Gunsmithing Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

AtownBcat

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 19, 2009
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Aledo, Texas
Hey guys, I was at the range today and had a round that I suspect needed to FL sized and was pretty tight. Bolt would not close or open so I put some pressure to it and the joint broke. Who out there does this kind of repair? The bolt did open so it is not stuck. Thanks.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

I have used Dan with good results. Nate seems to come highly recomended here also.


LOL or put in a call to Bolt, I think he is working off commision with some shops
grin.gif
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

Dan's40x is quite egotistical, I would not recommend him. I know some folks have had good luck, and bully for them, but IMO he is not an asset to the shooting community with his bad attitude. He has said some pretty rude things about the hide on other boards. YMMV.

Nate Dagley is top notch, he would be a great choice. Also see about Hooper, he's doing the screw-on handle mod and might be able to repair yours at the same time. Also check with kampfeld kustom, i'm not sure if he does tig or not but he does bolt mods so he might.

I would suggest having it tig welded this time, or having the screws put in at the very least. The solder joints are hit & miss on remmys, and while many people never have an issue, I don't particularly trust them.

 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

I'm wondering if welding the bolt handle on should maybe be done on any serious use Remington 700. I understand that this problem isn't common but it seems to happen enough to cause concern = 'can I trust this rifle?'.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

G5, I'll be honest with you, this one is on me. Now it might be a good idea if you add a heavier bolt handle to add some strength to the joint, but smacking a stuck bolt with a rubber mallet(with a heavier knob) is bad for
the bolt....I know I'm a dumbass.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: g5</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm wondering if welding the bolt handle on should maybe be done on any serious use Remington 700. I understand that this problem isn't common but it seems to happen enough to cause concern = 'can I trust this rifle?'. </div></div>

Ripped one off a rifle once, and your thoughts are similar to mnie. I was glad my ass wasn't on the line, since then I have been buying rifles with a one piece bolt (surgeon).
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AtownBcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">G5, I'll be honest with you, this one is on me. Now it might be a good idea if you add a heavier bolt handle to add some strength to the joint, but smacking a stuck bolt with a rubber mallet(with a heavier knob) is bad for
the bolt....I know I'm a dumbass. </div></div>

I think it's just a matter of the strength of the silver brazed joint. It doesn't always have good flow of the molten silver brazing when it's heated and if you ever break a soldered, or in this case brazed, joint you will often see areas where the soldering just didn't attach to both pieces of metal. Thus a weaker joint than was planned.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AtownBcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">G5, I'll be honest with you, this one is on me. Now it might be a good idea if you add a heavier bolt handle to add some strength to the joint, but smacking a stuck bolt with a rubber mallet(with a heavier knob) is bad for
the bolt....I know I'm a dumbass. </div></div>

In the first post it said "applied some pressure", then it went to "smacking with a rubber mallet". Can someone please tell me why you would do that? You already said your a dumbass, so I'm not going to call anyone names, I'm just wondering why on earth you'd do that to a remington 700(or any bolt rifle for that matter), something that can typically be cycled with two fingers.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JML403</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AtownBcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">G5, I'll be honest with you, this one is on me. Now it might be a good idea if you add a heavier bolt handle to add some strength to the joint, but smacking a stuck bolt with a rubber mallet(with a heavier knob) is bad for
the bolt....I know I'm a dumbass. </div></div>

In the first post it said "applied some pressure", then it went to "smacking with a rubber mallet". Can someone please tell me why you would do that? You already said your a dumbass, so I'm not going to call anyone names, I'm just wondering why on earth you'd do that to a remington 700(or any bolt rifle for that matter), something that can typically be cycled with two fingers.

</div></div>
Ok so the first post I was trying to save a little of my pride...The round is still in the gun,(but the bolt came out) believe me there is no two finger cycle...It was stuck!! The bolt half closed and then would not fully close or open? I tried to use a wooden dowl to punch the round free...no go! Im gonna have to go see someone who doesnt use rubber mallots or wooden dowls...
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

Oh man, that stinks... I misread your post and thought you were using the mallot to close the bolt then fire the rounds. I understand the frustration, I used to get bolts stuck closed once and a while on some of my surplus toys. Good luck with the fix!
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: A10XRIFLE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We still Silver Braze them and I have a guy local to me that Tig Welds for a living. I have been using him and he does some excelent work. </div></div>

I wonder what the relative strength is between the two types of attachment. I would expect the tig joint to be significantly stronger,at least if done well, but wonder what the real strength difference is.
And I don't have any sacrificial bolts or any way to measure the strength of the joints anyway.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

There is no dought that the tig welded joint is stronger. But in those Video's the brazed joint was a bad joint to start with you can see the voids in the braze and heat was applied improperly. If the silver brazed joint is with 55-70% sil. and done correctly it "should" never have issues. Hell the USMC and the Army and Navy all still use Brazed Bolt handles. They shoot issue ammo and thats where the real difference is. 99% of the time when a handle comes off its a hot stuck case or an unsized case stuck in a rifle. A Mallet, 2x4, or bootheel is always the real reason for the breakage.
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

Dont know if you've made your mind up yet but you can get replacement bolt handles and most of them can be soldered on. i would use a high strength solder like silver or an equivalent. i know most major gunsmithing websites sell both items
 
Re: Broken Rem 700 Bolt Handle... Options?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bcw1284</div><div class="ubbcode-body">g5, look on Nate Dagley's website (straight shot gunsmithing). He used to have a video of him breaking bolt handles with hammers to show the tig strength. </div></div>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaFBm5PF22M&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU4YOPuAcgI&feature=player_embedded
</div></div>

Thanks for the links. I'll look at them later. Filtered now.