Problem with Marlin 917 17 HMR

[jw1044]

   
MArlin 917 17 HMR


Does anyone know how to check the bolt on this rifle.  It has quit firing and the firing pin seem okay.  However, it appears that when the bolt is open and pulled back the bolt is cocked, but it uncocks as the bolt is closed.   Should this be taken to a gunsmith or can anyone give me a place to start checking this out?

Thanks

[Keith L]

The first place I would look is in the trigger.  That gun is the target for the famous shim trigger job, and my bet is someone put to much shim in, or that when the burrs rubbed off the trigger parts the shim was to much.

[backstrap]

I thought the shim trigger job was on the savage 17HMR,and the lighter spring was on the marlin Keith? i have both guns and the savage is the shim and the lighter sping in the marlin or thats the way my rifles r

[Keith L]

I have seen it discussed for both.  I think it is a bad idea for either.  I replaced the trigger in my Savage, and until I got it adjusted correctly it could do what the original poster is having trouble with. 

[jw1044]

Thanks for the information.  The gun is a friend of mine who asked me if I might be able to fix it.  When I took the action out of the stock, the single screw that holds the trigger to the receiver was loose.  Tightening the screw fixed the problem.

Thanks.

[Keith L]

That makes sense.