Bolt handle question

[banks74]

So I have a Gap Crusader. My problem is that after learning to shoot a little better and learning a bunch from the online training here, now when I properly position my hand for the trigger the bolt knob is in the way.

I am not sure getting a new knob would cure the problem. I have pretty big mitts and it looks like the handle might be in the way also.

So I guess my question is does anyone know of a bent handle for a 700 clone action?

Or any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

 

[xNF_9]

Re: Bolt handle question

I have the same problem.... Hopefully someone can help us out.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

hopefully so

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

anyone???

 

[seanmyhre]

Re: Bolt handle question

Banks, talk to Hoser down in Colorado Springs. He will probably know what has been done in the past for this issue, or know who to talk to about it.

He's easiest to get in touch with at Whistling Pines Gun Club, CO Springs. It's in the book.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

Thanks I will give that a try. I have his contact info, so I will give that a try.

Thanks

 

[Hateca]

Re: Bolt handle question

Your trigger finger or hand is hitting the bolt knob with a straight bolt handle? If this is the case I'm not sure a bent handle is going to help you. It's usually the other way around.

Sounds like you might need a longer bolt handle.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

Correct. When I try to get my finger into a perfect 90 degrees, my knuckle hits the bolt knob. I can take a picture if that would help to show what I mean.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Bolt handle question

I am pretty close to this issue with a Badger knob. My knuckle will graze the bottom of the knob. While it does not impact my accuracy it's distracting.

My solution? I leave the stock Remington handle/knob alone. It has worked just fine for me for a long time.

You may want to contact one of the knob manufacturers here and see if they can make you a shorter knob for your current handle. Just make sure whatever you do won't cause scope clearance problems. When you move the handle away from the finger you are inadvertantly moving it close to the ocular bell in the fully unlocked position.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Bolt handle question

Maybe one of these would help, not sure what you're running now.

Mini knob

Med knob

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: Bolt handle question

try the thinner/longer knobs, i have found they work alot better for me also. i am 6'5" so have rather large hands and had the exact same problem you are having.

the med knob hateCA has is great

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

LoneWolfUSMC: Thanks for the advice. I may have to try a standard rem knob on my next one. I am not a good enough shooter yet to know if it is just distracting me or if it is affecting my accuracy. I am unable to get my finger into a perfect 90 or even close with the current knob. So from my understanding from the online lessons here, I guess it is affecting my accuracy.

Diggler44: I will check out the med knob from HateCA. Ya I am 6'5"-6'6" ish as well with 2x or 3x size hands depending on the gloves I am buying. So it sounds like we have the same problem.

HateCA: Here is a couple pic of the knob and the issues I am having.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Bolt handle question

Try to get a pic of you in a firing position.

It almost looks as if you are choking up way high on the stock.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

LWUSMC: Ya that wasn't my normal grip. Just a crappy one I had for the pic. Here is a shoot position pic. (Still not a great grip, still tryin to learn)

 

[Elxx]

Re: Bolt handle question

Man you got some big ol hands. So what you really want is a bolt handle that isn't swept back. I'm sure there is something on Brownells. Ill edit this post in a second if I find something.

Edit: http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/products/parts/remington.htm

Bottom of the page, second to last and last. I think those are straight (not swept back). I'd get the threaded one because I'm betting you can take the knob off the bolt handle you have now and just screw it onto the new one.

Edit again: Oops didn't see Hate's bolt handles, those would work too.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Bolt handle question

Ok you don't need a bent handle (swept back), you already have that, what you want is a straight handle. Looking at the pics this would fix your problem. Either that or my little mini knob would work.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

ELxx: thanks for the link, I will check it out.

HateCA: PM headed your way.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Bolt handle question

a buddy has big hands and the knuckle of his trigger finger hit the knob on the stiller tac30. i machined him a small knob real quick and that solved the problem. i think i'd try a smaller knob before i went through the trouble of having a straight handle put on.

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

Problem Solved!!!

Randy from R&D Precision hooked me up with his "mini knob." The knob feels great, I love the shape of it. Feels great in the hands. The reduced size of the knob fixed the problem completely.

If you are having the same issue or just looking for a new bolt knob definitely check out Randy's stuff. The knob is top notch and he was super helpful in assisting me with this issue. Thanks again Randy.

Stay tuned pics to follow!!

 

[banks74]

Re: Bolt handle question

Here is the pics of the fix!!

Before:

After:

Thanks again to Randy (R&D Precision)!! If you are having the same issue as I was, give him a shout!

 

[Aries64]

Re: Bolt handle question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: banks74</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I have a Gap Crusader. My problem is that after learning to shoot a little better and learning a bunch from the online training here, now when I properly position my hand for the trigger the bolt knob is in the way.

I am not sure getting a new knob would cure the problem. I have pretty big mitts and it looks like the handle might be in the way also.

So I guess my question is does anyone know of a bent handle for a 700 clone action?

Or any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help. </div></div>
I just saw this thread, and I see that you installed one of Randy's Short Bolt knobs. Another thing that you could have done is to have <span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span> install a Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion. The conversion involves adding a hardened steel threaded stud that is TIG welded onto the bolt handle, which actually slightly lengthens the bolt handle. This will increase the clearance between your trigger finger and the bolt knob, as well as getting you a larger, easier-to-grasp bolt knob.

<span style="font-style: italic">Rob01</span> here has big mitts too and suffered from the same problem you had. Then Mike Rescigno of Tac Ops replaced the Badger knob on <span style="font-style: italic">Rob01</span>'s rifle with one of his Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversions (which, BTW - was built by a well-known Hide gunsmith), and that gave Rob01 enough clearance that the problem was eliminated. Rob's bolt handle had been shortened when the Badger knob was installed, but the Tac Ops BKC still provided enough extra length to the bolt handle to solve Rob's clearance issue.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pinkMiST aG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the same problem.... Hopefully someone can help us out. </div></div>
Contact <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">monteboy84</span></span> here on the Hide' or over at Sniper Central. <span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span> (Matt) uses the Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion. Check-out the photos below I borrowed from <span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Some bolt knob install pictures</span></span> to see some great photos of the steps required to <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">correctly and cleanly</span></span> install a Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion, which is NOT a DYI install. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span></span> doesn't work fo Tac Ops, but he has done more than a hundred Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversions and he has it down. The only guy that has done more TOBKCs' is Mike Rescigno at Tac Ops - those numbers in the <span style="font-style: italic">thousands</span>.

As I mentioned above, the Tac Ops Bolt Conversion actually adds more clearance by lengthening the bolt handle slightly through the installation of a hardened, threaded steel "bung". This is preferred over shortening the bolt handle as with most other knobs because <span style="font-weight: bold">shortening the bolt handle reduces the operating clearance between the shooter's trigger finger and bolt knob/stock as well as the clearance between the shooter's fingers and the scope's ocular bell.</span>

If you want a short bolt handle like you get with other bolt handle installs the bolt handle just needs to be cut a bit shorter before the "bung" is TIG welded on. However, shortening the bolt handle somewhat defeats the purpose of changing the bolt knob because you are actually decreasing the <span style="font-style: italic">working clearance</span> between the scope's ocular bell and your fingers

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span>'s photos of Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversions in progress:</span>

For post grinding & sanding / pre-finishing photos of bolt handles see <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span></span>'s <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Re: Some bolt knob install pictures</span></span> thread. The bolts are ground smooth and ready for finishing before re-bluing / coating.

Check-out my post below this one for some photos I shot of the bolt on my Tac Ops X-Ray 51 rifle, compared to a bolt knob conversion (and bolt) from a competitor on that competitor's rifle.

BTW, I can personally assure you that the Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion is extremely strong. I watched Mike Rescigno (Master gunsmith and Tac Ops President) work and slam the bolt closed hard about twenty (20) times attempting to slam-fire my X-Ray 51 after adjusting my trigger to my requested 2.5lbs pull. Barring any un-filled voids in the factory Remington bolt handle, unless you've had the bolt handle TIG welded onto the bolt, the bolt handle will break-off the bolt well before the bolt knob breaks.


Keith

 

[Aries64]

Re: Bolt handle question

Below are some photos of the bolt from my <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Tac Ops X-Ray 51</span></span>. The bolt is coated in Birdsong "Tac Ops" Green-T and Black-T. The first is a close up of the bolt knob on the rifle from the side, followed by a photo off of the rifle where you can see the seamless transition from the handle to the bolt knob.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Close up of the bolt knob on the rifle from the side:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Seamless, perfectly round transition from the (round) knob to bolt handle:</span></span>

For comparison below are a few photos' of a Tac Ops Bolt Knob installed on a RH SA M700 bolt and a competitor's bolt knob installed on a LH SA M700 bolt. Keep-in-mind that the competitor's bolt handle isn't even as short as most others, which are sometimes so short that the shooter can barely grasp the knob without fingers hitting the ocular bell.

Also, if for some strange reason someone actually wanted a shorter bolt handle like with nearly all other bolt knobs, this is easily accomplished by cutting the shank shorter before welding the threaded insert to the bolt handle. That said, compare the <span style="font-weight: bold">length of the handle and the diameter of the threaded shank</span> of the Tac Ops bolt to the length of the handle and the diameter of the threaded shank of the competitor's bolt:

<span style="font-weight: bold">Tac Ops bolt handle:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Competitor's bolt handle:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Competitor's Bolt (on left) and Tac Ops Bolt (on right):</span>

Now on the rifles. Getting the angle the same for both guns was tricky, so it may be difficult to see the actual clearance difference in in the photos. However, in person the clearance delta is substantial.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Look at the clearance between the bolt knob's "top" and the stock on this Tac Ops Bolt:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Compared to the clearance between the bolt knob's "top" and the stock on the competitor's bolt:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Also, look at the distance between the bolt knob's "bottom corner" and the grip on the Tac Ops rifle:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Compared to the distance between the bolt knob's "bottom corner" and the grip on the competitor's rifle:</span>

Keith

 

[Hateca]

Re: Bolt handle question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aries64</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just saw this thread, and I see that you installed one of Randy's Short Bolt knobs. Another thing that you could have done is to have <span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span> install a Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion. The conversion involves adding a hardened steel threaded stud that is TIG welded onto the bolt handle, which actually slightly lengthens the bolt handle. This will increase the clearance between your trigger finger and the bolt knob, as well as getting you a larger, easier-to-grasp bolt knob.


Keith </div></div>

That might have been an option but since this is a Templar action with an already longer threaded bolt handle the simple and easy fix was the smaller bolt knob.

And depending on the stock configuration the TAC OPS bolt knob can also get in the way as well so to say this is the best and only fix is a little self serving.

 

[Aries64]

Re: Bolt handle question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aries64</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just saw this thread, and I see that you installed one of Randy's Short Bolt knobs. Another thing that you could have done is to have <span style="font-style: italic">monteboy84</span> install a Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion. The conversion involves adding a hardened steel threaded stud that is TIG welded onto the bolt handle, which actually slightly lengthens the bolt handle. This will increase the clearance between your trigger finger and the bolt knob, as well as getting you a larger, easier-to-grasp bolt knob.


Keith </div></div>
</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That might have been an option but since this is a Templar action with an already longer threaded bolt handle the simple and easy fix was the smaller bolt knob.</div></div>
Roger that, Randy.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HateCA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And depending on the stock configuration the TAC OPS bolt knob can also get in the way as well so to say this is the best and only fix is a little self serving.
</div></div>
Randy, I've never seen or heard of an instance where the Tac Ops Bolt Knob Conversion (damn, lets just say TO BKC) <span style="font-style: italic">"got in the way"</span>. <span style="font-style: italic">And I'm sure that would have been posted.</span> <span style="font-style: italic">Self-serving?</span> I wouldn't say that, especially since that I don't work for Tac Ops. More like telling it like it is.


Keith