What am I looking at here? Factory flaw?

[Artist]

My buddy has a new Savage Axis .308 Win. purchased from Cabelas.

- When a round is chambered, closing the bolt already feels a 'tad' tight.
(Factory Federal Ammo)

- After the round is fired, the bolt will lift [albeit quite stiff], but the brass will not extract - it's jammed - tight.

- To extract the brass, a cleaning rod down the bore with some light taps dislodges the brass.

- The extracted brass shows significant scoring.

- When I look into the chamber, about half-inch into the bore, I see a ring / step in the chamber-wall. [see photos]. Some of the scoring on the brass coincides with the location of the ring in the chamber.

- I'm not a gunsmith, but to see a ring in the chamber-wall seems abnormal. To me, that chamber should be smooth like glass.

- The brass-primer area seems to show a bit of a hotter load, but I don't think hot enough to indicate over pressure. Ammo is factory Federal [not handloads].

The gun was properly cleaned before use.

Is this a faulty-cut chamber?

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Artist

My buddy has a new Savage Axis .308 Win. purchased from Cabelas.

- When a round is chambered, closing the bolt already feels a 'tad' tight.
(Factory Federal Ammo)

- After the round is fired, the bolt will lift [albeit quite stiff], but the brass will not extract - it's jammed - tight.

- To extract the brass, a cleaning rod down the bore with some light taps dislodges the brass.

- The extracted brass shows significant scoring.

- When I look into the chamber, about half-inch into the bore, I see a ring / step in the chamber-wall. [see photos]. Some of the scoring on the brass coincides with the location of the ring in the chamber.

- I'm not a gunsmith, but to see a ring in the chamber-wall seems abnormal. To me, that chamber should be smooth like glass.

- The brass-primer area seems to show a bit of a hotter load, but I don't think hot enough to indicate over pressure. Ammo is factory Federal [not handloads].

The gun was properly cleaned before use.

Is this a faulty-cut chamber?

Hopefully the vendor swaps it out for you, a place like Prophet River would. The chamber is defective. If you bought at Cabela's or the like you will have to send it to Savage warranty depot here in Canada. Best of luck.