Yesterday, I scored a real beauty of an M44 form my favorite local funstore. It is a 1944 Ishevsk w/all matching, stamped serial no.'s Metal/bluing is 100%, wood is very good to very good plus. It is counterbored, but has very good accuracy. It came with an M44 sling, oil can, ammo pouch and tools. I paid $150.00 and felt like it was a real find these days.
This morning I took it to the range and put about 20 rounds through it using two varieties of Russian Surplus; copper washed "silver tip", and green steel-cased non-corrosive. Both types chamber very easily and grouped respectably at 100 yds.
THE HITCH: I had to use the wooden handle of a hammer to knock the bolt open and eject the case. It was stuck too tight to open by hand. I had cleaned the rifle and chamber thoroughly (I thought) before going to the range. When I got home, I cleaned again, using brass shotgun brushes attached to a section of cleaning rod and chucked in my electric drill and coated with J&B Compound to thoroughly work and ream the chamber all the way to the lands and grooves to remove any possible trace of cosmolene or grease.
I tried some of the steel cases I had fired this A.M. and they were extremely difficult to close or open the bolt on. Again, I had to use the hammer handle. Scuff marks on the cases appear to indicate some slight case bulging near the base. If bulged, it is not visible to the eye, but I haven't mic'd them.
SO, WHAT MIGHT BE MY PROBLEM/SOLUTION? Headspace problem? Irregular chamber dimensions? Is it a lost cause?????????