DLC- bolt only or action and bolt?

[Sendit6.5]

I’m ordering a new SR3 from Bighorn and I’m not sure whether to spend the extra money on having the action DLC’d? The bolt comes DLC coated either way. My other custom actions are Defiance and one is uncoated and the other is Nitrided- bolt and action. I love the rifles but I’m hoping for a lot slicker feel with this SR3. I thought I read somewhere that things will be slicker with 2 different coatings. Not sure if that’s right but I’d be totally fine with a DLC coated bolt and having the action body and barrel Cerakoted. Seems like THAT would give the best environmental protection and let me pick whatever color I want aesthetically. But, my #1 concern is having a smooth action! So, what’s the best way to go - bolt only or DLC the bolt AND the action body?


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[47guy]

id suggest both...i have a Curtis custom thats fully DLC'd and its slick...400 rounds through it and no signs of ware.

 

[Sheldon N]

I've got two TL-3 actions and both are DLC coated. I would suggest you DLC the action body only. The Bighorn bolt is coated with NP3 and is great as-is, especially combined with the DLC coated action. My primary match rifle action with about 3k rounds and 15k dry fires is incredibly slick. Let another guy try it at a match yesterday and he said it was the smoothest action he's ever felt. My newer action is still getting broken it but it's right up there with it.

 

[Sendit6.5]

id suggest both...i have a Curtis custom thats fully DLC'd and its slick...400 rounds through it and no signs of ware.

Yeah, I know it’s a good coating and I’m not worried about I wearing. I’ve just heard mixed points of view on whether to coat both action components or just one. Those Curtis actions are sweet! I almost used it instead; but this is going to be a Switchlug rifle and the interchangeable bolt heads on the Bighorn will be better for this build.


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[47guy]

love the axiom action!!

like i say id do both...i fondled a couple of mausingfeilds and one other...i want to say a TL2 it been awhile but they were all fully coated and i dont think you could bind any of them if you tried...took me a minute to get use the the axiom as ive been shooting a micro slicked 591 for several years...the surgeon is going to a new home i think.

 

[padom]

There is no benfit coating the bolt as it already comes NP3 coated from Bighorn. I also have 2 Bighorn TL3's with DLC action and NP3 bolt. Slick as snot.

 

[craigos]

I've got two TL-3 actions and both are DLC coated. I would suggest you DLC the action body only. The Bighorn bolt is coated with NP3 and is great as-is, especially combined with the DLC coated action. My primary match rifle action with about 3k rounds and 15k dry fires is incredibly slick. Let another guy try it at a match yesterday and he said it was the smoothest action he's ever felt. My newer action is still getting broken it but it's right up there with it.

this .... and if you are using Chad then have him polish the raceways etc

 

[Sheldon N]

this .... and if you are using Chad then have him polish the raceways etc

In hindsight I wished I'd had him polish the raceways with my second action. It's smoothing up with use but I think would have been nicer sooner if I'd done that.

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

+1 on just the action. Like others have said, the bolt is already NP3 coated, so It's a little redundant to coat it again with DLC imo. Also I've heard people say they don't notice the difference between just DLCing the bolt/action and keeping the other surface stainless, as long as one surface is DLCd, they tend to run about as slick as one another, and that has also been my experience, at least with a Defiance action. Maybe because Defiance uses a polished stainless finish idk. I just ordered a Curtis Axiom and I just have the bolt DLCd, leaving the action stainless. If for some reason I feel like it's not as slick as it could be, I could always send the action in to get DLCd too.

If you are getting it coated through Club Custom Guns (Chad) I also recommend you have him polish up the raceways for ya, makes em' even better!

 

[Sendit6.5]

Thanks guys! I misunderstood and thought the bolt was DLC coated. If the bolt is NP3 then IÂ’ll go ahead and DLC coat the action and IÂ’m going to ask Clayton (WTO) to polish the raceways.

YÂ’allÂ’s comments kind of confirm what my original concern was - running 2 DLCÂ’d parts against each other is NOT as good as running one DLC coated part against a bare or other type of coating. Somehow I just thought that the Bighorn website said that the bolts come DLC coated already; but I canÂ’t find it now and I trust yÂ’all WAY more than my own memory!! Lol!

FWIW - I’m ordering directly from Bighorn so they’re taking care of the coating. Not sure who does their coating.

Thanks again!


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[darrenk75b]

If you are ordering directly from Bighorn, the DLC is a no-cost option.

If you are sending an action in to Bighorn for DLC, the cost is $75, and they are stating a 4-6 week turn-around time.

 

[Sendit6.5]

If you are ordering directly from Bighorn, the DLC is a no-cost option.

If you are sending an action in to Bighorn for DLC, the cost is $75, and they are stating a 4-6 week turn-around time.

Noted. I thought that when I originally decided to go this route (months ago) that it was an option that cost extra. I either misread or it’s since changed. Thanks for pointing that out - just saved me some $$ in my mind! Lol!


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[Danrobberg]

They said as of November 1st it is a no cost option. I’m having them dlc my action I just ordered from them. I wonder if they offer an option of having the raceways polished.