I was cleaning my buddy's Steyr SBS 96. All I did was to take the bolt out, clean the barrel, and attempt to reinsert the bolt. But, no can do. The bolt act as if it is hitting something solid about 3/8" before the handle reaches the slot designed for it to turn down into.

What am I doing wrong? What's the trick? I have never run into anything like this.

I've got two Steyr SBS rifles and have not run into this situation. I'm fooling around with both of them right now and can not duplicate your problem. Let us know how this turns out.

Thanks elmo.

This has me baffled. In the last week I have cleaned a Remington 700, a couple of Model 70's and a Ruger 77, MK 2 without a hitch. This isn't the first bolt I ever had out of a rifle.

But now I feel like a dummy. I was almost embarassed to ask the question.

The SBS96 is fitted with a "safety bushing", actually a floating steel ring in which the bolt lugs lock. That bushing is very easy to turn out of position with a cleaning patch, so that the bolt can no longer be inserted and I guess this is what happened to you (I mentioned it to Steyr and advised them to mention that potential trouble in their users manual. They agreed but I guess they have to get rid of the first print run, though). I consider it as a "new and annoying" feature but, luckily, once you know how, it is as easy to correct as to turn wrong. Insert a tight fitting patch in the chamber and rotate the bushing in place.

Andr�, is there any chance that this ring may be turned while the action is open, with the bolt back?

I think this would be dangerous in hunting big game.

Hermann

No Hermann, it won't turn on its own. I did it on purpose with a Steyr SBS96 Scout I was writing up and really had to work on it with a tight fitting patch.

HB,

This link is to John Schaefer's steyr scout site:

http://www.molonlabe.net/johns/steyrtip2.htm#Collar

in particular the FAQ, and it describes how to position the bolt collar.

I have two SBS 96 rifles, and I have not observed any motion of that collar in the field.

jim dodd

Man,

You guys are life savers! Thanks a bunch.

I can't tell you how much this bothered me. Here I was trying to help a buddy by giving his weapon a good cleaning, and I mess things up. I was dreading the thought of haviing to tell him that I broke his gun! -And then hand it back in pieces!

I did use my action cleaning kit. That probably rotated that little thingy that caused me such grief. Well, I'll just spin her right, now.

Thanks,

HB