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Get hold of a 30/06 broken case extractor and try that even if nothing is there still a good bit of kit to have (Standard kit for us SMLE shooters :lol:)only other thing is get the chamber cast who knows what has happened to this weapon since it was produced!!
What is that mark at 10:00 o'clock running the length of the chamber!
I think that's exactly what's happened. Like Cinders says, it wouldn't hurt. A separated casing isn't something that just falls out for the most part. You have to use the correct tool or you'll damage your chamber. If the chamber is .30 cal and ammo won't quite go all the way in, that's what's up I'll bet.
I think I may go ahead and get a broken shell extractor. Im also going to get a chamber cast sometime next week to. Time to play the waiting game. I'll make sure to post the results once I get the cast.
The mark at 10:00 is just a piece of fuzz from a q-tip. The camera I have can only focus on certain distances and the rest of the picture becomes blurry.
The SMLE shooters had a way to get a head separations out without a case extractor but not recommended but borne of the need to get the weapon back into service following the round failing, and that is to push another round with the bolt into the stuck one jamming the live round into the stuck case, pull the bolt back and get the two of them to a point where they can be flicked out with the fingers.
It is fraught with danger and only a war time expedient.
And only works part of the time. I had one I could bang the butt and it would fall out...this one apparently not...
I have 2 1917 extractors that do not have the gas vent hole drilled in the tip. Both of these extractors have the letters "CV" stamped on the underside, indicating they are chrome vanadium steel. Perhaps the CV marked extractors were made under contract during WW II to rebuild 1917's. Maybe the experts will know.
You should be able to determine if you have brass remaining in the throat of your rifle by inserting a long, narrow screw driver or cleaning rod minus the tip into the chamber. The tool should catch the edge of any brass and produce an audible click. Check out the Youtube videos for HOW-TO's on broken shell extraction.
I'd use the proper tool...if I were you.
The exterior of the rifle looks pretty rusty. It's quite possibly there's rust build up down in the neck area of the chamber as well. Give the chamber a good scrubbing and see what happens.
Take an EMPTY fully-sized 30-06 case. Use vernier calipers to check that the overall length is not even the tiniest bit more than 63.35mm / 2.494".
Use a felt pen to ink over the neck and shoulder region - including the mouth of the case!!
Allow to dry for some seconds.
Insert the empty case into the chamber. Remove the extractor from the bolt. Replace the bolt in the rifle and close it.
Does it close?
If not, then try very hard to close it.
Open the action and remove the case. Since the extractor has been removed, you will have to knock it out with a (cleaning?) rod.
Look at the mouth of the case under an eyeglass. If you can see a bright line on the case mouth, maybe with the mouth very slightly forced inwards, then ....
.... you really do have a short chamber. :thdown::thdown::thdown:
(If you see bright-lining somewhere else, then you know where to look.)
Cause:
1) EITHER there is a foreign body in there, such as a shard from a fractured case,
or:
2) The chamber is too short.
Solution for 1) Get it out. :thup:
Explanation for 2) The barrel is not original, or has been rechambered. For instance, when Bubba wanted to cure a worn throat by shortening the barrel 1 turn. And messed up when recutting the chamber. :thdown::thdown::thdown:
Solution: you will have to have the barrel properly rechambered. Running in a chamber reamer to the correct depth may be all that is required.:thup:
Fantasy? Not quite. I have experienced something similar with an '03. In that case, the chamber was ridiculously long. The "Khyber Pass" look of the completely non-original extractor is a good indication that someone has messed around with this rifle.
It only takes an empty case and a felt pen - try it.
As a quick reference guide whilst you have the felt pen in your hand mark the base at say 12:00 and then orienteer this mark vertically I E mark on the top side in the chamber that way you have a reference point as to where there may be an issue in the chamber and go from there with Patricks suggestions.