Winchester Model 70 Bolt wouldn't close.

[puma guy]

I get in my deer stand this morning and begin my ritual to prepare for the hunt while waitinusually the coorst I grab my Model 70 Winchester .270 and insert the magazine. I open the bolt to chamber a round of Federal Premium 130 gr Sierra Boat Tail Softpoint ammunition and whoa! The bolt won't close. I pull the bolt back and try again. No go! I drop the magazine and try to close the bolt. Nope! Won't close. I try to force it gently but it's stopping dead. I remove the bolt and feel inside the receiver for any blockage. None felt. Ah! I remember I have a cigarette lighter for my little LPG heater. I use it to see what's going on but I just can't figure out what is keeping the bolt form closing. Out of desperation I put the magazine in push the bolt forward forcefully and get the bolt to begin pushing a cartridge forward, but it comes to a dead stop. I have to drop the mag, pull the bolt back try to figure out if the cold is somehow causing the bolt release to interfere or maybe there's some grease (I don't grease my guns but I was desperate to figure it out and grasping at straws) I decided to wait an hour for enough light to see what was going on. Now I know this is a long post but bear with me because I will be revealing how stupid I can be sometimes. Occam's Razor tells us the simplest solution/explanation is usually the right one. I have opened the windows on my blind waiting for daylight. So to kill time I use my binoculars to look out on the flat in front of my blind and seethe silhouettes a couple of deer in the predawn grey. Finally there's enough light to open the door on my blind (scaring the deer) and see what's going on with my rifle. I go through the same ritual to get the bolt closed with out success. Then a ton of bricks falls on me inside my blind. My very expensive Zeiss scope is equipped with bikini style lens covers with solid plastic covers attached to the rubber straps. I'm thinking no way that could be the problem. But I am stupidly wrong! The bolt handle is barely hitting the ocular cover enough to bind the bolt and stop it's forward movement. I take the cover off and the bolt smoothly (I have a controlled feed Model 70) chambers the round and I am ready to hunt. The deer are gone and I sit there wondering if they are going to return when I hear a familiar Boom-Whop from the direction of my brother's stand. I wait for a text message and sure enough "hey, can you come over and help me drag this deer down the hill?" He shot a completely black (melanistic) eight point buck. I learned a very valuable lesson.
Here's his deer.

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[Jusme]

Hey we have all been there Puma Guy!!

I got a small piece of wire (still don't know where it came from) caught in my pump shotgun between the barrel and mag tube, and between the forend and receiver. I fired at a dove went to cycle it, and nothing I had no problem chambering the first round. I was there with a fired round in the chamber, and no way to eject it. Several dove were flying by ( I swear I saw some pointing and laughing) In my haste I was looking for everything I could, thinking I had a bent ejector rod, maybe the brass had dislodged and hung in the chamber, I didn't know, I was about ready to call of my hunt when I saw the wire. Small, straight, just the right size to wedge in and lock everything up. Needle nose pliers and a screwdriver removed it and I was back in business. I had walked through some brush and crossed a fence, leaning my shotgun against it, so I can only assume it came off of the fence or fence post.

[puma guy]

Hey we have all been there Puma Guy!!

I got a small piece of wire (still don't know where it came from) caught in my pump shotgun between the barrel and mag tube, and between the forend and receiver. I fired at a dove went to cycle it, and nothing I had no problem chambering the first round. I was there with a fired round in the chamber, and no way to eject it. Several dove were flying by ( I swear I saw some pointing and laughing) In my haste I was looking for everything I could, thinking I had a bent ejector rod, maybe the brass had dislodged and hung in the chamber, I didn't know, I was about ready to call of my hunt when I saw the wire. Small, straight, just the right size to wedge in and lock everything up. Needle nose pliers and a screwdriver removed it and I was back in business. I had walked through some brush and crossed a fence, leaning my shotgun against it, so I can only assume it came off of the fence or fence post.

Yes it's those little things. Somehow some of my post must have disappeared while I was writing. The reason I was fumbling in the dark is because I forgot my flashlight. I don't know if the deer were laughing at me or not.