Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing M77 Ruger won't close...

A friend recently inherited a M77 Ruger in .270 W. It looks to be in excellent shape..action works smoothly, and hardly a mark on it anywhere, but it the action won't close up when it's loaded with a round. I tried a factory round and a piece of unloaded brass with the same results. Any thoughts on a diagnosis or a fix for this?

Thanks for your help.

Quick question: are you placing the round in the chamber and trying to close the bolt, or are you feeding the round from the magazine. If the former, try the latter and see what happens.......

ya, what redneck says. some rugers have an extractor with minimal clearence and it won't snap over the already chambered cartridge, but it will feed and chamber from the magazine as it was designed to do.

Thanks guys...I've tried both ways with the same result. Still looking for suggestions, so if you can think of any other possibilities, I'd be pleased to hear from you.

If the bolt will close with an empty chamber, look to see if there could at some time have been a case head seperation and brass is still in the neck area. If this is the case, you might use an oversize brass brush pushed half way the the neck and pulled backwards.

xx

www.martincustom.com

It's possible that the extractor groove was milled a tad below specs. Coat the extractor end with a black marker pen. Place an empty shell casing in the magazine and try to chamber it. When it stops, remove the bolt and check that extractor tip for ANY mark that would show a rub against the extractor groove.

If this is the result, two things are possible. If the bolt JUST won't close, maybe the extractor can be refitted to the groove. If it seems like there's more than a few thousandths to go till closing, then the groove will have to be widened/deepened, whichever the mark shows. This will necessitate the barrel be removed for work..

Icedog,

A couple of dumb questions:

Are you sure that the rifle is chambered for 270 Win and has not be chambered for an improved chamber of some kind? Get the chamber cast to see what comes out in the cast.

I assume that you've checked the bore/chamber for rust or obstructions--a wasp nest or something like that.

Have you had the head space checked on the rifle to see if the headspace is too short to accomodate the shoulder of the cartridge--even with a crush fit?

Have you seen any scrub marks on the casing/cartridge you are trying to chamber? Markings on the case neck, case shoulder or head of the cartridge could point to a chamber depth or throat length issue.

Just a brain dump during a meeting at work <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Is the brass you're trying to chamber a new unfired case?

Are you feeding it from the mag?

Have you checked the bolt (matching serial#'s)and made sure it's the correct bolt?

Is this a factory barrel?

Have you oiled the extractor and checked that it will spring open with a screwdriver by hand?

Just thinking out loud...

Take a look at my post in "Hunting Rifles", "Aaaarrrggghhhhhh!!! It's a Sucks".



Front action screw was too long and diddly-dad-burned near wouldn't let the bolt close.

The Sucks problem will not apply to the Ruger, whose front screw is at an angle to the recoil lug. I have seen the long screw problem on a few Sucks rifles before. Like you said, it's an easy fix, just remove a thread or so and you're golden.....

If that extractor is NOT rubbing when trying to close the bolt, then a chamber cast should be next.

Though you didn't say so explicitly, this is a MK 1 right?

If so, the ejector is the problem. It's rusted tight inside the bolt body. You will need to tap out the retaining pin and remove the ejector and then soak the spring in the bolt's head overnight with a rust breaker like Liquid Wrench. Remove the spring and clean it up along with the interior of the bolt and you should be good as new.

Gabe

Icedog,

I would make sure the serial number written on the bolt with an electric engraver matches the serial number of the rifle. Thanks...

Ditto what model70man said. I've had brand new in the box Rugers with mis-matched bolts.