As some of already know I'm going start reloading for a Remington 760 in .308.

When I pull the pump action the first half of the opening stroke the action moves very smoothly and free. But the second half pulls harder. Is this normal for this action or is something sticking? I am doing this without pulling the trigger first so there should be no cocking going on.

Thanks,

Droptine

quote:

Originally posted by adams:
As some of already know I'm going start reloading for a Remington 760 in .308.

When I pull the pump action the first half of the opening stroke the action moves very smoothly and free. But the second half pulls harder. Is this normal for this action or is something sticking? I am doing this without pulling the trigger first so there should be no cocking going on.

Thanks,

Droptine

If it's working properly, the stroke should be the same throughout.

well during the second half of the pump cycle you are cocking the hammer so that is what you may be feeling. don't know for sure.

I have a 760 in 06 and it acts very much as you state. As mentioned above at about half way it begins to cock.

quote:

Originally posted by adams:
... Is this normal for this action or is something sticking? I am doing this without pulling the trigger first so there should be no cocking going on...

Hey Droptine, If you mentally visualize what is going on inside the action, you will see the hammer being pushed back and thus the hammer spring.

This is happening even though you are not "pulling the trigger first" - because, the Hammer must be pushed past the point where the Sear notch in the hammer can engage. Then as you pull the slide forward, the hammer lifts slightly and the Sear engages in the Notch.

So, even though it is Cocked, as you pull the Forearm back, it has to push the Hammer Spring down just a bit and that is what you are feeling.

Great woods rifle and an excellent Deer cartridge.

If the rifle is cocked it should work very slick through recycle. What sometimes happens is that plastic junk breech cover snags and and causes the action to feel sticky, especially half way back. Check that area carefully and determine if that cover is catching on the side of the port. I've used the 760 for over 35 years and had to do two replacement of that part.

I strongly suggest investing in a small base die. It will save you much grief in the long run. You really need to get those cases back to at least factory dimensions or you will have chambering problems.

Seems to me that adams said the rifle is already cocked, so there is NO pushing back of the hammer going on. Therefore, cocking the thin=g is not the cause of the increased resistance. However, it is likely that the bolt will push the hammer down a little past the full-cock position as it passes over the hammer anyway, since the mechanism is probably set up to "over-cock" the hammer just to ensure sear engagement during cocking. This could cause some increase in resistance due to the hammer pushing up against the bottom of the bolt. Polishing these two surfaces might make it work with less resistance...........

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by adams:
... Is this normal for this action or is something sticking? I am doing this without pulling the trigger first so there should be no cocking going on...

Hey Droptine, If you mentally visualize what is going on inside the action, you will see the hammer being pushed back and thus the hammer spring.

This is happening even though you are not "pulling the trigger first" - because, the Hammer must be pushed past the point where the Sear notch in the hammer can engage. Then as you pull the slide forward, the hammer lifts slightly and the Sear engages in the Notch.

So, even though it is Cocked, as you pull the Forearm back, it has to push the Hammer Spring down just a bit and that is what you are feeling.

Great woods rifle and an excellent Deer cartridge.

JMHO, but I think that Hot Core has nailed this. My 760 behaves in the same manner, and I believe it to be the hammer, even though it is cocked, pressing up against the lower part of the bolt carrier.

I have not shot the gun yet. I will be reloading for it and may need to look at small based dies. I am going to try the regular die first and see what happens.

This was my fathers riffle and has not been used for about 15 years. He purchased the riffle in the late 1970s. It has just been sitting and this is why I began to question the stickiness.

Also being unfamiliar with the 760 I am not sure how the action is suppose to feel. I looked at it briefly to see if I could take the action out and clean everything up like I do with my 870 pump shotguns but didn't know what I was doing so I have left it alone.

I have not pulled the trigger yet so cocking is not happening. Although I understand what some of you are saying in that certain things are still happening during the stroke.

I appreciate all of your feedback.

Droptine

Hey Droptine, Look in your NRA magazine about how to contact them for a catalog. The NRA has some excellent "Tear Down" Manuals that have exploded views so you can see how things go together.

Remington can provide a Manual for FREE if you contact them. No idea if they would supply an exploded drawing or a schematic of how it all goes together for you.

Your local Gun Smith might have a Tear Down Manual that you could get copies of those specific pages.

And if you hang around an active Range, someone will eventually come up with one and can also show you how it is done.
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They are fine rifles and relatively easy to care for. And you should be able to get 3-shot groups around 1 1/2"-2" which is not bad at all.

Best of luck to you.

Perhaps it's that 15 year old oil in the action making things sticky?

Or if it's like so many other deer rifles, it's only been shot once a year for 20 years; a box of shells through it in it's lifetime. It needs more shooting to slick things up.

FYI, I had 2 '06 760's and now have a 7600 in 35 Whelen. None needed small base dies. My Whelen is so slick that with the muzzle pointing up the forearm retracts all the way by gravity when the release is pushed. That's how a pump gun should be!

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
Perhaps it's that 15 year old oil in the action making things sticky?

Or if it's like so many other deer rifles, it's only been shot once a year for 20 years; a box of shells through it in it's lifetime. It needs more shooting to slick things up.

FYI, I had 2 '06 760's and now have a 7600 in 35 Whelen. None needed small base dies. My Whelen is so slick that with the muzzle pointing up the forearm retracts all the way by gravity when the release is pushed. That's how a pump gun should be!

Absolutely right, of all the rifle actions, the pump is imperative to receive frequent maintenance. Do your part and it will never let you down.

I forgot about another problem I had with the 760 that may be contributing to the "sticky" nature of the action when fully cocked or not. Since you said your father purchased the rifle in the late 70's the pump tube (under the barrel) probably is not attached to the barrel like the older 760s. If a swing swivel is attached to the end of the pump it could and, in my case did, damage the nylon bushing that slides along inside the pump tube. I'm sorry I can't discribe this in better detail but if there is a swivel for a sling attached to the end of the pump tube the bushing could be damaged. It dosen't take much. The sling should be attached with a barrel band.
Also, the trigger and hammer are easy to remove and clean. Make sure the gun is empty, cock the gun and push the two action pins out (they will tap out with little effort). The trigger and hammer mechanisim will pull right out. Clean with degreaser and lightly oil this with teflon based (rem oil) very ligtly. Now gently try the action again before replacing the trigger(gently). If it still sticks the problem is most probably the plastic (junk) dust cover or the bushing I attempted to describe above. Good luck.

Hey Adams I have been shooting and reloading for the 760 30-06 for about 30 years, it is a great gun and more accurate than many folks relize or belive. You should use small base dies. My gun shoots 165Gr. and 180 Gr. very well but Really likes 200Gr.

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
Perhaps it's that 15 year old oil in the action making things sticky? ...

Excellent point. It could be that simple.