Everybody loves showing:
- Tiny groups
- Perfect builds
- Long-range hits
- “Quarter-inch guns”
But what you don’t usually see?
👉 The failures.
In this video, Rob and Jeromy do something most channels avoid:
They show the struggle.
A real problem.
A real setback.
And a custom rifle build that started falling apart right in the middle of load development.
🎥 Watch the Full Video
🔥 Key Takeaways
- Old actions can create serious reliability issues in custom builds
- Bolt timing problems can mimic pressure signs
- The issue progressively worsened over time
- The rifle showed NO actual pressure indicators
- Long action vs short action became part of the investigation
- Real-world testing exposes problems fast
The Goal: Match Velocities Between Two 7 Moses Rifles
This video started as a normal load development session.
The plan was simple:
👉 Match the velocity between Rob and Jeromy’s custom 7 Moses rifles.
Setup:
- 183gr Sierra MatchKings
- H4350 powder
- Testing for ~2850 FPS
And initially?
Everything seemed fine.
Then the Bolt Started Fighting Back
During the first round of testing:
Jeromy’s rifle started showing:
- Sticky bolt lift
- Strange resistance
- Random hard extraction
But here’s the weird part:
👉 It didn’t act like pressure.
As Rob explains:
- Primers looked normal
- Brass looked normal
- No ejector swipes
- No classic overpressure signs
Yet the bolt still struggled.
The “Love Bump” Problem
One of the funniest—and most frustrating—parts of the video:
The bolt would:
- Lift mostly fine
- Then stop at the very top
- Require a little “love bump” to unlock
At first?
It seemed minor.
But as shooting continued…
👉 It progressively got worse.
A Different Day… Same Problem
To rule out pressure issues:
They:
- Lowered the powder charge
- Reduced velocity
- Came back another day
The expectation?
👉 Less pressure = smoother bolt
But instead…
The action continued degrading.
That was the huge clue.
Why This Wasn’t Pressure
This became the central mystery of the video.
Normally, pressure signs include:
- Flattened primers
- Ejector swipes
- Sticky extraction from pressure
- Brass damage
But none of that was happening.
Instead:
👉 The action itself felt rough and inconsistent.
As Jeromy explains:
“It almost felt like the lugs were grinding.”
That’s VERY different from classic pressure.
The Action: A 20-Year-Old Remington 700
And here’s where things got interesting.
Jeromy’s build used:
👉 A 20-year-old Remington 700 long action
Originally:
- His first hunting rifle
- Sentimental value
- Reused for the custom build
But according to discussions they later had:
👉 Older Remington actions may have timing issues.
What Is “Timing” in a Bolt Action?
Without getting overly technical:
Bolt timing refers to:
- How the lugs engage
- How the bolt unlocks
- Alignment during cycling
If timing is off:
- Bolt lift becomes rough
- Extraction gets inconsistent
- Cycling feels “grindy”
And that’s exactly what this rifle started doing.
The Strange Part: It Got Worse Over Time
This is what really confused Rob and Jeromy.
Initially:
- The rifle mostly worked
- Only occasional issues
Then:
- More resistance
- More failures
- More inconsistency
Eventually:
👉 The rifle became basically unshootable.
As Jeromy explains:
“The gun is now unshootable.”
Rob’s Rifle Proved It Wasn’t the Load
To verify the issue:
They switched over to Rob’s rifle.
Same setup:
- Same cartridge
- Same speeds
- Same general load
But Rob’s rifle:
- Cycled perfectly
- Showed no pressure
- Ran clean
That ruled out:
- Powder charge
- Velocity
- Cartridge design
And pointed directly at:
👉 The action.
Long Action vs Short Action
Another variable in the discussion:
Jeromy’s rifle:
- Long action
Rob’s rifle:
- Short action
Jeromy specifically chose the long action to:
- Seat bullets farther out
- Relieve pressure
- Experiment with performance
But ironically…
👉 The action itself became the limiting factor.
The One Thing They Did Right: Staying Calm
One underrated part of the video:
Even when the rifle locked up:
- No panic
- No unsafe handling
- No rushing
At a public range especially…
👉 That matters.
It’s a good reminder that:
- Mechanical failures happen
- Staying calm matters
- Safety always comes first
Why This Video Matters
This is honestly one of the best things Bald Guys With Guns does.
They show:
- The wins
- The failures
- The frustration
- The troubleshooting
Because custom rifle building isn’t always:
- Easy
- Perfect
- Smooth
Sometimes:
👉 You spend serious money just to discover a hidden issue.
The Group That Proved the Rifle Had Potential
Ironically…
Right in the middle of all the frustration:
Rob’s rifle printed an incredible group with:
- 51.2gr H4350
- Excellent velocity
- Tight accuracy node
And of course…
👉 Rob still blamed himself for the flyer.
Classic Rob moment.
The Real Lesson: Sentiment Doesn’t Always Win
This was probably the hardest realization in the video.
Jeromy wanted to keep:
- His first hunting rifle
- The sentimental action
- The history behind it
But eventually…
👉 Reliability matters more.
And the decision was made:
The action gets replaced.
📬 Want More Real-World Shooting Content?
If you enjoy:
- Honest rifle testing
- Load development
- Custom rifle builds
- Real-world troubleshooting
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Final Thoughts: Custom Builds Aren’t Always Glamorous
Social media usually shows:
- The success
- The tiny groups
- The highlights
But this video showed something better:
👉 Reality.
And honestly?
That’s what makes it valuable.
Because anybody building custom rifles long enough will eventually run into:
- Weird problems
- Mechanical failures
- Expensive setbacks
The difference is:
👉 Most people don’t show it.