azgunslinger
Bearcat
- Joined
- May 17, 2015
- Messages
- 10
Hello all, newbie to this forum, but not to firearms. 16 yr old son drawn for elk first time, so I bought him a Ruger American Rifle compact in 308. (he's on the smaller side). Maneuverable 18" barrel, shorter LOP, lighter weight, and manageable recoil. Price made sense for me. Plus, I live in Arizona, and I like to support the local guys. Have about 5 Ruger products - mostly 10/22 variants, but feel like they're decent and I am brand loyal where possible.
This experience has me questioning that strategy I have to say. I'm hoping it improves.
Son is an inexperienced shooter, as you'd expect. This is his first bolt gun.
I got the rifle from my FFL yesterday and inserted the bolt. Immediately, it seemed like the bolt was not smooth in two ways. Sliding forward and back seemed too rough, and rotating the bolt had a heavy 'catch' about half way through. Like a spring was supposed to seat but it was really stiff. Read a lot of discussion online about 'stiff bolts' so I thought that was it. But now I am not so sure it isn't a safety hazard. I was able to grease the bolt so the forward slide was frictionless, so we're only talking about the rotation of the bolt. Here's what I am seeing.
Slide the bolt forward, and the cams engage. As you rotate there is a definite 'stop' in the rotation about halfway around. At this point, with the safety off, you could pull the trigger without the bolt fully closed/locked. Concerning! But the firing pin doesn't advance. (good, right?) You hear a definite click like its 1/2 way released, but it wouldn't fire. However, completing the rotation of the bolt then allows the rifle to fire...or more accurately CAUSES the rifle to fire!
Obviously there are three conditions that have to be met for the rifle to fire (in no specific order): 1.) The trigger has to be pulled. 2.) the bolt has to be fully rotated and 3.) the safety has to be on 'fire'. With the bolt partially open, I can meet 2 of the 3 conditions (safety off, and trigger pulled), and then rotating the bolt closed meets the third and discharges the firearm.
I pulled the cover off the back end of the bolt, and i can see the rotational path it is going along. It does seem to have a shallow indentation where the bolt is stopping. Perhaps if there was a round chambered, the pressure would be slightly alleviated, but I am not comfortable with the firing pin moving forward simply by rotating the bolt a few degrees in any case. I do notice the bolt elevating slightly as I rotate it...specifically where the bottom of the bolt engages the tang safety. I liked the tang safety for intuitive operation (vs a bolt safety), but I am wondering if the design doesn't assume some tighter fit or something else this particular set up is lacking.
Bottom line: no way am I putting this rifle in my son's hands.
Please tell me if others would define this as a 'stiff bolt' or something that they've experienced and should fix itself with a break in. I don't even want to test fire this as I believe it is unsafe.
Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions!
This experience has me questioning that strategy I have to say. I'm hoping it improves.
Son is an inexperienced shooter, as you'd expect. This is his first bolt gun.
I got the rifle from my FFL yesterday and inserted the bolt. Immediately, it seemed like the bolt was not smooth in two ways. Sliding forward and back seemed too rough, and rotating the bolt had a heavy 'catch' about half way through. Like a spring was supposed to seat but it was really stiff. Read a lot of discussion online about 'stiff bolts' so I thought that was it. But now I am not so sure it isn't a safety hazard. I was able to grease the bolt so the forward slide was frictionless, so we're only talking about the rotation of the bolt. Here's what I am seeing.
Slide the bolt forward, and the cams engage. As you rotate there is a definite 'stop' in the rotation about halfway around. At this point, with the safety off, you could pull the trigger without the bolt fully closed/locked. Concerning! But the firing pin doesn't advance. (good, right?) You hear a definite click like its 1/2 way released, but it wouldn't fire. However, completing the rotation of the bolt then allows the rifle to fire...or more accurately CAUSES the rifle to fire!
Obviously there are three conditions that have to be met for the rifle to fire (in no specific order): 1.) The trigger has to be pulled. 2.) the bolt has to be fully rotated and 3.) the safety has to be on 'fire'. With the bolt partially open, I can meet 2 of the 3 conditions (safety off, and trigger pulled), and then rotating the bolt closed meets the third and discharges the firearm.
I pulled the cover off the back end of the bolt, and i can see the rotational path it is going along. It does seem to have a shallow indentation where the bolt is stopping. Perhaps if there was a round chambered, the pressure would be slightly alleviated, but I am not comfortable with the firing pin moving forward simply by rotating the bolt a few degrees in any case. I do notice the bolt elevating slightly as I rotate it...specifically where the bottom of the bolt engages the tang safety. I liked the tang safety for intuitive operation (vs a bolt safety), but I am wondering if the design doesn't assume some tighter fit or something else this particular set up is lacking.
Bottom line: no way am I putting this rifle in my son's hands.
Please tell me if others would define this as a 'stiff bolt' or something that they've experienced and should fix itself with a break in. I don't even want to test fire this as I believe it is unsafe.
Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions!