I am seeking some Team MDS help before surrendering and going to a gunsmith...
I've got a beautiful rifle that I'm trying to get up and running. It's a Herter's Model XK3, which is a Mauser type rifle made for Herter's stores in the mid-20th century. I can't decide if it was made by BSA in England or in West Germany. Either way, I would love to be able to shoot it! It says "Herter's Model XK3" and "Waseca, MN" and "308" on the barrel. It has a Bushnell scope and a checkered stock walnut.
PROBLEM:
I am able to close the bolt fine when there is no round in the chamber. But when I put a round in the magazine, it gets hung up making its way up the ramp. When I put a round directly into the chamber/barrel, the bolt won't close down all the way. I've tried two types of Hornady Ammo: Black and Match, both 168 grains.
ATTEMPTS:
This gun sat in a safe for 10-20 years and has some rust building up on the outside of the barrel where it was resting against the sides of the safe. I thought rust or other buildup in the chamber could be a problem, so I spent the past 2 days treating it with Ballistol CLP, running a 12 ga brass bore brush with a drill in the chamber, and running a 30 cal brass brush through the barrel, followed by normal cleaning with patches and rags. I completed disassembled the bolt, put it in boiling water to get rid of any grease, and then lightly oiled it and reassembled. I still can't get the bolt to close.
What am I doing wrong? What should I try? (pictures coming in next post). Thanks!
I've got a beautiful rifle that I'm trying to get up and running. It's a Herter's Model XK3, which is a Mauser type rifle made for Herter's stores in the mid-20th century. I can't decide if it was made by BSA in England or in West Germany. Either way, I would love to be able to shoot it! It says "Herter's Model XK3" and "Waseca, MN" and "308" on the barrel. It has a Bushnell scope and a checkered stock walnut.
PROBLEM:
I am able to close the bolt fine when there is no round in the chamber. But when I put a round in the magazine, it gets hung up making its way up the ramp. When I put a round directly into the chamber/barrel, the bolt won't close down all the way. I've tried two types of Hornady Ammo: Black and Match, both 168 grains.
ATTEMPTS:
This gun sat in a safe for 10-20 years and has some rust building up on the outside of the barrel where it was resting against the sides of the safe. I thought rust or other buildup in the chamber could be a problem, so I spent the past 2 days treating it with Ballistol CLP, running a 12 ga brass bore brush with a drill in the chamber, and running a 30 cal brass brush through the barrel, followed by normal cleaning with patches and rags. I completed disassembled the bolt, put it in boiling water to get rid of any grease, and then lightly oiled it and reassembled. I still can't get the bolt to close.
What am I doing wrong? What should I try? (pictures coming in next post). Thanks!