Truing threads questions

[copperking81]

What's everyone's take on truing threads? Generally, I'm reluctant to do it since it significantly and permanently changes the receiver from it's standard / factory config. Seems most just true up the receiver face, bolt face, and lap the lugs.

That said, if the threads aren't trued, wouldn't that really negate any truing work done to the receiver face, bolt face, lugs, etc if you just trued those components? It seems to me that truing those surfaces wouldn't do much good if the barrel isn't screwed on as straight as possible. Sort of a... "do it all or nothing" thing.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

who doesnt true the threads if they know how to? thats part of it.

 

[Someoldguy]

who doesnt true the threads if they know how to? thats part of it.

The guys who are only doing part of the job, I presume.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The guys who are only doing part of the job, I presume.

New age “gunsmithing” i suppose.

 

[Someoldguy]

New age “gunsmithing” i suppose.

Nah. Olde Skool 'half-posterioring'.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Nah. Olde Skool 'half-posterioring'.

Nah in the old skool we figured since its dialed in already from cutting the lugs and face that its nothing but a tool change to check those threads. Machining 101 first week type stuff.

 

[Someoldguy]

Nah in the old skool we figured since its dialed in already from cutting the lugs and face that its nothing but a tool change to check those threads. Machining 101 first week type stuff.

Agreed. But how do you know what you've got if you don't check?

Seems like that's what the OP was asking. (?)

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Agreed. But how do you know what you've got if you don't check?

Seems like that's what the OP was asking. (?)

No i read that he said most dont true the threads and just lap the lugs then true action face and bolt face. I was pointing out that a credible gunsmith if he trues the action will not skip the threads.

 

[Someoldguy]

No i read that he said most dont true the threads and just lap the lugs then true action face and bolt face. I was pointing out that a credible gunsmith if he trues the action will not skip the threads.

That's what I meant as well. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm not here to argue, just point out that a partial job is just that.
'Half-posterioring'.

 

[Someoldguy]

No i read that he said most dont true the threads and just lap the lugs then true action face and bolt face. I was pointing out that a credible gunsmith if he trues the action will not skip the threads.

More to the point, I wouldn't just lap the lugs, either. If you're truing the receiver face and truing the bolt face then you're already set up to true the lugs, so why wouldn't you?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

More to the point, I wouldn't just lap the lugs, either. If you're truing the receiver face and truing the bolt face then you're already set up to true the lugs, so why wouldn't you?

Exactly. Unless you dont know how?

 

[Shawnba67]

If the face is true and tge threads arent super snug. The trued face will put the barrel more squarely in line than an untrued face.
It is however not trued if you skip this step.
The use of tools to make the boltface and reciever ring perpindicular shouldnt hurt anything and may help some. But it is half the job or less, but the reciever face is commonly thought to be the most bang for the buck in ala cart truing.
The rem 700 0.010 over is pretty common and should be easy to procure parts for.

 

[butchlambert]

Well, do threads align the tenon to the receiver?

 

[riflewoman]

Well, to throw some more murk... After you “true” the threads, how do you determine if the axis of the thread is concentric to the bolt and square to the bolt face?

And NO, you can’t “turn up a threaded stub on a lathe”!

 

[copperking81]

I'm not a machinist or gunsmith and have never had a receiver trued so take what I say with a grain of salt but from my understanding, they're hesitant to do it because it will always require a custom fit barrel specific to that rifle going forward. I'm assuming in cases where the threads haven't been trued, the barrel maker will know what diameter to cut the tenons without having to measure the receiver...is that not the case?

I've read where a lot of people suggest just hitting the receiver face, bolt face, and lugs. I just don't see where that would be worth doing if the threads aren't squared up as well. If the threads are out of whack, wouldn't the other surfaces still be out of whack with respect to the face of the barrel?

 

[copperking81]

Well, to throw some more murk... After you “true” the threads, how do you determine if the axis of the thread is concentric to the bolt and square to the bolt face?

And NO, you can’t “turn up a threaded stub on a lathe”!

Good question. I'm just thinking out loud but I don't think it would matter if the bolt is concentric so long as the lugs and bolt face are. As long as those two surfaces are square, when the bolt is locked into battery, it would force the face to square up. Seem there's enough play in the receiver for the length of the bolt body to wiggle into the correct angle to make it work.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'm not a machinist or gunsmith and have never had a receiver trued so take what I say with a grain of salt but from my understanding, they're hesitant to do it because it will always require a custom fit barrel specific to that rifle going forward. I'm assuming in cases where the threads haven't been trued, the barrel maker will know what diameter to cut the tenons without having to measure the receiver...is that not the case?

I've read where a lot of people suggest just hitting the receiver face, bolt face, and lugs. I just don't see where that would be worth doing if the threads aren't squared up as well. If the threads are out of whack, wouldn't the other surfaces still be out of whack with respect to the face of the barrel?

custom actions yes but theyre not commonly trued up. on remingtons theres no standard somebody can hit anyway so its better to be straight than worry about somebody fitting a barrel without the action.

 

[copperking81]

custom actions yes but theyre not commonly trued up. on remingtons theres no standard somebody can hit anyway so its better to be straight than worry about somebody fitting a barrel without the action.

Ok, maybe that's where I and others are getting hung up. I figured there was some standardization within each major manufacturer.

Any experience with Winchester / FN receivers? Are they usually pretty good, pretty bad, or somewhere in between?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

well if somebody trues up a custom action it becomes a bastard and at least the first barrel will have to be fit with action in hand thats what I was getting at. resale value becomes awful at that point too. remingtons need to be trued and cant be remotely chambered anyway. I hope I'm puttin it down like I hear it in my head!!

 

[eddief]

My guess is quite a few don't single point threads because they don't know how to pick up a thread in a blind hole, not to mention the pucker factor during the threading process for a new guy.