55]

Probably ammo-related. Did your cousin recently start reloading? Sounds like he tried to chamber an improperly sized case.

I'd suggest taking the rifle to a range or other area where no one could be injured if he experiences an accidental discharge. Point the muzzle downrange, then take a wooden or plastic mallet and rap the bolt handle 'up' smartly. I have had to resort to using a section of a 2X4 to rap bolt handles in order to open rifle bolts before. These rifles almost always belonged to a novice reloader, or to someone shooting his buddies reloads.

 

[rcmodel]

I can't imagine a stuck round that an 03 wouldn't pull out if you use enough force on the bolt handle.

It will either come out or rip the rim off of the case, at which point you can knock the round out with a cleaning rod.

Whacking it open with a rubber or plastic mallet will not cause it to go off if the trigger & sear has not been altered by some shade-tree Bubba..

If it still has the military wing safety, you can pull back the cocking piece and set the safety to the "center" or "straight up position, and it will lock the firing pin while still allowing the bolt to open normally.

rc

 

[leftym4]

thanks for the info

nicholst55
its a military round that was the first thing i had asked him but that was my first guess also is that its out spec or someone reloaded 06 shells to a different caliber

rcmodel
he can't pull the bolt straight back since the bolt is half way closed meaning the bullet is fully chambered and as pushing the bolt handle down to lock it, it got stuck mid way. won't close all the way and wont go back up . its not a extraction issue. the bolt handle and bolt is what is stuck

 

[rcmodel]

I understand that.
But he can pull the cocking piece knob back and put the safety straight up to insure the firing pin can't hit the primer while he beats it open.

rc

 

[leftym4]

Got cha thanks for the tip