Action/Bolt longevity

[rmist]

Everyone talks about barrel longevity...What about the action/bolt longevity ? Just thinking out loud. I haven't worn one out, but the folks that shoot a lot and often what do you think ? Considering using all the normal cleaning and lubing procedures most use.
Just curious for no other reason...
Rmist

 

[clowdis]

I have friends with aftermarket boltactions that have hundreds of thousands of rounds through them and are still going strong. On the other hand I have seen one almost ruined from a poor cleaning regime and shooting in a sandy environment (desert sand gaulling the bolt lugs). But you see lever action rifles worn out to the point of no return from racking the action for 100+ years. A well maintained bolt action should last at least one lifetime and probably several.

 

[Shynloco]

Hmmm....well I'm with clowdis on this one. I can honestly say I've never seen or heard of an action being worn out to the point were it's inoperable or won't shoot. And thats discounting the really dirty ones that just need a cleaning. And I'm also considering some of the old relics I've seen guys show up at various ranges which date back to WWI and WWII from various countries abroad. Now I'm told and have read that the quality of the metals used in modern day rifles well exceeds those of yesteryear. And today's rifles shoot even more accurately than ever before. So I'd have to conclude that the likelihood of wearing out an action is darn near impossible, unless of course someone has figured out how to defy nature and aging and then live 200 years, all the while shooting the same rifle to see if they can ware out the action. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[lpreddick]

my former gunsmith told me he had rebarreled a single action 4 times after each barrel was shot out...pdog hunters. he said the one thing that kills an action is failure to clean the bolt lug recesses. most casual shooters don't realize that grease and powder residue collects in the recess and the action of opening and closing the bolt grinds this material into the lugs and galls the hell out of them. sinclair sells a lug recess cleaning tool and i use it EVERY time i clean and there is always crud on the patch. you can make your own by slotting a 1/4 in dowel and snug some patches in the slot, insert into the receiver and rotate. a cross pin will hold the patches in the slot.

 

[hogpatrol]

Just a heads up on the dental cotton rolls used by these recess tools, I buy them in bulk off of an Amazon vendor instead of one of the firearm vendors. They are alot cheaper that way.

 

[dragman]

Properly cared for I don't think it's possible to shoot out unless you miss treat it or try and do it.

 

[people]

The actions on the m40a5 are from the original m40. Yes there are new ones in the mix but many are still from the original batch. How hard do marine sniper's use their rifles?

Keep it clean, lubed and feed it the proper ammo it will last many lifetimes.

 

[rmist]

I agree with all of the obove...it was just food for thought. I do use all the cleaning practices mentioned. I used to get the dental rolls from my dentist when I was still in the ARMY. He liked to shoot as well and never gave the lug area any thought. Once I had clued him in on that I had almost a lifetime supply of the little rolls !!

 

[joshb]

I just bought a couple Swedish mausers that are over 100 yrs old, and they feel tight. Might have been pampered. Just thinkin out loud.

 

[Rustystud]

A well properly headspaced and timed action only has serious contact on the back of the lugs, and on the camming surface for primary extraction, and the cocking piece and sear. if kept clean and lubricated they should last a long time. There are never two shooters who's shooting lifetime are the same. Comparing a cross the course shooter to a benchrest shooter would be like comparing the rabbit and the hare. The great things about most rifles is they can be rebuilt several times if the wear is not excessive.
Nat Lambeth

 

[howl]

You could just ask a company like Nosler that uses different actions to test loads. Seems like I remember them retiring a NULA action after some ridiculous number of rounds.

 

[CatShooter]

One of my Remington 40XB actions in on it's 6th barrel, and the back of the lugs look new with no wear.