Acquired a Belgian 98 sporter at a pawn shop a few days ago. I initially bought it more for the $700 chunk of XX fancy walnut than for the rest of the gun. Anyway, ran a cleaning rod thru it and found the first 2 inches of the bore seem like sandpaper. Its a 220 improved, has little signs of being shot (that I can find) on a generic ?? 24 inch barrel but the bore is a mess like someone really beat it up cleaning it with a hammer??, file?? crowbar?? dunno. I won't put any ammo thru it, I dont' think the barrel is worth wasting some brass on and starting a new caliber I don't want. It will get rebarreled ASAF (thats as soon as funds, not as soon as possible) to 6 x 284.
My problem is.......when I try to close the bolt (bent, forged nicely sometime in the 1960's, drilled, tapped, scoped), stock 98 floorplate, magwell, follower,,,,,,,the bolt must be pushed forward with some intent to be able to roll it to locked.
In other words the bolt handle had to be pushed forward like the bolt is spring loaded and must overcome the spring to get the bolt to rotate to locked. I am having a hard time describing it. I shot my savage and model 70 today (770), they rolllike butter down on an empty chamber, no forward thrust or force is required.
I had my dad take a lok at it, he gingerly said, “you just have to push a bit on it". Well no duh dad, thanks for stating the obvious. Love you dad but that didn't help me.
Anyway, for those that are more experienced with Mauser typical operation and feel, is this norma???. I can't believe a German infantryman would have to push the bolt forward with such pressure to cycle the action. I dont have to beat on it or anything, quick bolt closure with intent gets it done but if I dont use some effort, the lugs seem to bounce into eachother slightly.
Put this way, on a bench rest, I won't be able to leave the gun at rest and cycle it. I will have to slam the bolt (on an empty chamber) a tiny bit to fully rotate. I don't think this is right.
Can the bolt be making contact with the barrel or extrator, or what the heck??
Thanks in adavnce for any help.
Mike