Gunsmithing Scratched Bolt Face

[lonely_wolf]

Returned home after a day of shooting and noticed these scratches on the bolt face. The one on the lug is the deepest. The one on the ridge of the face is pretty superficial. There is also a really small one on the actual face. I never noticed a change in accuracy or operation of the bolt while I was out, so I don't think they matter- other than making a new bolt look pretty ugly.

Anyone have any idea what could have caused this? Should I be more concerned?

 

[338RUM runner]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

Clean it and keep some lub on the Lugs. Brass pieces and crud is what did it, not to much clearence in that area. Should be OK

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

Wow! Brass could do that?

I clean the chamber after every outing. This rifle must have a tighter receiver than my last 700, as I never had anything like this happen in it.

 

[eddieharren]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

"Wow, brass could do that?"

NO! Looks like you may have had some crud, or grit, in the breach area. Clean it out good.

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

That sucks. I was shooting in a pit all weekend. I must have gotten some sand or something in it. Is this at all common? I was pretty surprised.

 

[x ring accuracy]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

Like others said, clean it, lube the back side of the lugs only. Your rifle was a dirt catcher so to speak . Alot of people oil their guns up that it attracts dirt and grime like a banshee.

 

[lw8]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

Oil doesn't attract anything...it isn't magnetic.

Lube is a double edged sword. On one hand, it can adhere debris to a surface...but on the other hand, enough lube can keep carbon and grit soft so that the mechanism can move the debris aside as needed.

When it comes to lube...you either need to use a LOT and keep it wet or not much at all IMO.

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Scratched Bolt Face

I don't oil. Just a light bit of synth grease behind the lugs.

Good to know it's superficial. I just sunk money into it. I was hoping to go few months before throwing more money at it.