Bolt disassembled when not in use?

[Field_2_Fork]

I am awaiting some replacement firing pin springs from Kelblys for my 6PPC Panda, this has got me searching out proper bolt maintenance. I've read a few threads about pin fall and spring weight testing (still not 100% certain on how to measure that but I'll keep reading).

Someone recently recommended that I take the bolt completely apart when not shooting and relieve all tension off the spring, even for 1 week of storage between league nights. I have the Kleinendorst tool so doing it is no problem, but is it really necessary? I've never heard of anyone doing this.

 

[M-61]

First I’m not a metallurgist. (wish Riflewoman was back)
I have never disassembled a bolt to relieve tension on any spring. One week is just crazy.
I’ve seen cars in junk yards that have sat on their springs for decades and they are not sagging. No idea if that’s a good example or not. Cars in storage for a winter may get jacked up but that is to take the load off the tires. I guess I might be concerned about a magazine being loaded for 5 years but that concern is based on corrosion not tension.
I’ve never had a ball point pen spring fail and that has to be real cheap.
My opening sentence says it all.

 

[dcali]

Not his action obviously, but Jim Borden once told me that springs are not generally a problem, and that the conventional "internet wisdom" fussing over them is misplaced.

 

[dcali]

First I’m not a metallurgist. (wish Riflewoman was back)
I have never disassembled a bolt to relieve tension on any spring. One week is just crazy.
I’ve seen cars in junk yards that have sat on their springs for decades and they are not sagging. No idea if that’s a good example or not. Cars in storage for a winter may get jacked up but that is to take the load off the tires. I guess I might be concerned about a magazine being loaded for 5 years but that concern is based on corrosion not tension.
I’ve never had a ball point pen spring fail and that has to real cheap.
My opening sentence says it all.

I'm not a spring expert, but I do know some springs will take a set. The ones on my bullet presses (they're Lee springs - so they're kind of cheap) will take a significant set if I leave them loaded (I do, for practical reasons). I have to replace them now and then.

 

[Dave M.]

Totally not necessary. Do you disassemble your trucks coil springs between drives?
Take the bolt apart and clean it every month or so (depending on how much you shoot), but not every time to shoot.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Just dry fire it or let the bolt down while pulling the trigger

 

[6.5 forever]

Don't over think it.

 

[SecondsCount]

Just dry fire it or let the bolt down while pulling the trigger

That's what I have been doing for almost 30 years and have had zero problems.

 

[nmkid]

Just dry fire it or let the bolt down while pulling the trigger

Winner winner, chicken dinner?

 

[Thekaiser]

I am awaiting some replacement firing pin springs from Kelblys for my 6PPC Panda, this has got me searching out proper bolt maintenance. I've read a few threads about pin fall and spring weight testing (still not 100% certain on how to measure that but I'll keep reading).

Someone recently recommended that I take the bolt completely apart when not shooting and relieve all tension off the spring, even for 1 week of storage between league nights. I have the Kleinendorst tool so doing it is no problem, but is it really necessary? I've never heard of anyone doing this.

I'll go against the grain here. If i'm storing them say, six to eight months, I release the springs. Was told to do that by a very competent Gunsmith. He believes constant pressure on a spring will take a set. My 2 cents worth.

 

[JMayo]

My bolts are not in the rifle kept in a bolt holster.
The stolle i have is pretty old and it has lived it's life in a holster .. all cocked....

But you play with your toys any way you want !

 

[M-61]

I'll go against the grain here. If i'm storing them say, six to eight months, I release the springs.

Meaning you disassemble the bolt OR un-cock it?

 

[BoydAllen]

On the store cocked or not issue, if you look at the length of the spring before it is installed and the installed length it seems to me that the quarter inch difference between cocked and not is not significant. For those who have not done it, one way to test a springs cocked weight is to drill a small block of wood so that the front of the pin does not reach the bottom of the hole with the pin's flange resting on the block. Having noted the position of the cocking piece (relative to the back of the shroud) when the bolt was in the action and cocked, one places the block and pin on a scale, noting any difference from the added weight, and then grasps the shroud and pushing down until the cocking piece is approximately in the same position relative to the shroud as you previously observed, and read the weight directly off of the scale.

 

[Jayplace]

Springs under tension do lose tension over time.

When finished using the gun it is advisable to release the cocked tension. It can be dry fired or hold the trigger when closing the bolt, either will allow the firing pin spring go into a more relaxed mode. I think this only makes sense.

Taking it apart is probably better, but it's a bit of a pain. I think it makes more sense to replace the spring every couple of years. They aren't expensive and are easy to change. Remember, we are talking about precision competition guns where even little things can make a difference.

If it's a hunting rifle, the same principle applies. However, it isn't near as important and as long as it fires that's probably Ok. So, going for years is not uncommon.

I have known about springs losing tension for years, and yes from time to time I see cars sagging from a worse than others spring. Usually, the settling isn't noticed because they often sag at a similar rate.

Coming from high performance car engines, valve springs are a common replaced item in race engines. Mass produced standard performance cars usually go their entire life with the same valve springs.

 

[K22]

With all due respect, this is just another "off the wall" nonsense on the internet.

If your worried about the spring, just store the rifle with the firing pin in the "fired' condition, i.e., dry fire it but make absolutely sure the chamber is empty.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

With all due respect, this is just another "off the wall" nonsense on the internet.

If your worried about the spring, just store the rifle with the firing pin in the "fired' condition, i.e., dry fire it but make absolutely sure the chamber is empty.

Caught me in a grumpy moment, original reply deleted.

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

Thanks to those who took the time to offer some advice or opinions.

I didn't think it was necessary to take the bolt apart, but you never know - just trying to do the best for my fancy new rifle.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Thanks to those who took the time to offer some advice or opinions.

I didn't think it was necessary to take the bolt apart, but you never know - just trying to do the best for my fancy new rifle.

I hate leaving my rimfire cocked so I always put a spent case back in the chamber and fire it.
My centerfire rifles I always put the bolt down while pulling the trigger to release spring tension. Of course always while it is unloaded. I never thought about taking the bolt apart simply because to me springs are fairly cheap and should be replaced as a regular scheduled maintenance.

 

[BoydAllen]

Thanks to those who took the time to offer some advice or opinions.

I didn't think it was necessary to take the bolt apart, but you never know - just trying to do the best for my fancy new rifle.

I do not know of anyone who takes their bolts apart between shooting sessions, and I am acquainted with several record holders and lots of very good competition shooters.

 

[JMayo]

He wasn't talking about you. He was talking about what's on the internet