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Old January 13, 2025, 11:29 PM   #1
Pumpkin
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Stevens 87B stuck bolt

So my nephew gave me his 87B because the bolt became stuck in the receiver after firing a couple of rounds. He had been having some feeding problems with it but never had the bolt stick.

The rear part of the bolt and firing pin came out easy enough, I did have the safety off and the trigger pulled while tapping the pulled out bolt handle. I managed to get it to move about a 1/2”. It’s pretty damn tight!

Any idea’s?

Thanks
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Old January 14, 2025, 12:10 AM   #2
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I experienced a similar issue with a Savage model 12. I disassembled the bolt still in the action as you say you did, but still couldn't get the bolt out. I held the rifle in various positions while jiggling the bolt and it finally released and came out. I couldn't find anything that would have caused the problem. The extractor claw, ejector, bolt head retaining pin, everything was "normal." When reassembled it worked fine. I cycled spent cases maybe 20 times and it functioned perfect. Then shot 30 rounds and it works great. Damn if I know, but it seems ok so far.
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Old January 14, 2025, 01:44 AM   #3
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Thanks for the response Red,

I’m not sure if this will work but I’ll try it. It is so tight, maybe I’ll knock it forward with an old aluminum rod and see if it will find its sweet spot. Very strange……
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Old January 14, 2025, 01:30 PM   #4
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Did he use 22 LR instead of 22 Long?
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Old January 14, 2025, 05:16 PM   #5
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He was using LR but these guns are stamped S, L, and LR on the barrel. I have an identical one and it’s stamped the same. Always wanted to try some shorts in it but they’re pretty expensive and hard to find.

Anyway, I got lucky and just figured it out.

Turns out, the cartridge/bullet lifter has a limiting tab that was bent making it index in the wrong place on the bolt binding it up. Also, the two screws that attach the lifter housing to the receiver were not very tight.

Thanks to all for your response’s.
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Old January 23, 2025, 04:42 PM   #6
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FYI: Dec. 2005 Man At Arms magazine has Alonzo Paige's article, The Story of Savage .22 Semi-Autos.

Article includes the Savage Model 6 which was a predecessor to the 87.

"The "three Rifles in one" logo described the action that could be used as an semi-auto with long rifle ammo only, but as a repeater or single shot it could also be used with .22 short or long cartridges." (Bolt was pushed in for repeater or single shot.)

He goes on to write:

"The 1961 models were first to handle .22 shorts, longs and long rifles in the semi-auto mode"

Mine came from Stuart Mowbray.
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Old January 23, 2025, 04:50 PM   #7
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Thanks Gary, will look for this.
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Old January 24, 2025, 03:18 PM   #8
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Warning Pumpkin. It's historical in context and isn't a gunsmith oriented article. I enjoyed it though.
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Old January 24, 2025, 11:11 PM   #9
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I still prefer paper to electronic, I really like old gun and car mags.
I have found several 2005 copies on eBay, just not the right one. Looks like they were a bi-monthly publication.
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Old January 25, 2025, 11:59 AM   #10
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Stuart Mowbray sent me a copy this month. Ask them for a back issue.
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Old January 25, 2025, 07:43 PM   #11
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Thanks, will do!
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Old January 26, 2025, 12:47 AM   #12
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Carefully see if it will move forward.
Then clean and lube judiciously and try removal again.
I suspect a piece of debris is causing the binding.
You'll probably need to cycle it a few times to get it free.

Unless it is the feed mechanism binding on the bolt. In that case, I cannot help right now. I haven't been into an 87 or 187 for quite some time.
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Old January 26, 2025, 07:33 AM   #13
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Thanks for the responses.

Update:

As FrankenMauser suggested I did manage to move the bolt forward enough to free it up a little. I still needed to use an old aluminum cleaning rod to tap it out.
After some head scratching (more frequent these days) I concluded it was due to the cartridge lifter not indexing properly with the bottom of the bolt. This was partially caused by the over travel stop for the lifter not contacting one of the tabs allowing it to rotate too far causing it to not index correctly in the bolt.

Seems to cycle fine now (no ammo), plan on going to the farm tomorrow for some actual test firing. Very glad to have a perfectly functioning 87B to compare it to, I would have been lost without it. I also got a new re-po lifter from Gun Parts just in case.

Last edited by Pumpkin; January 26, 2025 at 07:40 AM.
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