M44 feeding problems

[DarthSean]

I got an M44 from AIM and got done cleaning it yesterday. I stuck a clip full of spent brass (1952 Bulgarian) fired from one of my other Mosins in it to test it's feeding and headspace, and the bolt won't lock with a cartridge in it for anything. I think I might have bruised my hand beating on it to see if it would work at all. Without a round in the chamber the bolt works a little stiff but smooth. Could it be a headspace issue on the rim or could there be something wrong with the chamber dimensions, or could it be something else?

[dotalchemy]

This could purely be dirt, generally known as sticky bolt syndrome, but in your scenario the exact opposite.

Other than that, either pick up a set of headspace gauges or get a gunsmith to check out the headspace on it.

Or sell it to me for $50 and get another one...

[grossekatz]

Don't expect empties fired from another gun to fit. Those cases have expanded in a different chamber and will probably not fit. I have 2 mausers and one has a looser chamber then the other, neither will chamber brass fired from the other. Use a dummy or snap cap and see if that makes a difference.

[Datamancer]

Don't expect empties fired from another gun to fit. Those cases have expanded in a different chamber and will probably not fit. I have 2 mausers and one has a looser chamber then the other, neither will chamber brass fired from the other. Use a dummy or snap cap and see if that makes a difference.

^^^^^^
This 100%

I tried this once back in the day and it practically took a hammer to open the bolt again. A fired cartridge swells, warps, and bulges all over the place from firing. Your rifle probably feeds live rounds just fine (just don't try it anywhere but the range!)

-~D~-