Bolt Issue, clicker?

[Ralt71]

I’m a little puzzled. I got my wife a Christensen 300wsm a few years ago as her primary hunting rifle. We both love the gun, shoots awesome. We actually named it Laser because it doesn’t matter what you give it, it just shoots.

The only draw back, since day one the bolt is stiff with any fired brass in it. None fired brass or round and it’s fine, as soon as you shoot it though it’s firm. Doesn’t matter if it’s factory ammo, my reloads, or even a minimum load that’s lite on powder.

Today I’m dialing her hunting rounds in (189g AccuBond, Nosler brass, WLRM primer, H4350 62g). I’ve ran this load all last year for her and get sub MOA with speeds around 2970’s. I tried seating her .050 off the lands, previous was .033, just to see if it dials in. Stuff bolt as usual but it’s also making a click at the end. I’m not sure if it’s the dreaded clicker, or if the bolt is an issue.

I should probably just download quick loads so I’m not guessing at this stuff lol. Primers are not pushed out nothing alarming. Just that click sound. What’s the forum’s thoughts?

Bolt Lift.

 

[Ralt71]

Sorry for the errors, I’m doing this from my
Phone. They are 180g bullets and it’s a stiff bolt, not stuff. The edit function won’t show my post on here.

 

[sako2]

With seating the bullet deeper you took up some case volume. Back the charge down. You might have a tight chamber.

 

[Blkram]

Your rifle's head space might be off a bit.
I had a similar issue with mine when first built. Was always a bit stiff to open after firing factory or handloaded ammo., but not excessive that it required too much force to open. Just stiffer than my other rifles.
One day, it actually fired while closing the bolt...luckily I was practicing safe muzzle direction, (and did not have my finger close to the trigger) and the bullet went into large, heavy timber. It did spook the elk though!
Took it to the gunsmith who had built it and he looked it over and found it to be a headspace issue, which he resolved.
No more stiff bolt or safety issues!

 

[JD338]

I agree with Sako2. Also, have you greased the bolt lugs?

JD338

 

[IdahoCTD]

It could be a ton of different things but the two most common would be.....a clicker, meaning the case isn't sizing enough and/or the chamber is under size or has tight headspace and your die isn't bumping the shoulder back enough or reducing the web diameter enough. It could also be a lack of primary extraction, meaning the caming surface on the bolt handle isn't contacting the action properly to help pop the case out of the chamber. Remington's are notorious for this.

 

[Ralt71]

Your rifle's head space might be off a bit.
I had a similar issue with mine when first built. Was always a bit stiff to open after firing factory or handloaded ammo., but not excessive that it required too much force to open. Just stiffer than my other rifles.
One day, it actually fired while closing the bolt...luckily I was practicing safe muzzle direction, (and did not have my finger close to the trigger) and the bullet went into large, heavy timber. It did spook the elk though!
Took it to the gunsmith who had built it and he looked it over and found it to be a headspace issue, which he resolved.
No more stiff bolt or safety issues!

Christensen asked me to send this one back, I just really don’t want to do that. There is a decent gunsmith here local that I may need to talk to though.

 

[Ralt71]

I agree with Sako2. Also, have you greased the bolt lugs?

JD338

I grease them decently often. Last year before hunting season I disassembled the entire bolt, cleaned and lubed it. Hoping to make life easier for ol sweet thing. It didn’t help much, but I always feel better knowing it’s done on all of my guns.

 

[Ralt71]

It could be a ton of different things but the two most common would be.....a clicker, meaning the case isn't sizing enough and/or the chamber is under size or has tight headspace and your die isn't bumping the shoulder back enough or reducing the web diameter enough. It could also be a lack of primary extraction, meaning the caming surface on the bolt handle isn't contacting the action properly to help pop the case out of the chamber. Remington's are notorious for this.

I thought shoulder space early on, but it does it with factory ammo, never fired brass etc.. Last year I tried taking some Winchester brass that I didn’t plan on using again and bumping the shoulder back .007 from fire formed. It didn’t help the situation.

I’m curious on the primary extraction. I may try checking that out. I have other bolts from Remington actions for both 300wsm and win mag. I could potentially pull a bolt from a gun that has no issues and see what it does for me.

I really am wondering if headspace needs adjusted being this has always been and issue with this gun.

 

[Ralt71]

With seating the bullet deeper you took up some case volume. Back the charge down. You might have a tight chamber.

I tried that today. I dropped my charge weight .005 and .01 and shot it again. My speeds dropped roughly 20 fps from .005 and about 35 fps from .01 but the bolt was the same situation. Even taking the fired brass and trying it again I was getting the same results. Just by dumb luck, my two shots at 61.5 went same hole lol.

 

[RL338]

Christensen asked me to send this one back, I just really don’t want to do that. There is a decent gunsmith here local that I may need to talk to though.

I would take their advice and send it back to them to make it right. I believe they know the issue or they won’t asking for a return.

 

[Blkram]

Christensen asked me to send this one back, I just really don’t want to do that. There is a decent gunsmith here local that I may need to talk to though.

I would send it back...let them perform the warranty work that your local gunsmith cannot cover for you and you'll have to pay him for his time.

 

[Ralt71]

I would take their advice and send it back to them to make it right. I believe they know the issue or they won’t asking for a return.

You’re probably right, it’s just such a pita to send the thing back and they are super super slow. Last one I sent them was gone for 5 months.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

You’re probably right, it’s just such a pita to send the thing back and they are super super slow. Last one I sent them was gone for 5 months.

Maybe slow but let them repair their mistake.

 

[xphunter]

Send it back