will this help smooth an action?

[georgia hammer]

I have a Rem model 7 ss/syn in a .308

It will chamber certain factory ammo better than others.Those that it don't, it is hard to close the bolt and is very stiff when closing.

Toward the back of the bolt where the handle is you can see where it has been rubbing some and that may be what is binding it.I took it to a gunsmith and he told me he could fix it but I didn't want to spend that much.

Question : I ordered some Flitz paste from Midway USA.Will that work on smoothing the action?I could put a little on the lugs and back near the handle and work the bolt in and out several times.Will this help, or do I need some lapping compound?I am trying to save a little money, plus learn something for myself.

[trader rob]

if the rubbing is the trouble then it would do it empty. sounds like a headspace issue. a little resistence should be ok, but if you have to force it maybe not. compare length of ammo between loose ones and tight ones. a tight one should be shiney on the shoulder after loading if it is head space,and the bullet should show mark if it is overall length where the bullet touches rifleing. mabe this will help. tr

[trust me]

if the rubbing is the trouble then it would do it empty. sounds like a headspace issue. a little resistence should be ok, but if you have to force it maybe not. compare length of ammo between loose ones and tight ones. a tight one should be shiney on the shoulder after loading if it is head space,and the bullet should show mark if it is overall length where the bullet touches rifleing. mabe this will help. tr

What he said.

When you fire a tight round, does it extract easily, or do you have to muscle the bolt back?

[quackrstackr]

You'll have to cycle it a bunch just using Flitz. It's not a very abrasive polish.

I use it to polish jewelry, stainless parts on my truck and remove stains from my stainless guns. It won't take out anything but the finest scuffs by hand.

Polishes a wedding band up quite nicely though. :D

[cooper 21]

If the gunsmith checked it, and the headspace is wrong, send it back to Remington. They should fix it for free less shipping cost. Turn around time is about 6 wks. I dont beleieve polishing is going to help if it is more than a .002"

[GunCat]

If the gunsmith checked it, and the headspace is wrong, send it back to Remington.

I second the recommendation for having a gunsmith check the headspace. Sounds like a textbook description of headspace being a bit on the tight side.

One other thing you can check yourself:

Take the bolt out and make sure the ejector can be pushed in flush with the bolt face. A bit of crud, bluing salt residue, or brass shaving could be limiting the ejector's travel causing it to rub the cartridge when you close the bolt.

[HEAVYSETDOOBER]

Send it back in and tell them what the deal is. We run into some prob's like this when doing our accuracy checks on our guns. It usually falls back onto the manufacture of the shells. It might also be the chamber might be a little shallow not letting the bullet seat far enough down into it,which in return will make it hard to cam the bolt over. I dont recall the first gun ever having problems with the receiver not being machined right. Let know you find out