Need Help- Tikka Prefit Install/Bolt stuck

[Tedhunts]

Asking for advise from one's with expertise:

I just installed a new McGowen Tikka Prefit (7-08) on a new tikka action. Used a viper barrel vise with a bughole tikka action wrench, barrel torqued to 75lbs.

I put a spent case in the gun and tried to close the bolt for the 1st time. Bolt wouldn't close, attempted to open and now it's stuck.

Before cause damage to a new build.. what is a proper next step?

Thanks-Ted

 

[Steve300xcw]

I would have already grabbed a bigger hammer. Though I'm not sure if thats the right move

 

[waspocrew]

I'd maybe try a couple of taps with a rubber mallet to see if it opens up. How hard were you trying to cam over to close the bolt?

Did you use gauges when installing the barrel?

 

[BAKPAKR]

It sounds like you used a “spent” case from another barrel. Did you full length resize it before trying to rechamber it in the new barrel?

My friend got a live round stuck in his new GAP rifle on his first trip to the range. He had used a neck-sized only round he had loaded for another rifle chambered for the same cartridge. His bolt wouldn’t open either. I think he ended up putting the rifle in a chest freezer and then did some beating on it.

 

[Tedhunts]

Unfortunately I used a spent case from another barrel, not really thinking about the chamber being so different it would stick.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Unfortunately I used a spent case from another barrel, not really thinking about the chamber being so different it would stick.

I will check with my friend to confirm what he did.

 

[wyosam]

Progressive taps with a rubber mallet. Headspace checks with gauges?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tedhunts]

Ok- the rubber mallet trick worked without alot of effort.

I was getting ahead of the game.. assembling gun today.. Go/No Go will be here in Monday mail.

Thanks everyone!

 

[TaperPin]

Unfortunately I used a spent case from another barrel, not really thinking about the chamber being so different it would stick.

Don’t hammer the bolt handle, all that will do is break it off, or break the extractor. Literally, read every story of a broke bolt handle or extractor and it generally comes down to trying to get a case out.

Apply moderate force to the bolt handle with one hand, and drop a cleaning rod down with the other. “Bounce” the rod off the case and the momentum will free it up. Of course a heavier steel rod works 10x better than an aluminum one.

For the non-cleaners, a cleaning rod is a fancy device that lets us apply chemicals to the bore. lol

 

[TaperPin]

lol Had I waited a few minutes there would have been no reason to post. Glad it worked out without a follow-up question of how to fix the bolt.