I have a nice Zastava, SS, Mauser in 9.3x62, but it won't feed worth a dime. Actually It is mostly just the first round. With three total down. I am away form my main tools, and so this was a preliminary exploration with very little attempted, my main tool was a diamond broadhead file. I don't need to hear about how I need to take it to a pro, as if that was an option, and this is just exploratory.
The main thing I found was that on the ramp into the chamber, at the top, there is a significant, and somewhat rough lip that folds back into the magazine, so it is able to grab a cartridge. I polished it a little, but I will need to be in my shop to remove it. Even that polishing helped. It probably is exactly what it looks like: A rough casting. The only other Mauser I currently own is a Dumoulin action, I have a barrel for also. Back at home base also. But I can't imagine there is supposed to be a rough intrusion at the top of the ramp.
The other main deal is the back of the cartridge is not slipping to the bolt head from under the rail, and there is actual brass accumulating there. I polished it also, and that helped. It now feeds, however, no metal was removed other than as with stoning a knife edge, so the problem is still somewhat there. Because I think there is a foil of sharp material that overhangs in places, and one can see some casting details that were left in corners, so they obviously don't get everything done.
I think these rifles are sorta patterned around the 30-06 dimensions which also reach back to earlier German types, so it does not seem as though it should malfunction as might be the case when they try to get the 458s feeding out of this platform.
Here is something else I didn't expect. Am I wrong? External star lock washers under the action bolts. I tried leaving them out, however the bolt would not close, so they seem to be standard issue. Is that normal? I could examine the bearing surfaces and see if they can be refined, and the screw shortened, so the whole thing works without the washers. But then, maybe it is a concession to the stainless screws, and galling?
The main thing I found was that on the ramp into the chamber, at the top, there is a significant, and somewhat rough lip that folds back into the magazine, so it is able to grab a cartridge. I polished it a little, but I will need to be in my shop to remove it. Even that polishing helped. It probably is exactly what it looks like: A rough casting. The only other Mauser I currently own is a Dumoulin action, I have a barrel for also. Back at home base also. But I can't imagine there is supposed to be a rough intrusion at the top of the ramp.
The other main deal is the back of the cartridge is not slipping to the bolt head from under the rail, and there is actual brass accumulating there. I polished it also, and that helped. It now feeds, however, no metal was removed other than as with stoning a knife edge, so the problem is still somewhat there. Because I think there is a foil of sharp material that overhangs in places, and one can see some casting details that were left in corners, so they obviously don't get everything done.
I think these rifles are sorta patterned around the 30-06 dimensions which also reach back to earlier German types, so it does not seem as though it should malfunction as might be the case when they try to get the 458s feeding out of this platform.
Here is something else I didn't expect. Am I wrong? External star lock washers under the action bolts. I tried leaving them out, however the bolt would not close, so they seem to be standard issue. Is that normal? I could examine the bearing surfaces and see if they can be refined, and the screw shortened, so the whole thing works without the washers. But then, maybe it is a concession to the stainless screws, and galling?
