P14 Feeding Issues

[LDVolunteer]

I agree that the first impulse would be to suspect a user or ammunition fault. But, even with the gentlest close, the (unfired, of course) bullet will stay behind on opening. The ammunition is 30.06 FN manufacture with 1970's dates. I've sent hundreds of these through my M1 Garand and 03A3 Springfield with never a mis-behaving round. There is one other symptom that makes me suspect the round is being deformed by the magazine box on closing. There is always a significant dent on the shoulder of the brass after ejecting.
The date on the barrel is 8 -18 with the Eddystone "E" right above the flaming bomb over the date. The bore is sharp and bright. The bolt face will not accept a rimmed .303 round, it will only engage a 30.06 round. And yes, it's marked U.S. Model of 1917. Thanks for your consideration. mw

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[kcw]

I agree that the first impulse would be to suspect a user or ammunition fault. But, even with the gentlest close, the (unfired, of course) bullet will stay behind on opening. The ammunition is 30.06 FN manufacture with 1970's dates. I've sent hundreds of these through my M1 Garand and 03A3 Springfield with never a mis-behaving round. There is one other symptom that makes me suspect the round is being deformed by the magazine box on closing. There is always a significant dent on the shoulder of the brass after ejecting.
The date on the barrel is 8 -18 with the Eddystone "E" right above the flaming bomb over the date. The bore is sharp and bright. The bolt face will not accept a rimmed .303 round, it will only engage a 30.06 round. And yes, it's marked U.S. Model of 1917. Thanks for your consideration. mw

mw,

What happens if you simply drop a round directly into the chamber and closed the bolt over it? Are the bullets that remain in the "barrel" jammed into the rifling so that you need to bump them out with them out with a cleaning rod or will they simply fall out if you elevate the muzzle (and maybe bump the stock butt on the ground a bit.) Is the mouth of case deformed too?
Moving on; as you SLOWLY move the bolt forward on a round in the magazine, does the rim of the round slip behind extractor and then pop up fully against the bolt face as the bolt moves ever forward ? It could be that there's a burr on the backside of the extractor which won't allow the rim to move as it should. This causes the round to remain at an angle instead of straightening out so as to enter the chamber smoothly. Being at an odd angle could cause the shoulder to ram into the chamber mouth and cause the dent.

kcw