VEPR 7.62x54r - No Issue, Just Awesome (post #7)

[2Aon2wheels]

Hello Calguns,

I have a possible issue with a brand new VEPR in 7.62x54r. It chews up the case mouth quite a bit. I will post pictures soon of the spent cases. I wasn't too concerned at first, since I shoot suprlus and don't look to save brass. However, another shooter pointed out that it is likely a headspace issue, and I should have it looked at by a gunsmith. Just wondering if anyone might have an idea about this before I take it in / ship to the manufacturer.

[kcstott]

A picture of the case mouth in focus will help. But I doubt it's a head space issue.

This case headspaces off the rim and headspace would not cause the case mouth to become damaged.

You may have something fouled up in the chamber or some funky ammo. Does it have extraction issues? Is there any funky funny feel when chambering or extracting a round?

[2Aon2wheels]

Thanks, the headspacing on the rim makes sense. No extraction / ejection issues (unless having cases come out with very high force / distance is an issue) and no feeding issues. Although as you can see on the pic of the cartridge that I extracted without firing, something is going wrong. I am not sure if this is happening when feeding or extracting, as I extracted the round by just racking the bolt. This was performed at a range with the barrel pointed in safe direction.

I can also try this with undamaged spent case from my mosin and then remove it using a cleaning rod to see if if it gets affected during chambering.

Link to album if images don't come through.

http://imageshack.us/g/688/20120610105117180.jpg/

[kcstott]

Try your test again with the dust cover off and no action spring to see what/where the case mouth is hitting.
I don't think it's a chamber throat issue as there are no marks on the bullet. but something is very wrong

I'd also get a flash light and examine the chamber up near the throat just to confirm no damage and interference. I'd also check the front of the magazine, the bullet guide and anything else in the way of the cartridge being chambered.
Noting where the mark is occurring on the diameter. i.e. top bottom left or right will tell you where to look on the chamber and action.

Outside of that I'd send it back

[Alex$]

Those two fired cases look like they are getting deformed after ejection, hitting something while coming out. First try what kc says, no cover or spring, slowly pull back and visualize the path the case would take during normal speed. If that doesn't explain it, try with cover on, no recoil spring.

Those two cases don't look damaged going into chamber, they look damaged while exting gun.

The unfired one looks like it hung up on something going into chamber. Did you allow it tonchamber under the recoil spring tension or did you try to baby it in?

[2Aon2wheels]

Thanks all. I sent the pictures to WPA, who forwarded them to the factory. I'll see what they say, and also try a few more tests to see if I can find out whats going on.

I think the pic of the ejected round may have been due to operator mistake. I took a friend shooting, and she rode the bolt forward rather than letting slam forward under spring tension. I noticed that the round got jammed up before going into the chamber, so I stopped her, and ejected the round to inspect it.

[Alex$]

That would explain the unfired round, it can and will get jammed on the feed ramp sometimes if the bolt is not allowed to feed under normal recoil spring tension.

Those two fired cases still look like typical ejection deformation.

[2Aon2wheels]

Wolf Performance Arms got back to me.

"My firearms tech said that the pictures do not indicate a headspace issue. It appears that the ammo is being ejected rather violently and is hitting other parts of the firearm on the way out."

So basically, its ejecting the cases with enough force to dent them as they hit other parts of the gun (dust cover) etc.

Cool.