sticky bolt on yugo 24/47

[jgalar]

I received a 24/47 from AIM. After cleaning it and getting my order of brass, dies and special ordering a cast bullet sizer - I have found the bolt extremely difficult to close and open on a case. I have to really force it closed and open. The brass gets a little boogered up in the chamber. The gun looks like it has never been fired. I cut off the shoulder area of a case and it is still difficult to close the bolt so it shouldn't be too little headspace. This is my first mauser, any ideas??? I'm thinking the lugs may be rough or have burrs.....

[gunnut69]

Is there an extractor mark in the extractor groove on the case?  Does the rifle close normally on an empty chamber?  Any damage to the extractor lock groove on the front of the bolt? Is the bolt handle root rubbing excessively hard on the back of the rear receiver ring.  The angled surface there provides the preliminary extraction for a case being removed from the chamber.  There should be a small angled flat on the corner of the bolt handle root and it and the angled portion or the rear receiver ring should be smooth and without any 'chatter' marks..  Also the root of the bolt handle should not touch the sides of the notch in the rear tang into which it fits.  You can also check the safety lug for contact.  It's hidden but can be checked by covering it with black permanent magic marker, then inserting and closing the bolt.  Try the same test with a case in the chamber. Check the outside of the extractor at the hook.  It may be rubbing on it's way in the receiver when flexed slightly by a round in the chamber. There is the chance the locking lugs have been 'set back' by a high pressure load. This is called imprinting and the dent in the locking lugs recesses causes the bolt to have to move forward as the bolt begins it's rotation.  This can cause a hard lift when a round is chambered.  It should not be a problem when the round has not shoulder to headspace on..  If the action is imprinted I know of no way to fix it.  Lapping will remove the dent and will also remove the surface hardening of the locking lug abutments.

[jgalar]

I took it to a local gunsmith and he said to send it back to AIM it would cost more to fix than I paid for the rifle. I called AIM and will exchange it.