• The Shot You’ll Never Forget Giveaway - Enter To Win A Barrel From Rifle Barrel Blanks!

    Tell us about the best or most memorable shot you’ve ever taken. Contest ends June 13th and remember: subscribe for a better chance of winning!

    Join contest Subscribe

Gunsmithing How many shots has this bolt been through?

flyfisher117

flyfisher117

Professional Milk Jug Hunter
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 25, 2010
774
403
Idaho
#1
boltandcalls003.jpg


boltandcalls002.jpg


boltandcalls001.jpg


How many shots do you think its been through? would you believe me if i said its been fired maybe 30 times and cycled maybe 50-60 times??

i took the gun (a remington 700 SPS Tactical) into the gunsmight because its feed ramps were to sharp and were cutting into the casings... the smith then said that the bottom of the bolt was to rough so he buffed it and then "cold blued" it. when i got the gun back it lookd normal it looked like any other bolt ive seen. but now after shooting it 40 times since ive gotten it back it looks like that... that bolt to me looks like its been cycled thousands of times.

Im done with messing with this gun... is it possible to take it back to Cabelas and DEMAND a refund? they are the ones that sent it to that certain gunsmith im just sick and tired of the hassle and want my money back and ill upgrade to an AR-15.
 
#4
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<span style="text-decoration: line-through">You should have addressed the issue with Cabelas or Remington before you went the gun smith route.

Take it back to Cabelas, maybe you will get it past them and get an exchange...maybe.

If there is obvious tooling from the smith, Remington will know when it gets back to them and they inspect it. You might have shotteth your foot..eth, with the gun smith being the first course of action you took.

At least the hard learned lessons are usually only learned once.</span>

Disregard, didn't catch the part about Cabela's sending you to the smith.

Eek. Bad juju, take it back to the smith if Cabela's sent you there in the first place...which they shouldn't have done since it was obviously screwed from the factory.
 
#5
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Is that a shag carpet? My grandma used to have carpet that looked like that. Maybe it's a bathroom rug. Hopefully.

Sorry to hear your new gun isn't turning out the way you'd hoped. I personally have an almost zero gunsmithing policy. I know there are many outstanding smiths out there. I also know that for every great smith there are 1000 crappy ones. I have manufacturers work on my guns. If I new of a smith that I could trust that was local I might feel differently but unfortunately I don't.
 
#6
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Im done with messing with this gun... is it possible to take it back to Cabelas and DEMAND a refund? they are the ones that sent it to that certain gunsmith im just sick and tired of the hassle and want my money back and ill upgrade to an AR-15. </div></div>

um he said Cabelas sent him to the smith
 
#7
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

YEP, it is obviously been cycled many, many times. But without actually seeing the face it is impossible to tell how many times it has been fired and ejected a case.

IMHO
 
#8
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Alright heres the story:

I bought the gun brought it home shot 3 times and saw it was messing up the casings. I contacted Remington and they said take it back to cabelas and have them ship it to a smith in Oregon. so i did that got the smiths name number and address and had my mom drop it off at Cabelas they said ok but why are we sending it to Oregon when there is a good gunsmith right here in Boise and they sent it to him instead of the Oregon guy. I wrote a note of EXACTLY what the problem was and even included the brass that had been messed up for proof. So he fixed the feed rails they are great and he gave the gun back to cabelas and we got it back from them the bolt looked normal it had very slight wear marks like most bolts ive ever seen get. The smith then calls us and leaves a message saying what he did. and in the message he says something alone the lines of. "the bottom of the bolt was rough so i buffed it and made it smoother and then cold blued it" he NEVER called and asked if he could do that and i never mentioned that i wanted that fixed he just "fixed" it for me. I thought thats fine looks fine.

Then today im stripping the gun to nothing to clean it and I notice the bolt looks like the above pictures... i dont know what this "cold blueing" is but im pissed
 
#10
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

I guess it shoots well. all ive shot is cheapo 55 grain FMJ's out of it and im a pretty crappy shot but i was able to shoot a decent 3 inch group at 100 yards... at 50 yards i put 3 shots into a quarter sized circle.
 
#11
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jedi5150</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is that a shag carpet? My grandma used to have carpet that looked like that. Maybe it's a bathroom rug. Hopefully.

</div></div>
no lol my gun parts dont get thrown on the carpet thats my cleaning towel its just a standard bath towel
 
#12
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

I think the "cold blueing" is just wearing off take your finger nail and drag it lightly across the lugs where you can see the wear and feel if it is rough

he probably just sprayed you'r bolt with blue in a can , not the best
 
#13
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Cold blue is available at any Walmart and you get the results you pay for. If the rifle is solid and shoots/cycles as it should now then maybe just ask if you can get the bolt refinished. Or better yet get it done in an aftermarket self lubricating finish. Obviously its wrong that a new rifle had issues, but thanks to the retailer its now way too damned complicated. Hopefully Cabela's will make it right.
 
#14
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess it shoots well. all ive shot is cheapo 55 grain FMJ's out of it and im a pretty crappy shot but i was able to shoot a decent 3 inch group at 100 yards... at 50 yards i put 3 shots into a quarter sized circle. </div></div>

Try better ammo. If it still shoots 3 moa sell the pile.
 
#15
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Yes i know to try better ammo... me and my dad just havent had the time lately to work on some loads for it and see how it shoots..
 
#17
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kenda</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cold blue is available at any Walmart and you get the results you pay for. If the rifle is solid and shoots/cycles as it should now then maybe just ask if you can get the bolt refinished. Or better yet get it done in an aftermarket self lubricating finish. Obviously its wrong that a new rifle had issues, but thanks to the retailer its now way too damned complicated. Hopefully Cabela's will make it right. </div></div>

Well i was in talking to them last weekend and they said theyve sent a couple of guns out to him and the people havent been satisified with the job done and the one guy refused to accept his gun so i will go tell them and bring the gun and see what they do but its really making me mad... if the guy isnt doing his job i cant figure out why they are sending him guns...

Makes me want to become a gunsmith one day that is a true american and does the job the first time and does a better job than the factory
 
#18
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbateman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">so back to your bolt is it worn or just polishing the blue off ?

did you have a feel ?

</div></div>

i felt it and its smooth he did polish it smoother because i dont know if any of you have ever felt a 700 SPS tactical but it does have a rough matte black paint job on the barrel, action, and bolt and he did polish it smoother than it came from the factory but i have a feeling he rattle caned it with the spray on bluing like said above.
 
#19
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

ok so I think you are getting a bit worked up about it all

you bolt is going to wear , it is not going to look new for ever

take it back if that is what you want and it make you happy

maybe get you dad to shoot it or some other member of your family or group friends
that is a good marksman , I am not saying you are not a good marksman
just that it helps some times if you have a second opinion

is the wear just cosmetic or is it actually accelerated wear ?

Dave
 
#20
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Maybe I am maybe im not but i havent shot this gun yet i doubt ive even heated the barrel up enough to break it in but for what little bit ive used it and already the wear its showing is it going to stop now? i know they get signs of wear ive noticed that ever since i started cleaning my guns but when looking at my Ruger m77 bolt that has been cycled and fired well over 500 times and the bolt from the 700 shown above the Ruger bolt just has a few small scratches where the bolt makes contact with the action thats it for the most part and you can see what the 700 looks like.

its still to early to tell if its cosmetic or physical damage but what is it going to be like in 6 months? is it physical but by then is Cabelas just going to say "sorry youve owned it long enough now that its on your dime to get fixed it must be a user error as well"
 
#21
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

i highly doubt there is going to be any physical damage done 6 months from now. I have a 223 bolt that is damn near shiny silver, it started life looking just like that. Its fine, stop worrying so much over and go shoot some more.
 
#24
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

First... Why on Earth would he polish the bottom of the bolt for ANY reason? There's no reason the bottom of the bolt can't be rough. Second... To tell if the bolt has wear that will affect anything we would need to see the bolt-face, but even more importantly, the back side of the lugs because that's where all of the pressure is when you fire the rifle. Personally, I would stop sending it to anyone. Unfortunately, you've already found out that there are some gunsmiths out there that will leave you scratching your head wondering WTF they were thinking.

It doesn't look that bad to me. Looks like normal wear. If the bolt-face looks good and the lugs aren't galled just shoot it.
 
#25
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

I still fail to see a problem, but maybe I'm dense. You say you haven't really shot this rifle yet, but you found the wear when you were tearing it down for cleaning? Why are you cleaning a rifle that's barely been shot? What the outside of bolt looks like is of no consequence. Heck I have the same rifle, and my bolt shaft is almost completely shiny from about the first 1000 rounds. You have a non issue.
 
#26
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

I was coyote hunting stepped on a burried log and slipped down a hill... gun got dropped into 2 feet of fresh snow i stripped it all down and dried it all out and re oiled it.

and i KNOW they all get shiny but this ones getting very shiny very fast. maybe im makin a mountain out of a mole hill but i dont feel it should be getting so shiny so fast...
 
#27
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Having owned a SPS in .243, I know that the bolt shows wear at a pretty fast rate. The high points on the matte finish tend to wear off pretty quick exposing the metal. If this was a polished BDL bolt, then you would never noticing the polishing going on by the action on the bolt. It's just the nature of the beast with the SPS matte finish. It won't stay black very long. The gunsmith polished the bolt, which would have happened from normal use anyway. it just happens that his finish job is lacking durability. It won't affect the functioning of the gun.

However, he shouldn't have done anything that wasn't originally part of the work order without talking to you first.
 
#29
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

it happens, when you buy a 500 dollar rifle (SPS)you can expect this.

it dealer bought it for 400

the distributor bought it for 350

it cost Remington 250 to make it

out of that 100 was machine work on the action

barrel probably cost 50

stock was 20 bucks

marketing/advertising/lawyers is at least another 50

that doesn't leave alot for assembly and finishes does it?

If it bothers you, send it to some forum sponsor to get coated in something bulletproof for as much money at the rifle is worth.

or be like the rest of us and keep your booger-hook on the bang-lever and a light coating of oil on the bolt.

no problems... just solutions!
 
#30
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

I also have a new 700 SPS Tactical in .223 with exactly 100 rounds down the pipe. My bolt looks pretty much the same as this one. The finish on the SPS models is basically a paint, it's not super dudrable. Remington's higher dollar versions get a nice black phosphate or black TriNyte® finish. They are more abrasion and corrossion resistant.
 
#32
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: furtaker_.223</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Spend a few bucks, have it jewelled and it will always be shinny. JMO </div></div>

What exactly is jeweling? ive seen it but what does it do?

How much does it cost?

and would it be worth it on a factory bolt?
 
#35
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Looks like normal wear-in to me. The SPS models are not finished very smooth, so the high points start rubbing off fairly quick.

I'd just lightly grease the wear areas, and carry on. The more you use it, the smoother it will get.

Here's what my 30-06, and 308 bolts look like after a few thousand rounds. The '06 bolt was a fairly smooth 1980s BDL, jewelled from the factory. The 308 bolt was rough as a cob, when new, but slick now.

PA180013.jpg
 
#36
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

After owning a 700 ADL I will same the same as above that wear is normal
you could goto midway USA and wheeler engineering makes ceramacoat in an aerosol can for like 30 bucks. you spray it on and bake it and its tough as shit no more problems....done deal
 
#37
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: furtaker_.223</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Spend a few bucks, have it jewelled and it will always be shinny. JMO </div></div>

What exactly is jeweling? ive seen it but what does it do?

How much does it cost?

and would it be worth it on a factory bolt?</div></div>
My smith charges $45.00, if you have a drill press, you can get everything you need for about 35-40 bucks, DIY, and show it off. Maybee do some on the side.

It is not a complicated process, just a little time consuming.
 
#38
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

Don't worry about it.

My SPS-AAC bolt looks worse and I have yet to fire a round. I have however cycled the action a couple hundred times snapping in and dry firing. Yours is gonna look a lot worse in a very short time.

If <span style="text-decoration: underline">you</span> feel like the gun is a shooter, keep it. If not, you have a very good excuse for demanding a refund.
 
#39
Re: How many shots has this bolt been through?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">maybe im makin a mountain out of a mole hill but i dont feel it should be getting so shiny so fast... </div></div>

Bingo.

Quit dicking around. Get some match ammo and shoot the rifle.

Neither nicks on the cases or worn finish on the bolt are going to impact the bullet hitting the target.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Blue Buffer spring drama. Malfunctions with new springs. Anyone else seen this?
Replies
11
Views
410
Zak Smith
Zak Smith
Vivacious Stallion
Gunsmithing Vulcan Machine Werks STI Optics Cut quick review
Replies
2
Views
227
Vivacious Stallion
Vivacious Stallion
GS455
1st Suppressor / 1st Day Out (HUXWRX FLOW Range 36 Ti)
Replies
37
Views
2K
metroplex
M
stello1001
Gunsmithing How to clean area right before chamber
Replies
21
Views
900
PB&J.
PB&J.
Iamero
Firearms Springfield Waypoint 22LR like new - $350 shipped
Replies
2
Views
395
Iamero
Iamero
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts