bolt nose recess

[parker_chp]

I was looking at a ruger take off barrel and got to wondering if it is necessary to cut the bolt nose recess for remington style actions? If the bolt has clearance all around it doesn't serve to hold the bolt and if something goes wrong and you blow the gun up the bolts coming straight back and if the case separates gas is still going to blow back into the bolt nose and lugs/ face area. The same amount of the brass sticks out of the barrel with or without the recess when the head space is set. So what purpose does it serve?

 

[Pablo]

If you mix up loading some stuff with RL 7 thinking you're using RL 17 the recess will trap the swollen and damaged bolt face right there instead of allowing it to open to the sides. A friend of mine had this issue and the bolt nose was swollen to the size of the recess but did not get away, probably saved his face.

 

[Ggmac]

It's been done without the third ring of steel , so has the Springfield 1903 ( not beveled for feeding , jap rifle ) but why , it was /is a safety feature .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its simple to just do it right and it may save your face if something goes wrong