Bummed Out.....

[J300UM]

Well I went out today to sight in my 300 weaver to get ready for my elk hunt in two weeks and to say the least it was a bad day. I backed out primers on 2 of the first 3 shots and the ejector pin is stuck in the bolt so it wont eject the shells now. I dont understand it since thay were the same loads that were shooting fine last time out and it was at least 20 degrees cooler today. My gunsmith is on a hunting trip for the next 2 weeks. So it looks like I wont get to hunt with my new rifle this year . I have other guns, I was just really looking foward to using my new one. Sorry, I had to wine about it to someone...

 

[JD338]

Maybe you can back off on the load a few grains.

JD338

 

[J300UM]

I thought about that but the load isn't really hot the way it is. Another guy at the range said he had the same problem with his 300rum using nosler brass. He said he was loosing primers after 1 firing. He didn't say what his load was. I'm still worried about the ejector in the event of a follow up shot.

 

[rick smith]

If you have a plunger type ejector, you probably have a sliver of brass caught in the hole. use a small punch and push the ejector up/down to dislodge the pin. Or the pin is easily removed for cleaning but remember there is a compressed spring pushing on the pin.Rick.

 

[Greg Nolan]

J300UM
I ran into the same thing on a 30-378. What Rick said was the answer to the ejector problem. The back of the brass is probably swiped shiney and that's where the brass came from that is jammed in the ejector hole. It should clear by following Ricks suggestion. The second part of the story is that I had also worked up my loads and was happy as a clam untill I switched from Norma brass to Weatherby brass. Thats when the high pressure happened. There was a big difference in the brass thickness and softness and a big pressure rise. I don't know if you changed brands or lots of brass but you will probably have to work up individual loads specifically for each group of brass. Your caliber like the 30-378 operates at very high pressure anyway so there is almost no tolerence left. I also had the primers falling out and had to toss out the stretched brass. If this helps you that rifle may still go elk hunting this fall . Also did you change any other components such as primers?
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Recently I had a similar problem with unexpected pressure. I was shooitng reliable factory loads that had never given me a problem before. In another thread, someone suggested the problem could be some oil in the chamber. After checking my headspace and eliminating that, I wiped the chamber really well and tried it again....they were right, a clean chamber fixed the problem.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Just what is a 300 Weaver ? What case is it based on? I never heard of this one..... :?

 

[Powerstroke]

Modified .300 RUM if I'm not mistaken ???

 

[steve4102]

Isn't a "backed out primer" a sign of low pressure, not high pressure?

 

[baltz526]

i have blown a few primers over the years 7mm rem mag and 30-06. they where far from low pressure loads. over used brass with max loads on a hot day, did the trick.

 

[FOTIS]

What were your loads? velocity?

 

[steve4102]

i have blown a few primers over the years 7mm rem mag and 30-06. they where far from low pressure loads. .

I agree, "blown" primers are a sure sign of high pressure, but the OP said "backed out' not blown.

 

[J300UM]

its a 300rum case with a 40* shoulder and less taper. My load was 99.2gr of retumbo under a 180gr AB in nosler brass and a 215 primer. Avg. velocity was 3430. All brass has only been fireformed. This was the same load I used a couple weeks ago to fire back to back sub .5 groups without any failures. I checked the chamber and had a little oil residue in it but very little. I've tried to free up the ejector but its stuck good. Any tricks of the trade? I have a new ejector and spring coming from midway incase I damage mine trying to get it out.

 

[J300UM]

sorry, I forgot to mention the action is a rem. 700.

 

[FOTIS]

Oil lightly and stik a nail or dental pick in the ejector slot to get it to pop out. It is spring loaded.



Now your loads are normal (MAX) for a 300 RUM so for a weaver they should be just fine.....however these are indeed hot.

Did you clock these loads that caused the problem? No way they were doing 3400 fps with pressures like that.

 

[JD338]

J300UM

I'm not a gunsmith so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Maybe wrapping the bolt in a rag or towel and putting it in a vise to hold it secure and tapping the plunger with a punch and small hammer and free it up for you.

JD338

 

[rick smith]

Put an empty case under the extractor and have someone hold it there. Tap the retaining out with a proper sized punch. The ejector spring is under some tension and you don't want it to send the plunger across the room or into your face. Slowly remove the case and the plunger should follow the case out. If it is still stuck, use a small punch to press in down a little more. If it is a brass sliver, that should dislodge it. Put a little penetrating oil into the plunger hole before you start. It is possible that the plunger is fractured. Had that happen one time but the broken pieces fell out once I had removed the retaining pin. The plunger has a flat side that has to be lined up correctly with the retaining pin .Rick.

 

[J300UM]

I've got the retaining pin out but the plunger is still stuck. I can push it down and use a pick to push it back up but I cant get it to push up far enough to get ahold of it. I've also been trying to push it back and fourth a lot to try to dislodge anything but I haven't made any progress yet. Thanks for all the replies and advise!!!! I figure if I can't get it, I'll wait for my smith to get back and let him take care of it.

 

[J300UM]

Did you clock these loads that caused the problem? No way they were doing 3400 fps with pressures like that.

No I didn't. I didn't figure it was necessary.

 

[Guest]

Sounds like you may have a broken plunger spring as well as some brass shaving stuck in the hole. Or possibly just the brass shavings, so still be careful as far as removing the plunger. It may be possible to work it out, if you use some penetrating oil or something and go at it carefully. Then again, it may be really screwed up and need the help of a gunsmith. I'd work at it with some penetrating oil and try to get the plunger up where you could get it out. If the spring's broke, that's an easy fix once you get it out.