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Gunsmithing Remington 700 stiff bolt

-paradox-

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 15, 2013
100
1
Hey guys I just got a remington 700 AAC-sd. 60 rounds down the pipe so far and 200 dry fires or so. The bolt is still reeeally stiff. Only after I pull the trigger though and lift the bolt handle. I have to really muscle it to lift the bolt handle. Any ideas? I pulled the bolt apart and cleaned it and lubed still rough.

Hard to tell but looks like there's a burr on the edge of where the bolt catch runs. It's only when the spring is being pulled though that it's really hard to lift.

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Looks like your stock is making contact with your bolt handle?....

My fathers stock (HS PRECISION) was tight around the handle area... We had to open it up a little and it allowed the handle to be lowered and lifted with no contact after that...

It had the same feeling.... Smooth till you had to close the bolt.
 
It did make contact when i first got it but it's not the culprit. If the firing pin is cocked I can lift and lower the bolt handle no problem. It's after I pull the trigger it takes a ridiculous amount of effort to lift the handle. Almost like it's too heavy of a firing pin spring.. It actually feels worse after I took the bolt apart and put it back together.
 
Just a clarifucation question: is the bolt hard to lift after both a dry fire trigger pull AND a live fire? Or just after live fire?

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk
 
Just a clarifucation question: is the bolt hard to lift after both a dry fire trigger pull AND a live fire? Or just after live fire?

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk

Live and dry fire. So I don't think its headspace.
 
I see paint on the bolt handle. Is there paint on the cocking piece and bolt shroud? That has caused problems like that for me in the past.
 
Nah it's not the paint. I removed the paint on the bearing surfaces. Like I said its only when I cock the firing pin that I really have to man handle it. After the trigger is pressed I can literally lift up the rifle by the bolt handle without it camming over. Is that a normal amount of force for a 700?
 
Get a bright colored Sharpie and mark all surfaces that could possibly be rubbing. Put bolt in and work it 5-10 times. Remove and see what is rubbing.
 
If you put dykem or sharpie and find where its dragging, put some lapping compound on that area and work it a little. Clean it off and see if that helps smooth it out.

Kc
 
My sps tactical was kinda stuff too when I first got it. Put some white lithium Grease on the bolt and worked it about a hundred times while watching tv. Decently smooth now
 
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You have a burr on the end of the firing pin spring so when you go to open the bolt this burr catches the inside of the firing pin tunnel. Take the spring off the firing pin and grind down the sharp edges on the very ends of the spring. That should cure your problem
 
I'll give that a shot thanks. I read a lot of folks polish the cocking cam too. Has anyone put lapping compound on the cocking cam surface and worked the bolt a few times?
 
Moly grease on the cam, or polish it and the striker cam surface with some 2000 grit paper wrapped on a popsicle stick if the moly doesn't help. Available at auto paint supply stores.
 
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Looks like the cocking cam is gauled, happened to me when one of my Remmys went dry. I stoned mine very carefully, then greased it. Each time I clean the rifle I put a dab of tetra gun on the cam. Sucks when that happens, as the whole frickin rifle want to cam over when you try to load a round.
 
Looks like the cocking cam is gauled, happened to me when one of my Remmys went dry. I stoned mine very carefully, then greased it. Each time I clean the rifle I put a dab of tetra gun on the cam. Sucks when that happens, as the whole frickin rifle want to cam over when you try to load a round.

That is what is sounds like to me. Do you have an aftermarket trigger???? My timney sear sat a little high. I filed it, stoned, and grease it after shooting.
 
Hey guys so I polished it a bit and cycled it a bunch and the cocking piece is still digging a ditch on the camming surface even with grease. Any idea how to remedy this?

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