Bolt stick?

[TRIGGER]

I have fired 60 rds of PMC with no issues through my Noreen 50 BMG. I tried a box of American Eagles but the bolt sticks to the point of having to drive the bolt back with a wood block and hammer(hard). I have not shot any of my reloads yet and don't want to shoot anymore American eagle brand. I can see n noticible markings on the case once removed. What kind of problems am I looking at?

 

[old guy]

Brass swelling to the point it wont eject. Use another brand. If it still sticks contact the manufacturer and ask their advice.

 

[DaveB]

Over pressure rounds. As stated, shoot no more of them. Go back to what you were shooting that did not bind.

The cause could be
1. Out of spec manufacture.
2. Your chamber is out of spec


I checked my Nosler manuals, no 50 cal info. I would find the size information ( I wonder if SAAMI supports 50's?) and use my caliper and be sure the not-shot rounds are in spec because it sounds like they are not, which is rare but not unusual.

To me it sounds like the brass is too soft. I cannot believe American Eagle would produce a round that was out of size specifications.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Are you saying that you have to hammer the bolt back even after lifting the bolt handle all the way and unlocking the lugs? :shock:

 

[TRIGGER]

Are you saying that you have to hammer the bolt back even after lifting the bolt handle all the way and unlocking the lugs? :shock:

Yes and I'm not talking a lite tap either. It takes two or three hard whacks with a 16 oz hammer.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I've never heard of a pressure problem that bad. I wouldn't fire another round of that ammo for any amount of money. Could be that the brass is too soft rather than pressure too high, but even if that were the issue, the pressure is too high for THAT brass.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I've never heard of a pressure problem that bad. I wouldn't fire another round of that ammo for any amount of money. Could be that the brass is too soft rather than pressure too high, but even if that were the issue, the pressure is too high for THAT brass.

ditto

 

[TRIGGER]

I've never heard of a pressure problem that bad. I wouldn't fire another round of that ammo for any amount of money. Could be that the brass is too soft rather than pressure too high, but even if that were the issue, the pressure is too high for THAT brass.

I guess you answered my next question about re using the brass.

 

[AllOutdoors]

I've never heard of a pressure problem that bad. I wouldn't fire another round of that ammo for any amount of money. Could be that the brass is too soft rather than pressure too high, but even if that were the issue, the pressure is too high for THAT brass.

ditto

Yep

 

[Hunter 257W]

I've never heard of a pressure problem that bad. I wouldn't fire another round of that ammo for any amount of money. Could be that the brass is too soft rather than pressure too high, but even if that were the issue, the pressure is too high for THAT brass.

I guess you answered my next question about re using the brass.

Well, I'm just speculating here so the un-fired brass could be good. At the cost of 50 cal brass, I'd pull the bullets from a few cases, dump the powder and try working up a load starting at the normal low charge. I wouldn't use any of those that have been fired though.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Still I'm sitting here thinking how this could be possible. Once you lift the bolt handle all the way upward, the caming action of the locking lugs pull the cartridge backwards enough that it shouldn't be touching the chamber anymore. Also helping to accomplish this is the taper of the case itself. Once you pull the case backward to this point, there should be no contact between the case and chamber to cause binding. I'm wondering if something else is at play here??????????? Very strange situation.

 

[TRIGGER]

Still I'm sitting here thinking how this could be possible. Once you lift the bolt handle all the way upward, the caming action of the locking lugs pull the cartridge backwards enough that it shouldn't be touching the chamber anymore. Also helping to accomplish this is the taper of the case itself. Once you pull the case backward to this point, there should be no contact between the case and chamber to cause binding. I'm wondering if something else is at play here??????????? Very strange situation.

The gun shoots and functions great with PMC. I have fired 8 rounds of the American eagle and all 8 have done the same thing.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Still I'm sitting here thinking how this could be possible. Once you lift the bolt handle all the way upward, the caming action of the locking lugs pull the cartridge backwards enough that it shouldn't be touching the chamber anymore. Also helping to accomplish this is the taper of the case itself. Once you pull the case backward to this point, there should be no contact between the case and chamber to cause binding. I'm wondering if something else is at play here??????????? Very strange situation.

The gun shoots and functions great with PMC. I have fired 8 rounds of the American eagle and all 8 have done the same thing.

Yeah, I know what you are saying but it sure is puzzling why it still takes force to pull the bolt back once the handle is lifted and the locking lugs are released. IF it were mine though, I'd still assume over pressure and not fire any more and also stick with the recommendation to not reuse any of this brass that has been fired.

 

[DaveB]

generally the stiff bolt lift and no extraction indicates an overpressure condition. Also, it can be caused when handloading by FL die not being set properly.

I used to think all factory ammo was never going to have problems but if you look at recalls it really is a bit discomforting. I still find it hard to believe that any manufacturer could let an overpressure round out of the factory but it definitely happens. In this instance I am thinking the brass is too soft but it could easy be an overcharge.

Regardless of the cause, I would not shoot the ammo that causes the extract problem. And I would definitely be on the phone to the manufacturer.

 

[Hunter 257W]

The part that puzzles me though Dave is that he is having to use a hammer after the bolt is lifted. It's expected to have stiff bolt lift with an over pressure load but once lifted, you have already pulled the case rearward enough that it should fall out of the chamber since the case is tapered.

 

[DaveB]

Well, pretty sure the hammer part is a couple of hard whacks on the bolt. Once you get the bold past the point where the case is binding the bolt will slam to the rear stop.

I have had this same problem with my 300 mag. Absolutely caused by an improperly adjusted FL die. Picture hammer, 2 foot piece of 2x4, son holds rifle dad whacks 2x4 that is positioned against the bolt. And Love tap doesn't budge things, you gotta drive that nail.


There is no recall posted on the XM33C ammo, this has to be what Trigger is shooting. I surfed around but no problems being reported.

I would go to this link and fill out the form and maybe call the company here 800-379-1732


https://www.federalpremium.com/company/contact_us.aspx

 

[TRIGGER]

I should clarify. The bolt is no harder to lift than with the PMC ammunition. Once it is lifted is where the trouble starts. I purchased another box of PMC and will shoot them soon just to be sure another batch will work correctly. I also need to make time to shoot my reloads.

 

[TRIGGER]

I shot 8 rounds of a new batch of PMC and 4 rounds of Hornady this past weekend with no issues.