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Bolt Stuck

Rusty Bressler
I have a remington model 788 .223. The bolt is stuck in and will not come out. How can I get it loose?
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    Sounds like either a very hot overload or dirty chamber. Try a rawhide mallet or a block of wood between a hammer and the bolt to keep from scaring bolt.
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  • Hangfire
    If you can at least raise the handle I would suggest inserting a wooden dowel down the bore and tapping it against the bolt face. The handles on 788's are prone to breakage and I would only do that as a last resort. Soaking the bolt with a good penetrating oil like Kroil would help.

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
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  • v35
    A rod down a 22 barrel isn't going to do much .
    First take the barrelled action out of the stock.
    I would try belting the bolt forward with some solid ringing hits using a heavy brass rod and a man sized hammer on the bolt where it joins the bolt shaft.
    When you get some fore and aft motion of the bolt then try some moderate force to open the bolt.
    Alternately, send the barrelled action to Remington.
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  • TRAP55
    Remove the wood and scope, and put the whole thing in a freezer overnight. I'm assuming there's a fired case in the chamber?

    7_2_120.gif
    "Aim small, Miss small"
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  • D.S.COLE
    The 788 bolt handle is silver soldiered onto the body and will probably break off if you hit it hard. Try running a piece of drill rod small enough to enter the fired case mouth down the bore. when you have it all the way down against the head of the case interior give it a couple of hard raps , Have a helper keep upward pressure on the handle as you rap it. If this doesnt work ,take it out of the stock stand it muzzle up and put some the super blaster penetrant down the bore and let it sit a while . then try again
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  • mrbruce
    A ringing blow will thash the bolt handle for sure. If it's just a dirty chamber it should not take much convincing to get it to let go. I would not beat on it with anything but the heel of my hand. On the other hand if it was a stiff reload it might not come out with out some serious major problems. If it's stuck hard anything you run down into the barrel "besides wood" to beat it out will spring into the rifling and thats not good at all, and even that probably won't let it loose.

    Gun control is hitting what your aiming at.
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  • Contender Man
    Take it to a gunsmith. Money well spent if the rifle is salvaged.


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    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • buddyb
    I broke the bolt handle off a 788 with the same problem you are having.I used an old cleaning rod to tap the case out and my brother who is a machinist fixed the bolt better than new.You probably need to polish the chamber.
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