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oldscot3 · March 7, 2018, 01:08 PM

Here's my opinion, take it for what it's worth, but I'd don't believe excessive headspace is the likely the problem. The Savage 99 is a pretty strong design, for a lever action, but let's be clear, it's operating on the edge of it's capability with full 308 Win pressures.

The bolt has no locking lugs at the front like most bolt action rifles do; the lever pushes the bolt forward and up to a position where the receiver holds it in place for firing. With enough pressure to cause sufficient rearward bolt thrust, you get enough "spring" to allow just enough case stretch to prevent that fired case from re-chambering. Couple that with an extractor that's just barely strong enough and you have the situation the op describes.

BTW the op mentioned two rifles with the same problem to different degrees. Entirely consistent with normal differences between two rifles with varying manufacturing tolerances as well as different amounts of wear due to use IMO.

March 7, 2018, 01:08 PM	#17
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	Here's my opinion, take it for what it's worth, but I'd don't believe excessive headspace is the likely the problem. The Savage 99 is a pretty strong design, for a lever action, but let's be clear, it's operating on the edge of it's capability with full 308 Win pressures. The bolt has no locking lugs at the front like most bolt action rifles do; the lever pushes the bolt forward and up to a position where the receiver holds it in place for firing. With enough pressure to cause sufficient rearward bolt thrust, you get enough "spring" to allow just enough case stretch to prevent that fired case from re-chambering. Couple that with an extractor that's just barely strong enough and you have the situation the op describes. BTW the op mentioned two rifles with the same problem to different degrees. Entirely consistent with normal differences between two rifles with varying manufacturing tolerances as well as different amounts of wear due to use IMO. Last edited by oldscot3; March 7, 2018 at 01:14 PM.