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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jackinok09" data-source="post: 3849970" data-attributes="member: 51322"><p>Ok the fact it is on a Chinese action likely is the clue. Even though they were strong actions made in Germany nearly all are mismatched with bolts and receivers. If whoever built this rifle did not actually lap the locking lugs to mate them properly you get a situation where only one (or maybe only the safety lug) is actually making proper contact. That can even happen when the modified bolt actually bears on receiver pushing the bolt forward slightly theoretically. If not corrected before reaming the chamber you get into a situation where your go and no go gauges read correctly but when you fire the rifle you get bolt setback effectively changing headspace. In the extreme this can even result in bolt lug cracks, making a bolt extremely hard to open on fired case etc. Only way to test for this I know of without removing barrel is to take some layout blue (or smoke the lugs with a candle) and paint lugs. Then with a strong cleaning rod inserted in barrel hold pressure against lugs while working bolt up and down a few times. when you remove bolt and look at mating surfaces on back of lugs you can see which lugs are touching. This is not 100% accurate but it's a good indicator. I know you don't want to spend money on Smith to test or reset headspace etc but this is test you can do. And the results of firing are as you describe. Just something to check if your curious.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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