Gunsmithing diy bolt work

[boudin]

Now, I realize there's a world of difference between working on a precision rifle and doing a 25 cent trigger job on a glock, but is there anything one could do on a remington 700 bolt with a dremel and polishing wheel that would smooth up how the bolt cycles... like cleaning up the surfaces which ride along the rails and the back of the lugs? The coating on my ADL SPS feels like it still imparts a good bit of friction, even after lots of dry firing/cycling, around 80 shots fired through it and routine cleaning/oiling. I just like to tinker and am wondering what could possibly be negatively effected by such a process.

 

[deadly0311]

Re: diy bolt work

yes you could negatively affect your headspace, i wouldnt touch the back of the lugs, just sit down with your favorite TV show, and cycle the action a few hundred times.

 

[USMCj]

Re: diy bolt work

best way is to dry cycle it some more with some grease on the rear of the lugs. It need some time to wear in and smooth out.

 

[AWGunS]

Re: diy bolt work

The Dremel tool is the best and the fastest way to screw up any firearm.

You might be able to clena up the ways a little with a wood block and some sandpaper, but for the bolt lugs, there is nothing you can really do. Strip it completely, true the receiver, threads, then clean up the lugs, reset headspace and rebarrel (or set your factory barrel back) would be the correct way to address it.

 

[boudin]

Re: diy bolt work

Beach, how about some steel wool wrapped around a skinny dowel. would steel wool be too agressive?

 

[chaser_2332]

Re: diy bolt work

put down the dremel and step away from the rifle

 

[pj68]

Re: diy bolt work

Guys,
I heard of an old timer that used oil and graphite to smooth up the feel of the bolt. dunno if it actually works as i have never tried it myself. Might be worth a try though.

SOTA

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: diy bolt work

The only time a dremel is used is on the stock for little cleanup from bedding and such. Wont go near the action with it.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: diy bolt work

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boudin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beach, how about some steel wool wrapped around a skinny dowel. would steel wool be too agressive? </div></div>

How about you think about trying the advice given above and stop trying to fix, with the WRONG TOOL, a problem that does not exist!

If you actually use your rifle (or at least work the action repeatedly) it will smooth itself out.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: diy bolt work

A smooth bolt is often the goal of the man who thinks too much and shoots too little. Invert the priorities and the problem, if it actually exists, will solve itself.

Bolt lug contact is one of those areas where far too little change makes far too much difference. Wear from shooting alone will provide whatever improvement is needed, and trying to accelerate that wear can far too easily have bad outcomes.

I have yet to discover an instance where a 'smooth bolt' did anything realistic to improve accuracy or significantly aid overall performance.

Use it. Use it a lot; that's all the improvement it needs.

Greg

 

[81Z4ME]

Re: diy bolt work

If you ever truly need to use it you won't notice the bolt dragging.

I like my M1917 Enfields (favorite iron sight BA rifles to shoot because I'm a big guy and they fit me better) and my 03A4. I used to shoot them a lot, at targets mostly. I know a guy who shoots an 03A3 in High Power, because he likes to. I took my Eddystone to the range one day to show him. When he worked the bolt I thought he was going to break it!! My first thought was "oh shit!!! He's trying to break something!!! Then I realized two things. First, he's working the bolt in a hurry, just like you would if you were really using it for serious purposes and second, there's no way he's gonna break that M1917 Enfield. I'm sure he didn't notice the bolts/rails weren't smooth and polished, except by the use of that rifle by who knows how many people over the years.

 

[boudin]

Re: diy bolt work

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I should clarify, Im not poised and ready for action with the dremel or anything. It was just a question asked out of curiosity. And I probobly am guilty of thinking more than I shoot... one of the unfortunate circumstances of living on a newly married/college student budget. Ill stick to what I've been doing though... ACTUALLY USING the rifle through lots of dry firing and cycling and shooting 'er as much as I can.

Dont worry... THE DREMEL IS PUT FAR FAR AWAY!

Thanks
Luke

 

[Guest]

Re: diy bolt work

If you only range shoot, a very light coat of grease on the bolt will work wonders, when breaking in a new action. If you going to the field or shooting comps remove it all, and either use a light coat of graphite or rub a # 2 pencil on it, as well as the raceways.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: diy bolt work

OK, glad we got this far...

Now, go out and get yourself a reasonably well made .22LR bolt action repeater and a nice, relatively inexpensive variable scope.

Shoot heck out of it. Hitting the target is hitting the target, period; and being young, newly married, and in college; the .22LR will serve you multiple many times better than the centerfire rifle ever could at this stage of your life.

Greg

 

[boudin]

Re: diy bolt work

Yeah, that has been my intention in refurbishing an old Sears and Roebuck 22 (which is actually a marlin model 81, pre-serial # years) thats been in my dad's gun cabinent for longer than I've been alive. It was given to him, but never used as it was missing a safety and would slam fire pretty consistently. So, not having the money to buy a 22 (or possibly just having too much of a desire to learn how to take a gun apart and work on it), i decided to take the neglected rifle home with me to try to unlock some of it's hidden potential. With a few replacement springs and a little attention with the dremel (

... shhhhhhh) I have gotten rid of the slam firing and am now on the hunt for the remaining replacement safety parts, which is hit-or-miss due to availabillity. The marlin project has also been a way for me to keep my hands off the remington 700 .243, which is the first gun I have ever purchased with my own money under the premise of it being a LONNNNNNNG-term project which will be done properly... ie. truing, re-barreling, etc. I still hope to be able to be as involved in the building of my remmy as possible, but while under the assistance/instruction of someone like my friend Mr. Gradous.