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Wards Westernfield 16 ga bolt misfires

2K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  soundguy 
#1 ·
So i have a montgomery ward 16 ga that was handed down and i have noticed a problem with the bolt. Now i know the gun is old and worn but it has been taken care of really well. The problem i have noticed is that where the bolt grabs the shell on the rim. The shell can slide about a 1/16th of an inch forward and not allow for full pin to primer contact. The gun will fire if i hold the foregrip forward tightly but it makes accurate shots almost impossible. The bolt itself has to be pressed apart so i am at a lost as far as repairs or modifications go. I really dont want to have retire this gun. any advice would be great thanks.
 
#3 ·
Welcome to TFF.
The guns that were made for Montgomery Wards were made by a number of different manufactures
Mossberg, Savage, Stevens, and so on.
So first look on the gun and try to find the model number then we can look it up to see who made it and what model it is under the factory numbers.
Then we can help you out.
But with out this info. it is imposable to help you.
Mike
 
#6 ·
If I'm not mistaken, my research indicates that your gun is quite old. Sounds like it's "shot loose". In which case repairing it would cost more than value. Secondly, I would NOT be firing high brass shells in it. Might have even caused the problem. Best make it a wall hanger now. Or part it out. You might get pretty far towards the price of one of the cheaper modern pump shotguns just off the stocks.
 
#13 ·
The stocks are custom oak stock done by hand by my great grandfather,to match his old 30-06. I am the 4th generation to own these guns. i cant bear to part with it and i would much like to use it for hunting at least once and for my own children to be able to do the same.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Thanks for the info.
It is a Stevens 520a.
It looks like you need a extractor. I would replace both the right and left.
These parts might be hard to find Numrich has the right but not the left so you could check with Jack First for them.
It was made in the early 1900 I believe around 1904-1932.
This gun was designed by Browning and should handle high brass (although it will last longer using low brass) and the bolt is not pressed together you just have to knock out the pins to take it apart. You tap them out from the other side of the crimped side of the pin.
If you are not up to stripping it down then take it to a gunsmith the extractors are springed so they could fly out when you remove the pins..
Mike
 
#14 ·
Thanks for the info.
It is a Stevens 520a.
It looks like you need a extractor. I would replace both the right and left.
These parts might be hard to find Numrich has the right but not the left so you could check with Jack First for them.
It was made in the early 1900 I believe around 1904-1932.
This gun was designed by Browning and should handle high brass (although it will last longer using low brass) and the bolt is not pressed together you just have to knock out the pins to take it apart. You tap them out from the other side of the crimped side of the pin.
If you are not up to stripping it down then take it to a gunsmith the extractors are springed so they could fly out when you remove the pins..
Mike
Thank you for the information i dont quite feel comfortable disassembling the bolt my self however Mikebiker made a valid point and there is play in my bolt lock. and even though my extractors are worn they dont have a problem extracting at all.
 
#9 ·
Look at the pictures and close at the extractors you will see the left one is worn out and has a positive angle it is not holding the bolt tight ( in fact it is not holding it at all) to the shell( or shell to the bolt).
I would also check the bolt lock to see if it is rounded and not locking up tight.
Mike
 
#10 ·
OK, I'm not a gunsmith or expert. Just a kitchen table hobbyist who has repaired (or attempted to) many guns over many years. But it seems to me that when the shell is in chamber and bolt closed, the extractor shouldn't have any effect on the firing pin hitting the primer. Should it?
The extractor is for pulling the fired case out of chamber. And doesn't come into play until that action.
 
#11 ·
It sounds like the release lever / bolt lock is not a good fit. If the lever contacts the bolt as it should when the gun is closed the bolt will not move back and forth and thus it will be in battery and stay there. If worn or poorly fitted it may have a little play allowing the bolt to slide back a little. This is quite common on these guns. This will cause exactly what you are describing.
 
#15 ·
Sounds like a trip to a gunsmith is in order. We "might" diagnose a problem here. Even suggest a fix. But if you don't feel that you want to tackle it, taking it someone who can is in order. No shame there. Although I work on guns as a hobby, I've found some jobs that were over my head. Good luck, in your shoes I would do the same.
 
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