Safety question re mismatched bolt

Could it be something as simple as a too-long screw that is blocking the raceway?

No checked for that. The bolt head is just too big for the action. Gunsmith at my FFL looked at it and said the same. And no serial # on bolt. I am calling company today and will update post as it progresses.

Thank you to everyone who posted help.
 
That is a SMART move, Ron.

Don't forget to follow it up with another SMART move and have a gunsmith local to you verify that rifle is safe for you to shoot when you get it back.

I personally would have difficulty trusting the adjusted rifle from a company who made that mistake in the first place.
 
That is a SMART move, Ron.

Don't forget to follow it up with another SMART move and have a gunsmith local to you verify that rifle is safe for you to shoot when you get it back.

I personally would have difficulty trusting the adjusted rifle from a company who made that mistake in the first place.

Yes I agree with your sentiment. Debating whether to tell them to just keep the rifle. Will wait to see how the call goes.
 
Would certainly appreciate a hint of who just a hint...."full name and address!!". About this.. not going to call but definitely be a advocate...

Just saying.
 
I just cant seem to figure out how the bolt face is too large the action. The bolt dimensions dont change, just the face of the bolt face opening changes. And from what I believe the action doesnt get narrower as the bolt moves forward.
Do you have a scope mount installed? You might have screws protruding and causing rhe stoppage. Ive had that same problem before.
Try taking the barreld action out of the stock and removing mounts, then try intsertimg the bolt.
BTW, what action are you using?
 
Contact the original maker your ordered it from about the issue. For example, one of my rifles requires a specific, serialized bolt matched to it at the factory.
 
Any SA bolt of the same make as the action should fit in a SA. Action dimensions don't normally differ much.

You have not given much information about the rifle. Like what action it is.

Here is a scenario: If you have an R700 SA in 6.5PRC, it is a SA bolt with magnum .532" bolt face. But an R700 SA bolt from a .308Win .473" bolt face will still fit in your action. Or from a .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5CM, 7SAUM, etc. And vice versa. But may not necessarily close WITH A CARTRIDGE due to the case head not fitting in the bolt face.

Here is a story from my local range a couple months ago.
I was helping a stranger bore sight and zero his scope at the table next to me. The guy at the next table saw and heard what I did and asked if I could help him. I did. Pulled his bolt and bore sighted it. He had a target at 50 yards. I was watching through my spotter. He touched off the first shot, it hit the dirt by his frame. So I watched THE SHOOTER next. Form looked OK. His next shot was 3' left. Then in the dirt. He asked if I would come shoot one. Well, when I closed the bolt, something didn't feel right. So I ejected it and rechambered it. Still felt off. Ejected it again and looked at it. 6.5CM round......barrel was stamped .308Win.....
I handed him him round and said, "You are shooting the wrong ammo in this gun man, you are one lucky moron." and walked away. He packed his ---- up and left without saying a word, looking like someone kicked his puppy. Not even a thank you or I'm sorry..
Wished I would have looked at and got photos his fired brass.

Exactly what i was trying to say, Lance hit it in the head, I just didnt convey my message the best.
Ron glad you are sending it back, to emphasize what others have said Id get a local guy to check it out too. Most times you always get a second opinion....doctors, mechanics, gunsmiths
 
Tried it with and without the magazine in. Bolt face is too big for the action. You can see as the bolt approaches the chamber it stops as the action narrows. The question wasn't about putting a smaller cartridge in the chamber it was would the gun cycle with the appropriate cartridge in the in the chamber with a smaller bolt. My gun will not chamber any round because the bolt face is too big to seat all the way to the chamber. But I was concerned if the sent another incorrectly sized bolt, this one smaller than 6.5PRC instead of bigger, if the gun would cycle. It appears the opinion of people is that the gun would not cycle.

Ron, I have been reading the various responses to your question in the OP. I am curious what you mean when you ask, "CYCLE", what does cycle mean in the context of your question? To me this means that the bolt will open up, it will come back full stroke, and then close again on the forward stroke, with/on an empty chamber!! In your OP you asked for KNOWLEDGEABLE members opinions. And.....you've gotten knowledgeable peoples opinions.

From where I am sitting, to do anything other that CYCLE your rifle other that on an empty chamber is looking for a serious, catastrophic event with your rifle. When someone starts messing with bolts with different bolt faces, head spaces and bolts from another rifle, to fire that rifle or even consider putting a loaded round in that chamber is truly a mistake of monumental consequences. A few years back at a club, a member was standing next to another shooter, that shooter's rifle exploded (catastrophic event) due to an overloaded charge, shrapnel from the bolt entered into the brain cavity of the bystander and the bystander is now seriously impaired, the shooter lost three fingers!

With something that is in question such as in your situation, I always recommend going back to basics. I personally would go back to the original builder of your rifle, this could be something simple or a misunderstanding with what you have; human error is always present in mostly any situation. If you don't get satisfaction with the original builder, I would find a reputable gunsmith to have the rifle evaluated to tell you exactly what you have, and to ensure that it is safe to fire. I read these forums several times daily, the people who have made suggestions to you are all knowledgeable people, who I follow, and whose opinions I respect when I see and read them.
 
After 3 pages it would be nice to know the make of the action. If the bolt will not close I can't see someone installing and headspacing the barrel. I would check the action screws and scope base screws to make sure they are not binding the bolt.
 
"it stops as the action narrows".....
Have never seen a tapered action or bolt rails. Please explain or name the action.
I'm a fan of the older Sako rifles. They do have three different action and bolt lengths. Those in no way could get mixed and used in different actions from each other.
 
Now THIS ^^ makes more sense to me. Bolt fits into the gun? Slides all the way forward but then stops about 1" before going into battery? That just seemed weird. But if the striker is not cocked, it would 'hit' right about that point of cycling the bolt. Good answer Mr. Bonner. And logical. The bolt got packaged separately (i.e., not installed in the action) and perhaps they ship it that way (uncocked) so the firing spring isn't under tension for days/weeks/months at a time.
 
If my conjecture is correct we need to post 3 pages of apology to the smith!Sometimes the simple answer is the correct one.
 
I have not read all the post ; but my first guess is that the firing pin is released which means the bolt will not go all the way in until it is cocked.Far more likely than anything else unless the smith is a total dip.
We HAVE a winner! Just 'de-cocked' my Rem 700 (long-action) bolt. Inserted it into rifle. It goes forward (smoothly) then stops 'hard' at 1" (actually 1 1/8") from fully forward.

Can't believe it. Simple. Logical. Easily fixed. (And a GUNSMITH looked at this and didn't figure it out?! Not much of a gunsmith...)
 
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