m38 still not working right. VERY DEPRESSED. HELP!!!

[z31jaime]

no wrong, if I load the rifle normal NONE will work.

using the method you suggested of putting the round on the bolt then closing the chamber 2 work just fine, but the 3rd the orignal will not hold the round in the bolt head, so i cant test it. If I try to slide it in with the round in, the extractor gets stuck and prevents the bolt from going in....


but regardless NONE of them are working correctly.

This suggests to me that something is bugging the extractor on all 3 bolts, as using your way illimated the "clipping over" of the rim and they work fine like this. so when the Extractor goes to clip on the round, something is not letting it.

[WeldonHunter]

no wrong, if I load the rifle normal NONE will work.

using the method you suggested of putting the round on the bolt then closing the chamber 2 work just fine, but the 3rd the orignal will not hold the round in the bolt head, so i cant test it. If I try to slide it in with the round in, the extractor gets stuck and prevents the bolt from going in....


but regardless NONE of them are working correctly.

This suggests to me that something is bugging the extractor on all 3 bolts, as using your way illimated the "clipping over" of the rim and they work fine like this. so when the Extractor goes to clip on the round, something is not letting it.

Ok so it seems the original bolt has a damaged extractor to start with. Either the gunsmith installed it incorrectly, damaged it or it's been damaged since. Reguardless I'd be real careful with the other bolts especially the loner bolt that's not yours. Without seeing the extractor on the original bolt I can't say for sure how bad it is. It seems we're back to the cause which is chamber related. Without being able to see in there myself I can't tell you what else to do really. Compare the chamber on your other Mosin to this one.

Edit: Pictures would help. I know it's a pain in the butt but it's helps tremendously

[desdem12]

Maybe a burr holding up the extractor. Take a small finger and run it in there as far as youcan to see if you feel one. Then take a rag on a stick or small rod and see if it catches on anything if it does then that would be the source of the burr. Hopefully you can find it. Try outside the chamber as well as in it.

[Greasemonkey]

I'll throw this out for an opinion, the extractor slot in the barrel face looks like it narrows or could be getting tight towards the bottom, maybe not fully cut out. Best photos I could get after 47 shots If that spot is tight, not fully machined out, with a round pushing the extractor outward, wouldn't that also hold the bolt, preventing closing.
The dummy rounds I have have a slightly smaller rim, only by a few thousandths, but that maybe thats all it takes.

[z31jaime]

...... could be but your first pic is not one of mine, its of Weldons. mine has the same pic on page 5 of this thread.

[Greasemonkey]

Oops, that was alot of reading, thats the only thing I can think of or comes to mind, clean chamber, 3 totally different bolts.

Only other 2 things but they are so far out, a possible rechamber to another caliber buy someone or a freakish Russian experiment or the chamber throat too small.


How does the M38 look at the extractor cut compared the the M91/30 you just got?

[WeldonHunter]

...... could be but your first pic is not one of mine, its of Weldons. mine has the same pic on page 5 of this thread.

I don't believe that was one of mine unless the picture was cropped. I just looked back at the picture you have on page 5 and it's a fairly good picture except it doesn't quite show all of the extractor groove and the lighting is a bit dim. I use a flashlight with the flash on the camera turned off. If you move the flashlight around what you're shooting and not hit the target directly it helps to light things up better with reflected light showing on the target area. If the rounds mounted in a bolt with a good extractor cycle ok and don't while overcoming the rim it sure sounds like the extractor groove has a problem. The next best thing again is to compare it to another rifle that works correctly and see what the differences are.

[Greasemonkey]

...... could be but your first pic is not one of mine, its of Weldons. mine has the same pic on page 5 of this thread.

I don't believe that was one of mine unless the picture was cropped. I just looked back at the picture you have on page 5 and it's a fairly good picture except it doesn't quite show all of the extractor groove and the lighting is a bit dim. I use a flashlight with the flash on the camera turned off. If you move the flashlight around what you're shooting and not hit the target directly it helps to light things up better with reflected light showing on the target area. If the rounds mounted in a bolt with a good extractor cycle ok and don't while overcoming the rim it sure sounds like the extractor groove has a problem. The next best thing again is to compare it to another rifle that works correctly and see what the differences are.

He is right WeldonHunter, I had one of yours, I just deleted it so not to add to the confusion, sorry about that

I wonder if a thin coating of grease was used on the bolt lugs, would that make a difference. I used some on on that was rather tight, it helped, after awhile it's was no longer needed.

[z31jaime]

you know I thought about the same thing... This M38 its very "dry" no grease anywhere. And I noticed alot of the pix you guys post have grease in the area, or at least what looks like it. maybe I should dry that....????

I also thought about attaching a small peace fo sand paper to the outside of the extractor, this would then scratch where its touching and give me an idea of what needs to be worked on.... What do you guys think????

[WeldonHunter]

you know I thought about the same thing... This M38 its very "dry" no grease anywhere. And I noticed alot of the pix you guys post have grease in the area, or at least what looks like it. maybe I should dry that....????

I also thought about attaching a small peace fo sand paper to the outside of the extractor, this would then scratch where its touching and give me an idea of what needs to be worked on.... What do you guys think????

You can also use a light coating of white lithium grease rubbed on the area you think is the problem. There's also some stuff called machinists bluing that's used for the same purpose.

[Sgt. Rob]

Go to Brownells and do a search on lapping compound. It just might do the trick.

Semper Fi, Rob

[WeldonHunter]

Go to Brownells and do a search on lapping compound. It just might do the trick.

Semper Fi, Rob

Yep Rob now I remember. I couldn't remember what exactly we used that for and it was for checking valve seats and faces while hand lapping.

[z31jaime]

Well a lot of you don't know the busy life I live, I'm a Supervisor at the 911 center here in Orlando, and vice-president of the local Volvo car club (My car pictured below)

on top of that I'm currently training to be the supervisor of the CITY's Radio systems for police,fire, and General Government. So I'm always running around. Between classes, work, car meets, meetings, keeping up the house, and keeping up my rental property I thought picking up the Mosin Nagants as another hobby to blow off steam from all the stress of the day would be a good idea. Who wouldn't want to take their day off and go shoot a BAD ASS Rifle for hours on end, Until your sholder feels like it got hit by a semi? needless to say this one has caused me more stress and $ than its worth.

However, while talking to one of the radio system Tecs, he was showing me photos of his 10 acre house and how he has ranges on the property we got on the subject of My M38. He then told me he collects British .303s and has a brother who is a gunsmith. And dose all the work on his .303s.... and offered to have him take a look at it. And we could then all go shooting at his house (I'm sure it was him trying to earn brownie points as I'm about to be his new boss). But Hell he and I have been friends for a long time before this, and I'm just now learning this about him... so I took him up on the offer. He showed me photos of over 10 fully restored .303s that looked like they should be in glass cases. Some with custome work done.

Anyways I figure if he can do that kind of work on the .303s hes probably the best person around to deal with my issue. CROSSING MY FINGERS!!!!!!

as for the 91/30 in my other thread, the shop said I'm SOL, sold as is... which sucks. but hey if the m38 gets fixed, I'll fit the 91/30 also.

[WeldonHunter]

Man that's really a relief. This thread has made me feel so helpless to figure this out. I'm no gunsmith but I've been a master auto technician for over 30 years and diagnostics is a huge part of what I do. That said trying to do it via a forum is more than challenging. You know we'll want a full report. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's waiting to see what the heck is wrong with these rifles. I can't wait for the first thread about shooting them.

[desdem12]

I feel the same way weldon. I know i just wanted to get on a plane and head over there and get it fixed for Z31. Hopefully this will be the saving grace for you

[BuckeyeSgt]

I used to go to Jacksonville a lot for work. I thought about trading the other guy just to go out there and look at this rifle.

[WeldonHunter]

I used to go to Jacksonville a lot for work. I thought about trading the other guy just to go out there and look at this rifle.

BuckeyeSgt <--------Another Good 'un I think we'll keep ya.

[WeldonHunter]

I feel the same way weldon. I know i just wanted to get on a plane and head over there and get it fixed for Z31. Hopefully this will be the saving grace for you

I'm with you. Except it's only about a 1 day drive for me, ;) Good thing is I think he's found someone who,s not going to jerk him around which it sounds like has happened to him a lot.

[BuckeyeSgt]

Just want to say Jaime is a good guy, got my bolt back yesterday. Along with the headspace gauge and no issues. We had agreed that he could hang onto it for a bit while he was working on this one and buying another. Just wanted to throw this out there.

[MN Fan]

That's awesome

I really hope he gets them both going soon. I feel bad for the guy!