My bolt came apart in a match! How to prevent this?

[Ernie]

My bolt came apart in the most recent match. Shot the 5 sighters and 1 record shot, then the extracter failed to remove a spent round, looked at it and the extractor was standing tall over the bolt, the ejector spring sticking out, and the extractor spring and little piece loose (but present) as well.

Obviously ended the match for this rifle which was a shame. What has me nervous is that this is my match rifle which will be with me a Camp Perry at the Nationals. I put the bolt back together once home but what I am wondering is why this would happen and what steps should I take to make certain it does not happen again, particularly in the middle of the National Match.

Has anyone else experienced this and can you offer me a fix to prevent this from happening again? Everything looked to be fairly clean as the bolt was not full of gunk/crud etc. It was fairly well oiled however.

Thank you for any advise!

Information

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[landtrain]

Clean (polish) your chamber. Check headspace. Replace the extractor. Verify the load your using. If available, try a different rifle. Good luck.

[BrianQ]

Ensure the extractor and extractor plunger are assembled correctly
Ensure all the parts are in good condition
Ensure you have a type III extractor and a type II extractor plunger
Ensure you have the correct extractor plunger spring

[jbrid]

My friend had the same thing happen during a recent session at the range. See my post of 7/19 in this forum for additional suggestions and comments on what causes this. There is an excellent picture of a correctly assembled bolt in that thread.

Jim

[Ernie]

I was using LC72 ammo. Bolt has the late extractor and late plunger. It has probably shot 1000 rounds without issue.

I suspect I will replace the bolt with a different extractor and springs and plungers. I am unable to find the post that is spoken about but will continue to search. Now I think I will get another rifle ready just in case it happens again.

Thank you for the responses. I am still puzzled by all of this.

Ernie
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[Ernie]

I found the thread that you spoke about. Everything is late parts, extractor does not look to have any damage. I will replace everything.

Thanks for the advise. That is what I was thinking. Glad to know I am not alone with this as a problem.

Ernie
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[69 Stang]

This is common when the small extractor plug is not put in the proper way. Make sure that little plug is put in on the side where it will hold the extractor in place . If it isn't assembled correctly it will fly appart. I had the same thing happen to me. Look at that little plug real close and you will see one side is different than the other. If I remember correctly the flat side holds the extractor in place.

[0311Shooter]

Well, I am not the Carbine expert that these guys are but I am learning fast. I assume (you know what that means) that you use a bolt tool, I couldn't do without it.

When fully disassembled, I thoroughly clean every part, then grease/oil before assembly. Here's what is important for me.

When fully assembled, I have to take magnifying glasses to look at the plunger to make absolutely sure it is seated correctly.

Never had one come apart.

[Ed Johnson]

Roger that !! Even with my reading glasses on, I can't quite see the placement of the plunger so I use a strong magnifying glass. Use a small dab of grease in the end of the extractor spring to help hold the plunger in place while assembling. I finally learned to quit buying commercial extractors and stick with USGI only.
Best..
Ed

[Ernie]

I ended up replacing all of the internal parts, new extractor, springs & plungers, even firing pin. Lightly oiled everything, used a commercial bolt tool and put her back together. Took particular care to orient the flat on the plunger so that it is against the extractor.

Hopefully all will be good.

Thanks for the comments and help to everyone. Will shoot about 100 rounds thru her and if all is good she goes to Camp Perry!