Another couple places you won't want to forget when you're cleaning your
weapon are the claw under the extractor in the bolt group and the locking lug
recesses on the barrel extension down in the lower receiver. If dirt and crud


 CLEAN
 THE
 CLAW
collect under the extractor, the claw won't be able to snap over the rim of a
cartridge case. And if gook and brass chips from cases gather in the recesses,
your bolt action will be stymied. So, bear down on your bore brush in both
these places.

TIPO While you have the bolt group apart-and after you clean
 S 'em-make a practice of eye-checking these parts:

 BOLT- Cracks or fractures, especially in the cam pin hole
 area. This bolt has a great service record so far, but it pays to
 be on the lookout for that first sign of weakness. Don't worry
 about any discoloration you find there, though. It's harmless.

 CAM PIN- Cracked, chipped, missing. Be sure it's in place
 When you put the parts back together. A rifle could explode if
 S you fired it with the cam pin missing.

 FIRING PIN Bent, FIRING PIN RETAINING PIN -
 cracked, blunted. Bent, busted, badly worn. If one
 or both tangs are busted, there's
 no sweat as long as it'll hold the
 firing pin in place. But, be mighty
 careful you don't lose it when
 you're doing PM. A rifle fired with
 this pin missing may fire once -
 but that's all. The firing pin would
 then fall out and no-fire!