Winchester Model 100 semi-auto .308 rifle - question

[gnrboyd]

My daughter's boyfriend recently inherited a brand new Winchester 100 semi-auto .308. The receipt shows it was purchased in 1971. His grandfather passed away and left it to him. Apparently it had never been shot before.

He was showing it to me and I noticed that he was having to pull the clip out to get the action to close. (unloaded of course) I looked at it for a minute and couldn't see any type of quick release to get the action to close without removing the clip. I didn't have much time to look at it but I'm thinking we just missed something. I've been out of the hunting world for 15-20 years myself so I'm pretty rusty when it comes to guns. What did we miss? Most semi-autos I've been around (not many) have a release mechanism of some kind that closes the action.

Can anyone offer any assistance on this ? Thanks

[Speck]

Some older actions require the magazine spring to be depressed to allow the bolt to close. I have seen bolt action rifles that, if unloaded, you have to push the magazine carrier spring down with your finger to allow the bolt to slide forward.

[Bigbill]

Speck nailed it on the head.

[gnrboyd]

Some older actions require the magazine spring to be depressed to allow the bolt to close. I have seen bolt action rifles that, if unloaded, you have to push the magazine carrier spring down with your finger to allow the bolt to slide forward.

So are you saying that you should hold the bolt back while reaching inside and pushing down the magazine spring, then gently releasing the bolt. and then removing your fingers before the action closes? Hmmmm ... that sounds like a dangerous operaton. [visualizing a guiallatine chopping off my fingers]

[Speck]

That's the trouble with a semi auto, but yes. Push the mag carrier spring down with your finger or a pencil (eraser end) then ease the bolt forward. When the bolt clears the beginning of the carrier, you can let go of the carrier spring and close the bolt all of the way.

[Speck]

You could also remove the magazine, close the bolt, then reinsert the mag.

[gnrboyd]

You could also remove the magazine, close the bolt, then reinsert the mag.

That is what we were doing and I just thought it should be easier. My Remington 1100 shotgun has a button on the bottom that releases the bolt and my Marlin 60 .22 can be released by pushing in (or is it pulling out ??) the bolt. I just can't imagine a gun manufacturer requiring you to stick your finger inside the action while slowly releasing the bolt and HOPING you don't accidentally let go of it. Ouch!

Speck... thanks for the help!

[ripnlips]

If it is new in the box leave it that way shoot something else, could help with college later. And do not lose the clip they are over 50 bucks for a used one.

[FAADAN]

Think it's designed to lock back after the last shot in a clip. Insert a new full clip and it automatically reloads and you are ready to shoot. Probably wasn't designed to hunt deer.