Mosin extractor problem

[Sgt Seahorse]

My brother just bought a mosin nagant and we cant get a round to fully chamber. We've thoroughly cleaned the rifle and the bolt. So I was fiddling with the bolt and it seems that the extractor is extremely stiff. Is this normal? Is there any way to fix this? It takes an insane amount of force to get the extractor to move, but at least it moves. Thanks

[safewaysecurity]

does the extractor have anything to do with going into battery ad feeding the round? Might be feed ramp? Also if the nagant is new the extractor is prolly stiff cuz well it's new.

[Sgt Seahorse]

i've hand fed the round into the chamber and no probs. feed ramps good. So if the extractor is new, do you suggest slamming the bolt down?

[mosinnagantm9130]

Wait, are you inserting the round into the chamber by hand, and then trying to close the bolt? If so, that's a good way to break your extractor.

[Sgt Seahorse]

no i insert the round into the magwell and try to chamber it normally. I can get the bolt to move forward but not lock down.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Have you checked headspace yet?

[Sgt Seahorse]

not yet. could it not be chambering because of headspace? Even so I don't think this extractor should be so stiff.

[Echo34]

Also if the nagant is new the extractor is prolly stiff cuz well it's new.

Is there such a thing as a "new" Nagant? The last production model was late 1960's wasn't it?

I'm with mosinnagantm9130, Im fairly certian the extractor isnt supposed to move. A headspace check could be in order. Also, if the bolt doesnt have the same model number as the reciever, you could have a mis-matched or a poorly force matched bolt handle.

[mosinnagantm9130]

not yet. could it not be chambering because of headspace? Even so I don't think this extractor should be so stiff.

Yes, that could be caused by bad headspace.

And mosin extractors are really stiff, it's normal.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Is there such a thing as a "new" Nagant? The last production model was late 1960's wasn't it?

Last standard production that I know of are the 1970 m39's. M28/76's were built in the mid-70's, but they were converted from 28/30's, not built new.

[Sgt Seahorse]

so if it turns out being a headspace problem would I need to take it to a gunsmith? im going to try to check the headspace asap

[mosinnagantm9130]

so if it turns out being a headspace problem would I need to take it to a gunsmith?

Not always. You could try different bolts until you found one that passed, or you could swap out bolt heads until you find one that will pass headspace.

If neither of those are an option, then I'd take it to a gunsmith, but you may pay more to fix the rifle than you paid to buy the rifle.

[swifty]

Slip a cartridge onto the bolt face and under the extractor, Will the bolt close?

If yes, you have an issue with the extractor.

[Sgt Seahorse]

ok well i'll try to get gauges for now then see what happens from there

[mosinnagantm9130]

Slip a cartridge onto the bolt face and under the extractor, Will the bolt close?

If yes, you have an issue with the extractor.

^^Try this test before you go get gauges, it might save you some money. If you do the above, and the bolt doesn't close, I'm betting headspace.