[BabbaOReilly]

I'm having trouble with an otherwise flawless M44 I bought from AIM. It refuses to chamber a round. It seems that the bullet loads in front of the extractor claw so that I cannot close the bolt. It appears to stay to the right as I push the bolt forward and the rim never rolls under the claw and in-line with the bolt face.

I have tried 5 different bolts with no success. I have switched the magazine with two other M44's with no success. I have also placed the receiver and mag in a different stock to see if that is somehow the problem with no success.

Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? I have exhausted my limited gunsmithing knowledge. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

AIM refused to take it back so if I can't fix it I'm stuck with a $69 meat skewer taking up valuable space in my safe.

Thanks in advance,

Babba

 

[7.62x54r]

Are you saying it still has the problem even when you swap out the entire bolt?

 

[BabbaOReilly]

Yes. I have used 5 different complete Mosin bolts and none have worked. Same problem with each.

I will note the claw on each bolt was different with regard to how it was situated on the head. I've heard that sometimes they can be too "tight" and bent forward and keep the bullet from rolling into place properly so I was trying to eliminate this as the culprit and any other bolt-related issues.

The bolt will close fine if you insert the shell manually under the claw and then chamber it.

 

[7.62x54r]

Okay, so that pretty much leaves the receiver and barrel. Have you looked in their with a flashlight to see if the extractor relief cut in the barrel face is clean? It could have something in it, even dried cosmoline, that's just not letting the extractor move enough to snap over the rim. The cartridge doesn't have to fit into the bolt face before it's chambered. A properly functioning Mosin will close the bolt on a cartridge even if it's dropped in the chamber first.

Just to be sure that it isn't the bolt, try that bolt in another Mosin also.

BTW, you should be using dummy cartridges for this unless you're at the range and pointed at the berm. Be careful.

 

[BabbaOReilly]

I tried the bolt in another M44 and it functioned flawlessly. The chamber and relief are clean as a whistle. I spent a long time digging in there with a bore light, a Q-tip, cleaning picks and some solvent when I first discovered the problem. I also didn't note anything that looked like a burr in the chamber. I'll take another look.

Thanks for the advice on the dummy round. I'm careful but I didn't think about that. I'll put one together tonight on my press.

 

[7.62x54r]

Will a cartridge drop fully into the chamber? It's rare, but I've heard of people buying guns that had a cartridge case with the head torn off still in the chamber. If so, you just need a broken case extractor, and maybe some cleaning if it's a steel case and it started to rust. I know you said you looked in there with a light, but it can be very hard to see something like that because of the shape of the chamber.

 

[BabbaOReilly]

No, there isn't a stuck case. I can also fully load a cartridge so long at the rim is inserted under the claw prior to chambering.

I've been trying to do a side-by-side comparison vs another M44 chamber to see any variances between the two that might be the source. Not so easy to do without medical probing devices.

 

[7.62x54r]

What about a chamber cast? I've never done one, but they don't sound that hard.

Of course if the round will go in the chamber and the bolt close then that's not the problem. It's got to be the extractor relief cut IMO.

 

[MilSurpFan]

Mark the outside face of the extractor with good permanent marker or Dykem if you have it. Try to chamber the dummy round, then remove the bolt. If the extractor is hitting the receiver or extractor cutout, the marking should be scraped off. After that, a dab of white-out on the extractor should show where it is hitting inside there (close, at least).

 

[Guest]

No, there isn't a stuck case. I can also fully load a cartridge so long at the rim is inserted under the claw prior to chambering.

I've been trying to do a side-by-side comparison vs another M44 chamber to see any variances between the two that might be the source. Not so easy to do without medical probing devices.

I just want to clarify here... you say there is no stuck case & that you can also fully load a cartridge so long at the rim is inserted under the claw prior to chambering. I assume that you had the bolt in the gun & were trying to chamber the round. If you remove the bolt, can you drop a round into the chamber & if so, does it go all the way into the chamber without resistance?

Also, have you tested for headspace with a "GO" Gauge?

 

[BabbaOReilly]

I'll try to drop a round in and let you know. I haven't checked the headspace yet. I will have to order a gauge to do that. I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that this wasn't the issue since it does chamber when the round is placed under the claw. Anyone have a source for "Go" gauges?

 

[7.62x54r]

If the bolt will close on the round then it shouldn't be a headspace issue. Yankee Engineering sells Go, No-Go, and Field gauges. They're on the Links page at my site.

 

[Guest]

I'm having trouble with an otherwise flawless M44 I bought from AIM. It refuses to chamber a round. It seems that the bullet loads in front of the extractor claw so that I cannot close the bolt. It appears to stay to the right as I push the bolt forward and the rim never rolls under the claw and in-line with the bolt face.
Babba

You say you cannot close the bolt on a round. You tried 5 different bolts so 7.62x54r is more than likely right... Not a headspace issue. Kind of narrows the options down to an imperfection in the chamber?

 

[DYNOMIKE]

There "MAY" be something you have not tried Here...
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=566

I have been Fighting with one of these Myself on and off for 3 Years..
Good Luck and Please share any Updates..

 

[Guest]

There "MAY" be something you have not tried Here...
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=566

I have been Fighting with one of these Myself on and off for 3 Years..
Good Luck and Please share any Updates..

That could very well be.

 

[Jim R]

You state that the round will not be picked up by the bolt upon closing of the rifle bolt. Have you tried chambering a round with a full magazine? Is the interuptor link in place on the left side of the receiver? This bolt you claim works fine in another rifle.

 

[BabbaOReilly]

Yep, sounds like we have the same friggin' problem. I assume you never found an effective remedy?

 

[Jim R]

Yep, sounds like we have the same friggin' problem. I assume you never found an effective remedy?

I don't have the problem. I'm trying to help you figure out yours.

 

[BabbaOReilly]

Sorry, I was referring to DYNOMIKE's post and link.

I have tried loading with a full mag and one at a time. No success. As I noted earlier, I have even swapped out the magazine with others.

 

[Jim R]

Sorry, I was referring to DYNOMIKE's post and link.

I have tried loading with a full mag and one at a time. No success. As I noted earlier, I have even swapped out the magazine with others.

OK, So what about the Interuptor Link on the left side of the receiver? Something is missing here that is causing this to happen in this particular rifle.