Gunsmithing How to measure action for barrel fitting?

[OnyxSkyDV]

Getting ready to fit / chamber my first barrel, and having the trigger off of the Rem700 action after cleaning it up, I put the bolt back in and grabbed the depth indicator to measure the bolt face and lugs to the front of the receiver distance.

However I notice that there is some slop in the bolt, and of course my measurements are different depending if I push the bolt forward to it's limits, or pull it to the rear.

Is it safe to assume that the measurements should be with the bolt to the rear as far as it will fit, as that would have the lugs against the recesses and not gapped forward?

Thanks for the verification!


Onyx

 

[ugsly]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Yes, you want the bolt back against the lugs.

Kc

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Thanks for the verification!


Onyx

 

[Jkob60]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Make sure you strip the bolt, take out the firing pin assembly and the ejector pin. The latter will affect your feel on the go gauge when chambering. The measurement from bolt face should be made with the recoil lug on the face of the receiver.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Ok, thanks for the input!

let me ask a question, why measure the distance to bolt face with the recoil lug on the receiver as opposed to depth gauging to the bolt face from the receiver and then mic'ing the recoil lug and then adding that #? Would you get a different number?

Thanks for the help, this is a never ending flow of new information as I learn how to do all of this. Good times though.

Onyx

 

[Aeon1]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

This book may not be the final word but it is a good foundation to work from for re-barreling, action truing, etc...He covers many different methods, shows tooling, etc...

http://www.brownells.com/books-videos/books/gunsmithing-books/rifle-gunsmithing-books/the-complete-illustrated-guide-to-precision-rifle-barrel-fitting-prod6915.aspx?avs|Manufacturer_1=JOHN%20HINNANT

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Agreed!

Onyx

 

[hero's machine]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onyx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, thanks for the input!

let me ask a question, why measure the distance to bolt face with the recoil lug on the receiver as opposed to depth gauging to the bolt face from the receiver and then mic'ing the recoil lug and then adding that #? Would you get a different number?

Thanks for the help, this is a never ending flow of new information as I learn how to do all of this. Good times though.

Onyx

</div></div>

You can do that, but it takes more time and introduces potential math error. It is really simple to toss the lug on and spin the mic down.

There is 50 other ways to measure this up, but keep it simple and your odds of error go down.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hero's machine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
There is 50 other ways to measure this up, but keep it simple and your odds of error go down. </div></div>

Good point, and thanks for the details, I appreciate it!

Onyx

 

[Jkob60]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onyx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agreed!

Onyx </div></div>

And don't use that digital caliper for measuring, as a depth mic it ain't accurate enough.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim Kobe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

And don't use that digital caliper for measuring, as a depth mic it ain't accurate enough. </div></div>

No worries, I tried that before I got my depth gauge, and immediately knew it was crap for that.

I just didn't want to post the pic with my fowler depth gauge in there, figured you guys would laugh at me.

(I admit it is cheap, but I figured it will hold me till I can get a nice one used)

Onyx

 

[eddieharren]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

Do yourself a big favor and buy quality measuring devices. If you pay peanuts, you usually get monkeys.

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Re: How to measure action for barrel fitting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DocEd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do yourself a big favor and buy quality measuring devices. If you pay peanuts, you usually get monkeys. </div></div>

I understand, and am working on it. I have some starrets and I am building up my tooling, but as a guy who is making no money from this, I can't go out and get it all in one fell swoop.

I'll get there, but it takes time. Heck, already ahead of the game with a lathe and a mill.

Onyx