BHP9
Well-Known Member
Looks, to me, like a weak ejector spring.
The loaded cartridge is clearing the ejection port.
The loaded cartridge is clearing the ejection port.
And Weatherby notches the receiver to fit longer loads on the big magnums.So this issue is known to factory manufacturers and it is a result of spec'd cartridge length being longer than what some short actions can accommodate. Hornady says that the COAL is 2.85-2.95" depending on grain bullet and many short actions are limited to 2.910". Not sure what Bergara is spec'd for.
If you want to load a hand loaded round set to longer dimensions then the problem is magnified.
To differentiate between a malfunction and a design issue, take a loaded round and see if you can place it into the action as if the gun was a single feed. Like rolling a log onto a ramp. Do this without angling the round in nose or aft in first. What you are trying to see is if the opening is larger or smaller than the length of the round. If it doesn't fit, there is the answer.
I am not as familiar with Bergara but my HS built rifle is on a long action with a box magazine that is blocked off in the rear to accommodate the correct length so feeding is reliable. Other custom builders address this problem by removing material off the action or running actions with longer lengths…i.e. Borden Medium Length, Defiance XM.
I'm not saying that there are not SA rifles that won't operate but the ones that do, have a different realized length when the shell ejects (enough angle is achieved to clear the opening).
Please let us know if that gives you the answer and good luck.
I've posted this on several forums with very little feedback. Maybe here is better. I've only owned one 6.5 PRC and I sold it without ever firing it. My neighbor is not an online guy and wants me to sell his Bergara Ridge West River 6.5 PRC for him. So, before I do that, I'm going to shoot it so I can represent it properly. However, last night, to check it out, I was running some live rounds through it to check feeding etc. These were factory Hornady ELD-M rounds. They would go into the mag flawlessly and would feed flawlessly. They would extract perfectly; but, they would not eject, at all. Empty pieces of brass both extracted and ejected perfectly. It is clearly an action opening size issue as the loaded rounds are simply too long to eject. To me, this isn't a problem because my non-floorplate rifles need to be unloaded round by round anyway. This is BDL so one can just drop the floorplate.
So, back to the question. Is this common for PRC rifles on a short action?
I had that problem with my new CA Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC, called them, and they said "are you sure the brass isn't hitting the bottom of your windage knob?".....duh, boy did I feel stupid. Moved the scope about .10", fixed. I thought mine wouldn't eject the empty either. Christiansen Arms recognized the long brass issue, and long bullets that were going to be shot. They cut out theI've posted this on several forums with very little feedback. Maybe here is better. I've only owned one 6.5 PRC and I sold it without ever firing it. My neighbor is not an online guy and wants me to sell his Bergara Ridge West River 6.5 PRC for him. So, before I do that, I'm going to shoot it so I can represent it properly. However, last night, to check it out, I was running some live rounds through it to check feeding etc. These were factory Hornady ELD-M rounds. They would go into the mag flawlessly and would feed flawlessly. They would extract perfectly; but, they would not eject, at all. Empty pieces of brass both extracted and ejected perfectly. It is clearly an action opening size issue as the loaded rounds are simply too long to eject. To me, this isn't a problem because my non-floorplate rifles need to be unloaded round by round anyway. This is BDL so one can just drop the floorplate.
So, back to the question. Is this common for PRC rifles on a short action?
Imho...I wouldn't think so, or they would have a lot of trouble with every short action made, regardless of caliber. I just looked at 4 different actions, and all the bolts go about a 1/2" past the opening, stop, and eject. Make sense?Thinking out loud here....is it possible the bolt stop is too far back? Allowing the case to travel too deep into the back of the action before letting go?
I does and they do...but maybe not in this CASE..( pun intended). I appears in the video that it may be the hang point....just threw it out there for consideration. And it doesn't have to be all short actions...it only needs to be this one! My 270 wsm certainly doesn't hang up....kinda why I suggested it.Imho...I wouldn't think so, or they would have a lot of trouble with every short action made, regardless of caliber. I just looked at 4 different actions, and all the bolts go about a 1/2" past the opening, stop, and eject. Make sense?