Balky GSR

[pelican]

I hope that I have got a bad example of Ruger rifle making because this GSR is so balky in the action as to be unreliable. The bolt has so much side play, especially when pulled all the way back, that it locks up unless you are very lucky to get just the right angle to push it back closed. Even if it starts to close it may still hang up, I let go then try it again, still sometimes it won't go , sometimes it will. I can't believe that all Ruger rifles are this way! They would never sell another one! Took it back to the dealer, he says I just need to work it some more to smooth it out. Can't understand. Never picked up a rifle, new or used as balky as this.
Any others out there like it? What did you do? I have worked the bolt in and out 2-300 times after firing 30 rounds and it still sticks. Don't want to waste more ammo if it acts like this.
HELP!!!
Thanks, Robert

 

[mattsbox99]

They all have some play but it shouldn't lock up. Are you using the metal magazine or polymer ones?

 

[RJ556]

Pelican, I believe what you are talking about is normal with M77's. When I operate my M77's, I pull the ball of the bolt handle, straight back and when pushing the bolt forward, push the ball of the bolt handle forward with a bit of inward pressure toward the receiver ring. Using this method of operating the bolt of my M77's, they operate very smoothly. This characteristic is less pronounced with the long action versions. And I can use less care when operating the actions of my Browning A-Bolt and Winchester M70 Classics. Action smoothness may be a negative with Ruger M77's, but they have a lot of positives. A few of which are: They can be very accurate ( although many require some work out of the box), they are a very classy, good looking rifle, they are very durable and can be taken completely apart with almost no tools.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Odd, my GSR has never hung up on me once. The only way I can make it do so is to pull up on the bolt while trying to chamber a round. I think that is indicative of the M77 though. Pulling to the right or left, its not as smooth, but I can still chamber a round.

Not sure it matters if poly or steel as the feed lips are below the receiver rails.

There has been issues with the poly mags not allowing the round to slip under the extractor and since the extractor won't snap over the rim, your left with a loose round in the chamber that is not secured by the bolt. Ruger's working on the issue now apparently.

In any case that doesn't sound like your problem anyway.

If its that bad, get a hold of Ruger. Or head over to scoutrifle.org and ask about it there.

 

[RJ556]

Does the GSR have a different extractor than other M77's? Every M77 that I have owned has a bevel on the extractor and you can slip a round into the chamber and push the bolt forward, A La Push Feed, and the extractor can be pushed over the rim of the cartridge and bolt locked.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I read about that somewhere, but don't recall the particulars. In any case, one cannot do as you describe with the GSR. The extractor is indeed beveled, maybe just not as much, I don't know. I've pushed that bolt pretty hard and have not been able to get the extractor to snap over the rim.

If one cycles the bolt like one should, it's not a problem.

 

[pelican]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the metal mag and a poly one also. Does not seem to make any difference , as the issue is the bolt will hang with mags or no mags.
I have emailed ruger, waiting to hear their thoughts.
Robert

 

[rangerbob]

I received my GSR about a year ago now. It was not what one would call smooth as Ruger made no effort to polish the bolt. But since it's a tactical rifle, one would not want a polished bolt anyway. It has smoothed up quiet a bit with use and working the bolt a lot. It's never failed to feed with either steel, polymer, or aftermarket magazines. If one had the time and money, getting the bolt Black T coated would blacken the bolt and smooth out the action. Just about all mauser type bolt action are going to have some play in them. I have a M77 in 9.3x62 that has a polished bolt out of the box and it is very smooth, but it was more expensive that the GSR and made for a different clientel. Bob! :wink:

 

[Silent Sam]

For the sticky bolt - Check your ejector.

I don't have any experience with the GSR but unless it is different from a std MKII/Hawkeye, you should be able to load a cartridge directly in the chamber and the extractor should snap over the rim. If it doesn't it is an easy fix to clean up the extractor edge & bevel.

 

[gatling]

I shoot my GSR single shot by just dropping a round in the feed area. The extractor pops over it when I close the bolt every time.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I've looked at my extractor and it sure looks smooth. My 338 RCM wouldn't do it either.

Gatling, can you take a pic of your bolt face? I know there's been plenty of argument in regards to the CRF vs. push feed of the M77. I'll try to get a pic of mine to compare.

 

[RJ556]

Gatling confirmed on his GSR, what I said about my M77's. Told you Slim.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I certainly wasn't doubting you. Really isn't a big deal to me, but it'd sure be nice to have that ability with my rifle. Gonna take a look at my extractor and see what I can do.

 

[RJ556]

My understanding was that the original Mauser could only be fed from the magazine. I don't understand why it wasn't designed from the start to be fed by dropping a round in the chamber, especially in a military rifle. If I had an enemy advancing on me with an empty magazine in my rifle, I sure would like to have the capability of throwing a round in the chamber to get a fast shot off if needed.

 

[Calthrop]

RJ556 Pardon me for being direct. What you want to do with a rifle and Peter and Paul Mauser invented in a rifle are two different things. I am sure that if you chose to abuse your vintage bolt gun the company will sell you a bucket of extractors and the bolt breakdown tool remove the broken extractor and instal a fresh one. Until such time a new one is needed. They are magazine fed rifles.

The reason they extract is because of the monstrous claw that the case run slips under from the magazine. If that piece of tempered stamping flexes to often to far it breaks. It is just a spring. That is the genius of the design.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Would I be correct in assuming then that those rifles with the larger Mauser type extractors are not meant to be push feed? Just because one can doesn't necessarily mean you one should?

Or does it just depend on the individual rifle. Take two rifles that are the same. One does, one doesn't. Which one is right?

 

[RJ556]

Slim, I am not even close to being extremely knowledgeable on Mauser actions. But, from my limited knowledge and experience with these rifles, I would say that you are probably correct in saying that they are not meant to be push feed and just because it is possible, does not necessarily mean you should.