1944 Ex Sniper

[Longcolt44]

Did you ever check the headspace on this rifle?

[Sirex]

Yeah, that's the area. All that metal missing. I will try to get a better pic today. Flip it over. my buddy was shooting it at the time it happened, but he didn't appear to be doing anything abnormal or abusive.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Some wartime produced rifle can be a bit more rough in their appearance, machine tool marks, and half finished metal. I can't tell much from the pic, if you think there is a serious problem it would be best to take it to a gunsmith, preferably one that is not an idiot, and have the weapon looked at. Bring a sample of the problem cartridge case with you. The problem you are describing sounds like a cartridge case that was stock, but the case did not have any holes blown out of it's side or bottom when you got it out. This would be the case had something in the chamber itself failed. If the area you are thinking is suspect had let go the bolt head, bottom of the cartridge case and possibly the entire receiver would have gone with it. The 7.62x54r is a rimmed case, the rim covers that area just outside the chamber, the bolt head is flat against it , and the extractor is clipped around it's right edge. When you rotate the bolt the extractor has to have someplace to go, and that groove is the place. Was there a hole in the cartridge case in this area? Any sign of serious deformity of the brass in that, or any part of the case ( steel case also) If there wasn't then there is nothing wrong with that area and you have a seriously dirty chamber.

[kermit]

i have new 20 guage bore brush. do you have a cleaning rod that with screw on to a hoppe's no.1312 bore brush?? somehow i ended up with 2 of them and 2 no 1318 cotton swab. payitforward.