Fail to fire at range.

[Planetcat]

I have probably 300-400 rounds through my .30-06 barrel that I found in sporting goods store in VT about 2 years ago. I suspect that it had been sitting in the shop for a few years prior, but it was new, fit great on my .300 WM and is a dream to shoot with the 20" barrel.

 

At the range the other day, I was shooting a new box of 165 gr. core-lokts and had a couple fail to fires. This would happen on the second shot after manually loading a round (i.e. jack one in, it fires, ejects, and puts in round #2, hear a click, no fire). There were no striker marks on the round. It did this maybe three times, and those rounds fired when chambered manually, so I know they weren't duds. I then proceeded to shoot an entire box of Federal Fusions without any problems and about another 10 core lokts. Any ideas?

 

I want to throw another thing out there, maybe related to this issue. I was always told to store semi-auto rifles and shotguns with the chamber open and locked back. Something about keeping the springs compressed. I do this with my R1. How do you guys store your R1 - bolt open or closed? Any comments on storing it like this? Thanks in advance.

[Saw Doctor]

I have probably 300-400 rounds through my .30-06 barrel that I found in sporting goods store in VT about 2 years ago. I suspect that it had been sitting in the shop for a few years prior, but it was new, fit great on my .300 WM and is a dream to shoot with the 20" barrel.

 

At the range the other day, I was shooting a new box of 165 gr. core-lokts and had a couple fail to fires. This would happen on the second shot after manually loading a round (i.e. jack one in, it fires, ejects, and puts in round #2, hear a click, no fire). There were no striker marks on the round. It did this maybe three times, and those rounds fired when chambered manually, so I know they weren't duds. I then proceeded to shoot an entire box of Federal Fusions without any problems and about another 10 core lokts. Any ideas?

 

I want to throw another thing out there, maybe related to this issue. I was always told to store semi-auto rifles and shotguns with the chamber open and locked back. Something about keeping the springs compressed. I do this with my R1. How do you guys store your R1 - bolt open or closed? Any comments on storing it like this? Thanks in advance.

 

Dont mean to offend but how clean is your rifle.

 

Are u letting the bolt slam shut from the rearmost position?

 

Are u using hand loads?

[Saw Doctor]

I have probably 300-400 rounds through my .30-06 barrel that I found in sporting goods store in VT about 2 years ago. I suspect that it had been sitting in the shop for a few years prior, but it was new, fit great on my .300 WM and is a dream to shoot with the 20" barrel.

 

At the range the other day, I was shooting a new box of 165 gr. core-lokts and had a couple fail to fires. This would happen on the second shot after manually loading a round (i.e. jack one in, it fires, ejects, and puts in round #2, hear a click, no fire). There were no striker marks on the round. It did this maybe three times, and those rounds fired when chambered manually, so I know they weren't duds. I then proceeded to shoot an entire box of Federal Fusions without any problems and about another 10 core lokts. Any ideas?

 

I want to throw another thing out there, maybe related to this issue. I was always told to store semi-auto rifles and shotguns with the chamber open and locked back. Something about keeping the springs compressed. I do this with my R1. How do you guys store your R1 - bolt open or closed? Any comments on storing it like this? Thanks in advance.

 

Dont mean to offend but how clean is your rifle?

 

Are u letting the bolt slam shut from the rearmost position?

 

Are u using hand loads?

[stid2677]

Sounds like it the bolt is not locking into battery. Meaning that it is not going all the way forward. I've had this happen on mine when the gas piston was dirty. I would remove and clean the gas piston and try again.

[Planetcat]

Thanks Steve and Saw. I always clean my rifle after a range trip or hunt (if I shoot something); however, I haven't done a thorough scrubbing on the gas piston in a while. Also, I noticed on a recent hog hunt, that when I went to load a round from the magazine, the bolt did not lock all the way into battery (as mentioned above-good call). I've had the rifle for about 6 years, so I noticed this right away and just pushed in the bolt and continued my hunt. I didn't shoot anything, so I don't know how it would have worked. I ended up buying a new recoil spring and a new firing pin spring, just in case, but will give it a good cleaning when I remove the barrel for the new springs. I will report back with the results. Anyone have any feedback on storing the rifle with the bolt open/back or closed forward?

[Saw Doctor]

When I am finished cleaning I grease the back of the bolt lugs(happen to have synthetic axle bearing grease on hand others will work I'm sure.)assemble,let the bolt slam shut and pull the trigger to release the the spring tension there as well.

[Planetcat]

I just want to report back. I finally got a chance to take apart the R1. I received my new recoil spring assembly and firing pin spring; however, as you guys predicted, the misfire had to be because of a dirty gas piston. I've only got maybe 100 rounds since I last cleaned it, but it was absolutely caked with powder residue. So much that I had to spray the piston with solvent to get it off. I've never seen it so stuck on there in the 8 years I've had the rifle. Stripped it all down and scrubbed everything really good, so it's all nice and clean now. I installed the RSA and firing pin spring while I was in there. I typically only shoot Fusions, Hornady's, or Core-lokts, but I guess the powder has to go somewhere. Anyways, I'll test fire it in the next few weeks, but I'm pretty sure this fixed the random FTF's. Thanks again for the advice. A potential hunting problem averted, and I learned a new lesson.

 

Follow-up Report: Went to the range last week. The R1 fed rounds and shot like a dream using the usual fusions, core-lokt, and hornady ammo. I think I shot some Federal blue box soft points as well. Also, I am continually amazed at how the rifle goes back to zero after taking the barrel off and cleaning it. I always sight in after taking off the barrel and cleaning, but in the 6-7 years I've had it, it's always been back to zero on the first shot after the cleaning. Gonna kill some hogs with it in May.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Planetcat
Updated report.