Open Breech Firing

[maxlib]

A while back my 82 year old dad and I were shooting a Remington 597 .22 that I purchased used from an Air Force SGT in Pensacola a few months before I retired from the Navy. This was the first time firing the rifle and I had done a routine cleaning on it upon buying it. I did not take it down to bare bones and clean the action. I just used a few liberal sprays of Gun Scrubber in that area.

Basically what happened was my dad was shooting and he fired, the magazine fell out of the rifle and he started shaking his hand. He wasn’t hurt, just said that it “stung a bit”.

I took the rifle and upon inspection I learned that the fired case was stuck about 2/3 into the chamber. There was a visible split in the case right ahead of the rim.

I took the rifle apart and cleaned the action well and spent a good amount of effort on the chamber and bore. I found the action to be pretty dirty, but nothing like I would have expected to cause that type of problem.

My question is; has anyone had a similar experience or heard of one? I know that Remington had a recall of the 597 in .17HMR but cannot find anything about a problem with the .22 version.

Any input or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[MoJo]

Sounds like it may need a trip to a gunsmith or Remington.

[Beiruty]

just noticed that on my SIG 522, there is a sear that blocks the hammer from being released unless the bolt is 100% forward. This is because it is a blow back bolt with no breach lock design.

[Keith B]

I have had this happen on a couple of different rim-fire rifles over the years. One was a Ruger 10/22; don't remember what model the other was.

Basically, the issue on both rifles were low lubrication/dirty breach/dry chamber. Rim-fire rounds are very susceptible to being set off if they receive any hard blow to the rear of the cartridge, and both of the ones i experienced were due to the round not easily going into battery in the chamber and the force of the bolt causing the round to discharge. If you still have the round, look to see if you actually see a mark from the firing pin on the rear of the cartridge. If so, you may have another problem. However, if you don't see it or don't have the round, it sounds like the bolt may have hit the round hard enough when it didn't go into battery to cause it to fire. Clean it super well, and make sure the breach and chamber are totally scrubbed out and lubricated well and see if you have any other issues with it not going to battery.

EDIT TO ADD: Just realized the round apparently fired only when he pulled the trigger. I would suggest blocking the bolt partially open with a wooden pencil and see if the firing pin will drop. if so, then there may be a need to talk to Remington and make sure it is not supposed to operate with the bolt partially open. If not, then the sear may be worn and you need to have it rebuilt.

[couzin]

The 597 was reported to have a problem with firing out of battery. The bolt is not entirely closed and is forced back when the trigger is pulled (firing pin drop and ignition) causing the round to be partly or completely pulled from the chamber as it is igniting the round.

[PeteCamp]

I agree with what couzin said. I owned one of the first 597's built and it would fire with the breach open. I sent it back to Remington and they fixed it. I don't think the later models have that problem. You might check with Rem and see if the serial number is an early model.

- Pete

[maxlib]

I appreciate it guys. I still have the round in question, somewhere. I'll probably just go ahead and contact Remington to stay on the safe side.