Remington Jams

John Y Cannuck · November 21, 2000, 08:00 PM

I have inherited a cursed rifle!
Two previous owners are dead!

Seriously, the Remington semi auto in 30-06, has been nothing but trouble for its previous owners, and me. It seems to work flawlessly until you need it, then jam time.

during firing some or all of the below may occur.
Failure to pick up the next round, jam with the empty in the ejection port. Loads but fails to cock. Even had the mag fall out on one previous owner (cost him a nice buck at ten feet away).
Rifle has been to several smiths, including Remington authorized. Works fine, for them.

Ideas?

Nevada Fitch · November 21, 2000, 10:34 PM

Yes, I have two ideas.forget about getting Remington to work on it.I have done been there done that and got the tee shirt.Their Warantie dept sucks.Anyway that is a long story.I sent a 870 back 3 times and they never got it right.The second thing is I have seen several of the Automatic 30-06's jam on ocasion.I wouldn't hunt with one at all unless that is all I could get.Unless it has some semental value I would trade it for a Bolt action or a leveraction,single shot,anything but another automatic Remington deer rifle.

John Y Cannuck · November 22, 2000, 07:02 AM

I am coming to that conclusion.

Dave McC · November 22, 2000, 07:59 AM

The one I had never jammed. If it had, I'da gotten rid of it even faster than I did. Life's too darn short, and there's to many reliable firearms out there, to deal with a lemon...

James K · November 22, 2000, 11:53 AM

If it works for a gunsmith but not for you, there is some difference. Ideas that come to mind are lubrication (too much or too little), ammunition (handloads?), weather (maybe cold plus lubrication).

FWIW, I consider that rifle a very good and reliable semi-auto, and am puzzled by your problems.

Jim

Hot Core · November 22, 2000, 04:21 PM

Hey John, The biggest problem I've seen with the semiauto Remingtons is the lack of proper chamber cleaning causing problems.

Since they must be cleaned from the muzzle, as the brush comes down the barrel and enters the chamber area, the bristles spring out throwing barrel crud onto the surface of the chamber. Going back through the barrel with a patch does not get the chamber area clean because it just doesn't expand enough to touch it.

Hoppe's makes a special flexible nylon rod that allows you to clean the chamber through the ejection port.

Had a buddy call me in a panic one night because his rifle refused to Eject the spent case. The Extractor was even pulling through the case rim. But, a thorough cleaning of the chamber cured his problem as well as most other ones I've seen with an ejection problem with.

As to the magazine falling out, I've not seen that happen, but it would not take but a little bit of trash in the right place to keep the magazine from seating properly in the first place. But, magazines can go bad. In fact, I consider them the "weak link" in most semiautos.

Good luck with the rifle.

Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

John Y Cannuck · November 22, 2000, 06:48 PM

Lets see, the last owner cleaned it with a pull through. I have dismounted the barrel and cleaned it, so there goes that one. The mag falling out may have been an attempt on his part to get five in the mag. It hasn't happened to me yet.
Temperature may have a bit of reason, for last summer at the range, it worked flawlessly for thirty rounds, enough to convince me that all the stories I had heard about it were bunk, yet when I tried it at the hunt camp I never got more than two shots without a jam.
I must have torn it down ten or fifteen times, cleaned gas ports, found burrs on the bolt, and stoned them off, found the stock blocked rearward movement to a very minor degree and gouged that out, found blobs of varnish in the forearm that might have retarded movement and scraped that out. ( my inspection leads me to believe that this is one poor excuse for a gun).
One area that I haven't fixed yet, is that the tube the return spring rides on has about a .03" bow in it.
I have tried Hot handloads, light bullets, heavy bullets, and factory stuff. They all jam, the best functioning, was hot heavy bullet handloads.

There is another Remington in camp, his action is nowhere near as smooth as mine, but then, his works???

John Y Cannuck · November 26, 2000, 07:34 AM

I guess thats the final solution. but I will have one last stab at it. I don't like passing on my problems to someone else. If I can get it working, then it goes.
Currently it sits on my coffee table, every friggin pin and spring, washed out in solvent, every rough part polished, Gas port cleaned out with a same size drill bit, the guide for the bolt return spring is now straight.
All I need now is a new ejection port cover.

Think of anything I missed?

Hot Core · November 26, 2000, 06:08 PM

Hey John, Are you using factory ammo?

Just thinking if you are loading your own, that this might just be one of those rifles that needs the "Small Base Sizing Die".

Had another buddy with a Model 100 Winchester that was having some feed problems. He went through a process similar to what you are going through. Took it apart and slicked everything up. He got real tired of trying one change at a time and we eventually tried a couple of things all at once. It now feeds, but we don't know which change was responsible (nor do we care).

He got a new magazine for it which looked just like the old one, but it was one of the "mass" changes.

We screwed the Full Length Resizing Die down until it touched the Shell Holder with the ram "up", lowered the ram, screwed the Die in another 1/4-1/2 turn and checked to make sure it would still "cam over", then Full Length re-sized his cases.

The cases were then run in a tumbler with clean corn cob and liquid "Kit" car wax to achieve a high luster polish.

We loaded some 150gr Speer Round Nose Hot-Cor bullets in them and made sure they were not close to the lands (about 0.050" back). And we set the Seating Die so it did not crimp the case mouth. We were concerned the crimping on the Hornady bullets "might" have been enough to "bulge" the shoulder of the case slightly, but we could not see it with a straight edge along side the case anyhow.

We changed to H4895 instead of the slightly slower IMR-4064.

The rifle has worked fine since that last round of changes. But, semi-autos just seem to be a bit aggravating from time to time.

Good luck, Hot Core

John Y Cannuck · November 26, 2000, 06:59 PM

Thanks Hot Core, I do have small base dies, and it jams both with factory, and with handloads, mine, and one of my buddies.
I think I found the fail to cock deal, in the trigger mechanism there is a gizmo to prevent full auto, and give you time to get your finger off the trigger for the next shot. The latch was reversed, and at least manually that was that. ( I am not at hunt camp now, can't just stick the gun out the door to see if it works).

Hot Core · November 27, 2000, 04:44 PM

Hey John, I sure hope that fixes it for you. Not many things work well with parts reversed. HA

I've only been able to think of one more thing that might create a problem, but I really doubt this is your problem. I've seen a semi-auto pistol fail to feed properly because the shooter was not gripping it firmly. Apparently he was holding it light enough that it could move around some in his hand, thus not providing the "reward movement resistance" that the internal recoil springs were designed for. It would stove-pipe with regularity until he handed it to me. Then we had a real heck of a time trying to figure out what was going on, cause it fired fine for me.

But, I've never seen that happen with a semi-auto rifle. Just wanted to throw it into the thought process for you. But, I do imagine the reversed part will cure your problem.

Good luck, Hot Core

John Y Cannuck · November 27, 2000, 08:54 PM

Hot core
Thanks for the thought, and I can see it happening in a pistol. But I doubt it in this case. Besides, it jams for everyone, not just me.

JK · November 28, 2000, 11:11 AM

It sounds like most all of the problems you have are having is do to the bolt not going back far enough as the rifle cycles. You have said that you have cleaned the gas port with negitive results. The next step might be to open up the gas port hole .0002" and try it again. If it is still having problems go another .0002". I would'nt go much more than that. It could be that the gas piston is worn and it needs more of a push to get the bolt to fully cycle.
Good Luck - John K

BBBBill · November 28, 2000, 01:09 PM

Which specific model is the gun. There were some problems with the earlier models that were supposedly corrected with the later mods. I've seen broken bolts, peened receiver rails, chipped locking lugs, etc. on these guns. Some factory service folks have tig welded the damaged receivers.
LeeRoy Wisner in Adna, Washington is supposed to be an expert on these. You might contact him. He wrote a book available through Brownells with a great deal of info. His son operates Precise Metalsmithing in Chehalis, Washington(great parts).
Had the address wrong.
web http://www.gunpartsspecialist.com
email [email protected]
phone 360-748-4590

[Edited by BBBBill on 11-30-2000 at 02:23 PM]

John Y Cannuck · November 28, 2000, 01:31 PM

The model is 7400, it's about 10 years old.
Thanks for the info. I'll check Brownells. I have considered openning the gas port, but that will be a last resort.
There was considerable peening on the corners of the bolt lugs. I have stoned that off.

WalterGAII · November 30, 2000, 10:15 AM

The "limpwristing" syndrome that's a problem with some handgun shooters doesn't apply to gas-operated weapons.

My fix would be to place the butt of the rifle on the ground, making damn sure that the rifle is unloaded. Grasp the barrel with both hands, with your hands placed as near the muzzle as possible. Elevate the rifle; approach a nearby tree or large rock; put the sorry s.o.b. out of its misery and get a real rifle.

John Y Cannuck · November 30, 2000, 12:32 PM

WalterGAII
Don't think I havn't been tempted.
I always said, I don't trust semis, and I'd never buy one, my uncle knew that. So he left me his *&^*&^ up rifle! I'm sure he has Pis*ed himself laughing by now, as has the guy (whose widow) he bought it from!
My biggest problem, is how do I get him Back?
The guys at camp had a real good laugh for the first five times I took it apart, now that its home I have really stripped it. I think I've got it fixed. (But then I've said that before on many occasions)

Art Eatman · November 30, 2000, 12:50 PM

John Y, sounds like you have the proverbial Monday or Friday gun. On Monday, the workforce is hungover; on Friday, they're hot to trot to spend the paycheck. At GM, we said that Wednesday cars were best...

FWIW, my 742K just shoots and shoots and shoots and doesn't seem to care what it's fed.

Damfino, Art

JK · November 30, 2000, 06:50 PM

John Y.
Just a thought. There is a check ball just above the gas tube held in by a 3/32" hex nut. Is it still there? It directs the flow of gas to the gas tube and if missing may be causing the problem you are having. Maybe just a shot in the dark, but it sounds like you have tried everything else. If it still doesn't work, hit the rifle butt on the ground while yelling "demonds be gone!" John K

John Y Cannuck · December 1, 2000, 12:46 PM

JK
Yup, still there, had that out at camp, when I cleaned the ports.
Hope to try it again tomorrow. Being as deer hunt is now closed, it will probably work fine!

PS: I connected with a doe (cut and wrapped 130 lbs) using my 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser at 300 yds. 1st shot, issue open sights too! The rifle may be cursed, but I'm not!

Jesse168 · December 3, 2000, 08:16 AM

There is a special bore brush that was supposed to have come with your gun. It is strictly for the chamber. There was one in the box when I bought my gun. The brush is made on it's own flexable rod about 6 to 8 inches long. You clean the chamber from the action end of barrel with this brush.

John Y Cannuck · December 3, 2000, 09:30 PM

Jesse168, I am aware of the brush, I don't have one at the moment. But cleaning was not the reason for removing the barrel.

Firing test, worked perfectly! Almost

but the one jam out of thirty rounds was a buddies reload 110 grainer, and he doesn't have small base dies, I do! and mine all worked.
Back to more firing at a later date.

November 26, 2000, 07:34 AM	#8
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	Get rid of it? I guess thats the final solution. but I will have one last stab at it. I don't like passing on my problems to someone else. If I can get it working, then it goes. Currently it sits on my coffee table, every friggin pin and spring, washed out in solvent, every rough part polished, Gas port cleaned out with a same size drill bit, the guide for the bolt return spring is now straight. All I need now is a new ejection port cover. Think of anything I missed?

November 28, 2000, 11:11 AM	#13
JK Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Posts: 75	It sounds like most all of the problems you have are having is do to the bolt not going back far enough as the rifle cycles. You have said that you have cleaned the gas port with negitive results. The next step might be to open up the gas port hole .0002" and try it again. If it is still having problems go another .0002". I would'nt go much more than that. It could be that the gas piston is worn and it needs more of a push to get the bolt to fully cycle. Good Luck - John K __________________ Fight Crime-Shoot Back

November 21, 2000, 08:00 PM	#1
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	I have inherited a cursed rifle! Two previous owners are dead! Seriously, the Remington semi auto in 30-06, has been nothing but trouble for its previous owners, and me. It seems to work flawlessly until you need it, then jam time. during firing some or all of the below may occur. Failure to pick up the next round, jam with the empty in the ejection port. Loads but fails to cock. Even had the mag fall out on one previous owner (cost him a nice buck at ten feet away). Rifle has been to several smiths, including Remington authorized. Works fine, for them. Ideas?

November 21, 2000, 10:34 PM	#2
Nevada Fitch Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2000 Posts: 261	Yes, I have two ideas.forget about getting Remington to work on it.I have done been there done that and got the tee shirt.Their Warantie dept sucks.Anyway that is a long story.I sent a 870 back 3 times and they never got it right.The second thing is I have seen several of the Automatic 30-06's jam on ocasion.I wouldn't hunt with one at all unless that is all I could get.Unless it has some semental value I would trade it for a Bolt action or a leveraction,single shot,anything but another automatic Remington deer rifle.

November 22, 2000, 07:02 AM	#3
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	I am coming to that conclusion.

November 22, 2000, 07:59 AM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The one I had never jammed. If it had, I'da gotten rid of it even faster than I did. Life's too darn short, and there's to many reliable firearms out there, to deal with a lemon...

November 22, 2000, 11:53 AM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	If it works for a gunsmith but not for you, there is some difference. Ideas that come to mind are lubrication (too much or too little), ammunition (handloads?), weather (maybe cold plus lubrication). FWIW, I consider that rifle a very good and reliable semi-auto, and am puzzled by your problems. Jim

November 22, 2000, 04:21 PM	#6
Hot Core Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2000 Posts: 118	Hey John, The biggest problem I've seen with the semiauto Remingtons is the lack of proper chamber cleaning causing problems. Since they must be cleaned from the muzzle, as the brush comes down the barrel and enters the chamber area, the bristles spring out throwing barrel crud onto the surface of the chamber. Going back through the barrel with a patch does not get the chamber area clean because it just doesn't expand enough to touch it. Hoppe's makes a special flexible nylon rod that allows you to clean the chamber through the ejection port. Had a buddy call me in a panic one night because his rifle refused to Eject the spent case. The Extractor was even pulling through the case rim. But, a thorough cleaning of the chamber cured his problem as well as most other ones I've seen with an ejection problem with. As to the magazine falling out, I've not seen that happen, but it would not take but a little bit of trash in the right place to keep the magazine from seating properly in the first place. But, magazines can go bad. In fact, I consider them the "weak link" in most semiautos. Good luck with the rifle. Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

November 22, 2000, 06:48 PM	#7
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	Lets see, the last owner cleaned it with a pull through. I have dismounted the barrel and cleaned it, so there goes that one. The mag falling out may have been an attempt on his part to get five in the mag. It hasn't happened to me yet. Temperature may have a bit of reason, for last summer at the range, it worked flawlessly for thirty rounds, enough to convince me that all the stories I had heard about it were bunk, yet when I tried it at the hunt camp I never got more than two shots without a jam. I must have torn it down ten or fifteen times, cleaned gas ports, found burrs on the bolt, and stoned them off, found the stock blocked rearward movement to a very minor degree and gouged that out, found blobs of varnish in the forearm that might have retarded movement and scraped that out. ( my inspection leads me to believe that this is one poor excuse for a gun). One area that I haven't fixed yet, is that the tube the return spring rides on has about a .03" bow in it. I have tried Hot handloads, light bullets, heavy bullets, and factory stuff. They all jam, the best functioning, was hot heavy bullet handloads. There is another Remington in camp, his action is nowhere near as smooth as mine, but then, his works???

November 26, 2000, 06:08 PM	#9
Hot Core Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2000 Posts: 118	Hey John, Are you using factory ammo? Just thinking if you are loading your own, that this might just be one of those rifles that needs the "Small Base Sizing Die". Had another buddy with a Model 100 Winchester that was having some feed problems. He went through a process similar to what you are going through. Took it apart and slicked everything up. He got real tired of trying one change at a time and we eventually tried a couple of things all at once. It now feeds, but we don't know which change was responsible (nor do we care). He got a new magazine for it which looked just like the old one, but it was one of the "mass" changes. We screwed the Full Length Resizing Die down until it touched the Shell Holder with the ram "up", lowered the ram, screwed the Die in another 1/4-1/2 turn and checked to make sure it would still "cam over", then Full Length re-sized his cases. The cases were then run in a tumbler with clean corn cob and liquid "Kit" car wax to achieve a high luster polish. We loaded some 150gr Speer Round Nose Hot-Cor bullets in them and made sure they were not close to the lands (about 0.050" back). And we set the Seating Die so it did not crimp the case mouth. We were concerned the crimping on the Hornady bullets "might" have been enough to "bulge" the shoulder of the case slightly, but we could not see it with a straight edge along side the case anyhow. We changed to H4895 instead of the slightly slower IMR-4064. The rifle has worked fine since that last round of changes. But, semi-autos just seem to be a bit aggravating from time to time. Good luck, Hot Core

November 26, 2000, 06:59 PM	#10
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	Thanks Hot Core, I do have small base dies, and it jams both with factory, and with handloads, mine, and one of my buddies. I think I found the fail to cock deal, in the trigger mechanism there is a gizmo to prevent full auto, and give you time to get your finger off the trigger for the next shot. The latch was reversed, and at least manually that was that. ( I am not at hunt camp now, can't just stick the gun out the door to see if it works).

November 27, 2000, 04:44 PM	#11
Hot Core Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2000 Posts: 118	Hey John, I sure hope that fixes it for you. Not many things work well with parts reversed. HA I've only been able to think of one more thing that might create a problem, but I really doubt this is your problem. I've seen a semi-auto pistol fail to feed properly because the shooter was not gripping it firmly. Apparently he was holding it light enough that it could move around some in his hand, thus not providing the "reward movement resistance" that the internal recoil springs were designed for. It would stove-pipe with regularity until he handed it to me. Then we had a real heck of a time trying to figure out what was going on, cause it fired fine for me. But, I've never seen that happen with a semi-auto rifle. Just wanted to throw it into the thought process for you. But, I do imagine the reversed part will cure your problem. Good luck, Hot Core

November 27, 2000, 08:54 PM	#12
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	Hot core Thanks for the thought, and I can see it happening in a pistol. But I doubt it in this case. Besides, it jams for everyone, not just me.

November 28, 2000, 01:09 PM	#14
BBBBill Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2000 Location: Alabama Posts: 197	Which specific model is the gun. There were some problems with the earlier models that were supposedly corrected with the later mods. I've seen broken bolts, peened receiver rails, chipped locking lugs, etc. on these guns. Some factory service folks have tig welded the damaged receivers. LeeRoy Wisner in Adna, Washington is supposed to be an expert on these. You might contact him. He wrote a book available through Brownells with a great deal of info. His son operates Precise Metalsmithing in Chehalis, Washington(great parts). Had the address wrong. web http://www.gunpartsspecialist.com email [email protected] phone 360-748-4590 [Edited by BBBBill on 11-30-2000 at 02:23 PM]

November 28, 2000, 01:31 PM	#15
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	The model is 7400, it's about 10 years old. Thanks for the info. I'll check Brownells. I have considered openning the gas port, but that will be a last resort. There was considerable peening on the corners of the bolt lugs. I have stoned that off.

November 30, 2000, 10:15 AM	#16
WalterGAII Junior member Join Date: November 7, 1999 Posts: 1,516	The "limpwristing" syndrome that's a problem with some handgun shooters doesn't apply to gas-operated weapons. My fix would be to place the butt of the rifle on the ground, making damn sure that the rifle is unloaded. Grasp the barrel with both hands, with your hands placed as near the muzzle as possible. Elevate the rifle; approach a nearby tree or large rock; put the sorry s.o.b. out of its misery and get a real rifle.

November 30, 2000, 12:32 PM	#17
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	WalterGAII Don't think I havn't been tempted. I always said, I don't trust semis, and I'd never buy one, my uncle knew that. So he left me his &^&^ up rifle! I'm sure he has Pis*ed himself laughing by now, as has the guy (whose widow) he bought it from! My biggest problem, is how do I get him Back? The guys at camp had a real good laugh for the first five times I took it apart, now that its home I have really stripped it. I think I've got it fixed. (But then I've said that before on many occasions)

November 30, 2000, 12:50 PM	#18
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	John Y, sounds like you have the proverbial Monday or Friday gun. On Monday, the workforce is hungover; on Friday, they're hot to trot to spend the paycheck. At GM, we said that Wednesday cars were best... FWIW, my 742K just shoots and shoots and shoots and doesn't seem to care what it's fed. Damfino, Art

November 30, 2000, 06:50 PM	#19
JK Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Posts: 75	John Y. Just a thought. There is a check ball just above the gas tube held in by a 3/32" hex nut. Is it still there? It directs the flow of gas to the gas tube and if missing may be causing the problem you are having. Maybe just a shot in the dark, but it sounds like you have tried everything else. If it still doesn't work, hit the rifle butt on the ground while yelling "demonds be gone!" John K

December 1, 2000, 12:46 PM	#20
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	JK Yup, still there, had that out at camp, when I cleaned the ports. Hope to try it again tomorrow. Being as deer hunt is now closed, it will probably work fine! PS: I connected with a doe (cut and wrapped 130 lbs) using my 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser at 300 yds. 1st shot, issue open sights too! The rifle may be cursed, but I'm not!

December 3, 2000, 08:16 AM	#21
Jesse168 Junior Member Join Date: May 22, 2000 Location: Memphis, Tenn. USA Posts: 11	There is a special bore brush that was supposed to have come with your gun. It is strictly for the chamber. There was one in the box when I bought my gun. The brush is made on it's own flexable rod about 6 to 8 inches long. You clean the chamber from the action end of barrel with this brush.

December 3, 2000, 09:30 PM	#22
John Y Cannuck Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Posts: 60	Jesse168, I am aware of the brush, I don't have one at the moment. But cleaning was not the reason for removing the barrel. Firing test, worked perfectly! Almost but the one jam out of thirty rounds was a buddies reload 110 grainer, and he doesn't have small base dies, I do! and mine all worked. Back to more firing at a later date.