Coned vs flat

[coford]

What are the differences between coned and flat bolt faces? Is one more accurate - safer - better feeding - than the other? I want to order another F-Class action and want your opinions. Thanks.

 

[butchlambert]

You know, I've had several of each over the years. I know it is not more accurate or safer. Does it feed better? I don't think so. Mausers over the years is known as the most dependable dangerous game rifles that feed sideways, upside down and otherways. They have no cone.

 

[BoydAllen]

The only time that I have seen a cone have an advantage, comparing a Viper with a flat breeched Shilen DGA, is when I need to chamber a case. Otherwise they both seem to work just fine, with loaded rounds. (Both actions are single shots.)

 

[RJinTexas]

I have a couple of trued XP 100 both have PT&G bolts one coned the other flat. I can't see much or any difference shooting same case different calibers as on is chamber in 20br the other 22br so were talking same case in a single shot action. Now I have a couple of trued 700 hunting rifles that are required to feeding from the mag. The one that chambered in 6x47 has a factory flat faced bolt and I have to slow down for reliable feeding. The other gun is chamber in 6.5x47 again were talking same case, it has a PT&G coned bolt and it feeds as quick as I can work the bolt.

RJ

 

[Robert]

The only time that I have seen a cone have an advantage, comparing a Viper with a flat breeched Shilen DGA, is when I need to chamber a case. Otherwise they both seem to work just fine, with loaded rounds. (Both actions are single shots.)

Boyd,

The Mauser has no cone, but has a collar who acts quite similarly with relatively short ammunition. Big game hunting rifles based on Mauser actions and using soft nosed were very susceptible on ammunition choice. I had a .375HH Mauser who jammed with every Silvertip....
Some other military actions have a cone breech and feed very smoothly,the US 1917 among others.
R.G.C

 

[johara1]

Pre 64 mod. 70 had a cone bolt face and feed far better than a rem. or mauser....... jim

 

[Scott Harris]

I think the magazine/DBM choice has way more to do with feeding than coned vs flat. Usually use Remington bolt faces but tried a coned bolt with M16 extractor. Haven't seen any difference in reliabilty or anything else for that matter. Will be selling the coned action and replacing with Remington simply for the additional security against case failures that design provides.

 

[johara1]

I never could see the reason why a Rem. bolt face is safer. First the case is not supported in the bolt counter bore and the space between the end of the bolt and the barrel is at a thinner part of the case. A cone bolt pushes the case in to the barrel and the only unsupported part is at the solid part of the case.......jim

 

[Eddie Harren]

If the barrel is chambered correctly on a 700 Rem none of the "thin" part of the case is unsupported.

 

[butchlambert]

jim,
you better study the 3 rings of steel a little closer.

 

[johara1]

Butch, Sounds like a Remington sales pitch...LOL. Study the three rings that can't touch, and where the web of the case ends and the 10 cent extractor. The bolt guns in the we used were winchester were just getting broke in when the Rems were worn out.Bolt handles come off, yea study the three rings of steel. Tried to put one in a tube gun and it was so crooked it would not fit, ended up with a Pierce action. Threads so far out they couldn't be used, barrels so far out they only had leads on the lands one side. They don't feed as good as a cone single shot either. I hate to say it but a Savage is a step up from a remington.... The ones i see blow or a case let go were all three rings of steel....... I see they may even move down your way, the way New York is going down hill...... jim

 

[butchlambert]

Guess what Jim? I feel the same about the winnies.

 

[Robert]

If the barrel is chambered correctly on a 700 Rem none of the "thin" part of the case is unsupported.

DocEd,
The Remington 700 has the deepest bolt face recess I know of (3,8mm measured on the OEM bolt in front of me) This is far more than what is aimed for the purpose mentioned and really doesnot help maintain the case. Many precision bolts have a recess under 3mm, with the Mauser 98 beating them all at 2,5mm.
R.G.C

 

[Eddie Harren]

RGC, re-read the part about being "chambered properly". I measure the clearance on rifles, that I chamber, to insure no more than .005" on BR style rifles and no more than .010" on rapid fire & colony varmint rifles that tend to get hotter than BR types.

 

[BoydAllen]

As long as the solid part of the head is inside the chamber, there is no problem with case head support. As far as the suitability of Winchesters and Mausers go, they are fine for hunting, but I would think that anyone who used either for a project that was intended to produce the highest level of accuracy, wring the last little scrap of potential out of its barrel and loads, had not been paying attention. I have all three actions, and enjoy them all, but I know their limits. Also, I have seen case failures that happened with various breaching systems, and the Remingtons fared the best. The other lesson that I learned is to always wear eye protection when you are shooting, or firearms are being shot nearby.

 

[johara1]

I think what was the issue here is what accurate and the best feeding a cone or flat bolt face. To throw them in a cone bolt face wins hands down, and i would say a Bat mod b with a 3" port and the roller is the winner. To feed out of a mag a pre 64 win. will feed as smooth right side up or upside down. What everybody likes about a rem. is it round and lends it's self to a lathe. I saw a lot of cleans with the model 70 but they were costly and harder to work on, but for across the corse they were slicker than snot on a door knob......... jim