I'm not sure if timing is the right terminology, but here goes.
I built a new 25-06 on a Mark X action and had a new Dakota handle welded on. The shape of the new handle required me to inlet the handle just a bit more into the receiver. I carefully did this with a round file until the notch on the bolt (the recess that aligns the cocking piece) was lined up top center with the way in the receiver. Without the FP spring the firing pin seems to move freely when the bolt is closed all the way. This all turned out very nice in my estimation. The rifle shoots OK, but nothing like it should. It seems like the lock time is way too slow, almost like a slight delay in firing. The hits on the primer are solid and I've never had a misfire.

I notice when I dry fire on an empty chamber the bolt wants to lift just slightly. If I put a .030" shim between the bolt and the stock, there is a totally dead feel when the bolt falls. Wondering if perhaps I got the bolt notch just tad to deep? Should the bolt handle bear against wood or the metal and how do you professionals determine the optimum position for the closed bolt? I was wondering about a stronger FP spring also, but want to get the right bolt position first. Also I installed a light Mauser JARD trigger on this rifle because....well I don't know why. It's a POS, I should have just bought a Timney. Can the sear of a trigger not release and cause a slow lock time?

I would much appreciate any advice and education one of you might offer. Thanks in advance

Mausers have a long (which takes time) striker travel. This is for reliable ignition. Most bolt handles lift upon firing on most bolt action rifles; this is not specific to mausers.

The bolt handle should not be bearing on wood. It should seat on the receiver. Take the striker off and see if the bolt is seating with the safety notch vertical and centered or offset one way or the other. Add or remove metal as necessary.

Grease, gunk, weak spring, and dragging against the sear can slow striker travel; also check that that firing pin spring is not dragging inside the bolt body.

quote:

Originally posted by 10at6:
I notice when I dry fire on an empty chamber the bolt wants to lift just slightly. If I put a .030" shim between the bolt and the stock, there is a totally dead feel when the bolt falls. Wondering if perhaps I got the bolt notch just tad to deep?

I understand what you are saying on this. I've noticed the same thing. I have several Mausers to compare, and several have that solid feel of the firing pin falling right, and no bolt jump. Then I have one, especially a Mk X, and others not so much, that has that bolt jump as you described, and also the feel of the firing pin not falling right. The spring is new. I'm of the opinion that everything isn't aligned right when the bolt jumps up a little like that, and does make the firing pin fall sluggish, but not enough to cause a misfire.

It's still annoying, and I want to fix it, but I think it will take some tig welding on the notch or the bottom of the handle, just enough to position the bolt in the sweet spot.

I know this issue isn't just with Mausers. My Rugers do the same thing a little, but I'm fussier about Mausers. The most annoying one is on my list to be repaired, although it's useable now.

KB

This was discussed a year or two ago. A search should turn up the cause and the fix.

IIRC Duane explained that the bolt handle notch had to be cut just enough to let the striker fall. Doing so keeps the bolt handle from bouncing(which is the "jump" you see).

Keep in mind my memory is faulty more often than not.

-I wonder if you could stipple or knurl the handle and/or notch to bring an over ground assembly back into time......

After my search I still can't find anything on this topic?

Do a search on "bolt timing".

Does it do it with a round in the chamber?
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
Does it do it with a round in the chamber?
Butch

Good point: I had never tried that. No, It doesn't seem to jump much at all when dry fired on a fired case. I probably should not worry about it too much.