Milsurp After Hours

Hello, all

I took my L39 to the range today but had great difficulty getting it to fire. Sometimes it would, but mostly it wouldn't. It would dry fire perfectly, but not with a round in the chamber. When I looked carefully at what was happening, I saw that the firing pin was only moving forward to the half cock position. I also noted that the bolt seemed a little more difficult to close than normal. I was firing Radway Green factory ammunition.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that this effect is a safety feature, but I can't remember why it happens. Any ideas, please?

I think you're going to need the opinions of the moderators on this one. The only thing I can think of is that the round isn't going fully into the chamber, and so the bolt can't close properly, hence the half cock. As I say, I've never experienced it, but hopefully one of the more experienced shooters might have a more useful opinion.

Nick

I see what you mean, but I made sure that the bolt was fully closed each time.

Vasco,

This might seem a bit simplistic, but have you taken the bolt apart to clean it and take out anything that might be interfering with the firing pin travel?

No, I'm afraid that's not it - the mechanism works perfectly without a cartridge in the chamber. Indeed, I did manage to fire a few rounds, but there were many more occasions when it did not fire than when it did.

Are you sure its not the ammo have you tried a different batch or try a few handloads.

Vasco,

See my response on the LERA forum.

Does it do this with all makes of ammo?

If its not the ammo then possibly one of three things:

Head space, check for the rounds your using, on the No4 actions which the L39 is based there are different bolt head sizes to help take up head space get a smaller one than your using, if you've got No 2 fitted try a No 1.

Secondly, a chamber blockage, burr, tightness, short throat that is stopping the round chambering fully thus giving a head space problem that needs addressing differently from above i.e sort the "blockage".

Three, some ones been fiddling with the trigger group to try and lighten the pull or some thing. The angles on the sear, bent and first and second stage trigger ribs are all critical and should never be altered unless you know what your about and have suitable jigs the only thing I do with trigger groups is to give them a light polishing. However some people get stuck in with files, angle grinders and ignorance which can sometimes give problems you describe.

I'd check head space and check out other brands of ammo with perhaps thinner rime and see if that makes a difference which it would if the rifle was tightly head spaced as might happen if a previous owner had special loads for the rifle.

No joy on that then get back to us.

The L39 is an excellent target rifle, I love mine. the only problem with them is that if you ain't hitting then it can only be operator error.

Thanks, everybody, for your thoughts. I think the ammunition is the most likely culprit, so I will take some from a different lot the next time I shoot and see how it goes.

Before you stick another live round in it, check all your action screws are tight and consider calling in at a decent gunsmiths for the once over, I'm sure you can do that!