Best way to attach bolt bushings to bolt

[JLDavid]

What do you guys use to attach your bushings to a bolt when you do one? I have been told tig welding is by far the best. Is there another way that works well if you don't have access to a tig welder? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

David Jaca
Heppner, OR

 

[Dusty Stevens]

silver solder

 

[Roeder]

Some

What do you guys use to attach your bushings to a bolt when you do one? I have been told tig welding is by far the best. Is there another way that works well if you don't have access to a tig welder? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

David Jaca
Heppner, OR

Some of the best builders out there use epoxy to bond the sleeves. done correctly there is almost no likelihood of the sleeves coming loose. There are many videos posted on U tube showing how, I don't know if any of them actually show the important things or not. The advantages include being able to leave the bolt set up in the lathe after cutting the recesses while the sleeves are bonded and curing, no heat no need to refinish, no risk of affecting the heat treat or the brazed joints in the bolt. If it is good enough for Gordy Gritters and Greg Tannel, It is good enough for me. I have no doubt that silver solder or tig welding can be used successfully, but both require special skills and removing the bolt from the lathe set up to install the sleeves. Greg Tannel used to sell a video showing how to do this in great detail. I bought the video, watched it once, and have been doing it that way ever since. Not often since the PTG bolts came available.

 

[WSnyder]

Loctite 380 Black Max

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have used epoxy with no issues, but I dont like it. I think next time I'll remove the handle, turn the bolt down a little and press a ring on, then turn it down and reinstall the handle. Of course by the time a guy pays for that, might as well get a new bolt that fits properly.

 

[Dans40X]

Most proceed by gluing &/or soldering.

My process is by a Purged Fusion TIG for a totally seamless appearance.

 

[Will Henry]

Instead of bushings, I use dovetailed inserts to produce "bumps". WH

 

[carlsbad]

Instead of bushings, I use dovetailed inserts to produce "bumps". WH

I'd like to see your dovetails. Sounds very cool.

 

[Will Henry]

I'd like to see your dovetails. Sounds very cool.

And I'd like to show them to you but, while I can take a picture, posting one is another matter. I can e-mail one I think.
All I do is mill a transverse 3/8" dovetail slot, .062" deep, at the rear of the bolt, in line with the locking lugs. I fill these with a piece of dovetail blank stock (available from Brownells). I then set the bolt up in the lathe and turn these down to about a half thou under the diameter of the bore of the receiver. When the bolt handle is up, the inserts are unnoticeable and only take effect when the bolt is locked. I have used this technique on Remington, Winchester, Howa, Ruger, Sako, and Enfield actions. Works great. WH

 

[carlsbad]

Thanks Will. Awesome. Well done.

 

[Hal]

And I'd like to show them to you but, while I can take a picture, posting one is another matter. I can e-mail one I think.
All I do is mill a transverse 3/8" dovetail slot, .062" deep, at the rear of the bolt, in line with the locking lugs. I fill these with a piece of dovetail blank stock (available from Brownells). I then set the bolt up in the lathe and turn these down to about a half thou under the diameter of the bore of the receiver. When the bolt handle is up, the inserts are unnoticeable and only take effect when the bolt is locked. I have used this technique on Remington, Winchester, Howa, Ruger, Sako, and Enfield actions. Works great. WH

Maybe someone will be kind enough to post a picture of your work.

Hal

 

[JLDavid]

I would also like to see them. Any chance you could post some pics and a "how to" segment?

 

[accuracyman]

Awesome idea using a dovetail....would not have thought of that!

 

[WSnyder]

Gunsmith Bill Leeper (aka Will Henry) came up with this years ago. Can't say he was the first but he was the first I know of to publicly show it on the web. I've used 3/8" sight base dovetail available from Brownells #080770375. https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...lack-sku080770375-864-3270.aspx?sku=080770375

These are not my pictures.



I'll add that Bill had a novel idea to control the front of the bolt nose. He used a PTFE O-ring with a groove in the barrel tenon counter-bore. I have the O-rings but haven't given it a try. As a side, Bob Brackney (and others) used a tight radial fit to the bolt nose/tenon counter-bore to locate the front of the bolt.

 

[eddief]

I also seen it first from Bill Leeper quite a few years back. Great smith from Canada.

 

[butchlambert]

Bill Leeper is a great smith! I believe he taught Rod Henrickson every thing he knows.

 

[JLDavid]

Thanks a ton for the dovetail photos. I will give this a try. Are they attached with adhesive or help in by friction/slip fit?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thanks a ton for the dovetail photos. I will give this a try. Are they attached with adhesive or help in by friction/slip fit?

If its too loose center punch a few spots under it and itll tighten right up

 

[JLDavid]

Tag

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Tag

You get this done yet David? Turn down a piece of cold rolled steel or aluminum and practice it.