So what happens to the Bolt

[Roeder]

I was asking about tightening up on the diameter of the bolt in the counter bore, not on the bolt nose touching the back of the barrel.

Thanks, Paul

What you are suggesting, running small clearance in the bolt recess has been done successfully. It is far from the best solution, and it generally requires that the action threads be recut so that they are very concentric with the bolt raceway centerline. It is usually only a matter of time until some junk, brass shavings, or even a few kernel's of powder jam things up. Years ago a few well known gunsmiths did this, but it is much better to ream the action bolt bore a little oversize and either double sleeve the bolt or install a custom oversize one.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

NOT ALL ACTIONS !!!!
Actions with articulated bolt heads , actions with the sear on the side , actions with 90 degree Sears , all of thes actions don't unload the top lug .

Your correct. Thats why I said (rem trigger).

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Tight bolts are fine. But the tighter you fit them, the more critical the machine work becomes. If theres no room for a bolt to move the straightness and squareness has to be perfect if you expect both lugs to seat. Then your bedding has to be perfect. Theres a reason why some rifles shoot better than others (barrel after barrel), and it has a lot to do with production tolerances.

 

[Ggmac]

Your correct. Thats why I said (rem trigger).

Sorry , didn't read as I should have !

 

[Ggmac]

Tight bolts are fine. But the tighter you fit them, the more critical the machine work becomes. If theres no room for a bolt to move the straightness and squareness has to be perfect if you expect both lugs to seat. Then your bedding has to be perfect. Theres a reason why some rifles shoot better than others (barrel after barrel), and it has a lot to do with production tolerances.

The bolt can be loose if the bolt is oblong or as I use to do , have either a spot weld or 4-40 screw located in the Left raceway near the back . File to fit . This way the bolt is free to move without binding and is only tight when in battery . Of course the bedding and lug squareness is important .
Oblong bolt bodies use to drive the other shooters crazy trying to figure out how I got as little movement as I did with factory looking rigs . Probably before you were born . Heck some were still shooting Mausers !

 

[Ggmac]

OK , so what 4 Rem actions , using Rem triggers DO NOT preload the bottom lug ?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The bolt can be loose if the bolt is oblong or as I use to do , have either a spot weld or 4-40 screw located in the Left raceway near the back . File to fit . This way the bolt is free to move without binding and is only tight when in battery . Of course the bedding and lug squareness is important .
Oblong bolt bodies use to drive the other shooters crazy trying to figure out how I got as little movement as I did with factory looking rigs . Probably before you were born . Heck some were still shooting Mausers !

Rifles have never shot smaller, records have never been better than they are today. Like everyone else I have my own ideas on what makes a rifle exceptional. I inspect those rifles that never seem to get an average barrel and try to find similarities. You know those rifles, every barrel they get wants to break a record, sometimes in rookie hands. There is something there in the bolt fit. And tight is not the common denominator. Just about everything was done before I was born, being first is not a goal of mine.

 

[mr45man]

Why not treat it like a surplus 1911 and squeeze it a little in a vise?

 

[Ggmac]

Rifles have never shot smaller, records have never been better than they are today. Like everyone else I have my own ideas on what makes a rifle exceptional. I inspect those rifles that never seem to get an average barrel and try to find similarities. You know those rifles, every barrel they get wants to break a record, sometimes in rookie hands. There is something there in the bolt fit. And tight is not the common denominator. Just about everything was done before I was born, being first is not a goal of mine.

Didn't mean it that way , just that the words come a little harder . Being first isn't the deal breaker , it's forgetting how we got here that's important .

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Didn't mean it that way , just that the words come a little harder . Being first isn't the deal breaker , it's forgetting how we got here that's important .

Before we had internet, most of the leg work was done as you well know. I am lucky to be involved in the "fine tuning phase".

 

[Ggmac]

Before we had internet, most of the leg work was done as you well know. I am lucky to be involved in the "fine tuning phase".

I should have said the thought put to words come harder . I certainly didn't and don't mean it to be bad . You've got good ideas and I applaud your testing .

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I didnt take it that way. I have pretty thick skin. But the fact is most of the work has been done. I am a realist. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Riesel]

Thanks for all the constructive and thought provoking comments. I definitely gained some insight on this.
Again, Thanks,
Robert