galling

[akajiggs]

Good morning all.I know this is off topic but I am going to lay it out anyway.
I read the article on galled lugs and it makes sense.
I have messed around and galled one of my lugs on Rem 700,or at least I think it is.One lug is black and not shiny anymore and looks rough.
Never had hard bolt lift.Always fl size.Bump shoulder back.I try to do it right.
It is a 280AI and I do run it pretty hot but not too hot with no pressure sines.
I am going to have it rebarreled.My question is,can the Smith take care of this or is it going to cost me a new bolt or even a new action.Oh,by the way,it is stainless.

Thanks for your help
Jim

 

[CatShooter]

The lugs are not stainless, they are ordinance grade steel... when the rifle is apart, ask the smith to polish the lugs and check the lug recesses in the receiver.

This is a very minor issue.

 

[ballistic64]

If one lug is black, wouldn't it indicate it was never making contact in the first place?

 

[akajiggs]

The lug that is black,was shiny for a while and smooth.Now it is rough and black.I think it is galled,I do not know.If the Smith can take care of it like Catshooter said,I will be happy.

 

[rmist]

A good smith can fix your issue. It's a standard practice of truing/lapping the lugs to the action.

 

[dmoran]

If the action has never been trued, it would be a good candidate to do so now when you swap the barrel out, at which time both the bolt and action lugs would be addressed. And if you would like to upgrade your 700 (tolerances and smoother functionality) you may even consider replacing the bolt with a PTG at this point.

If it has been trued previously, it can be fixed regardless, by either single-point cutting and/or polishing off the galling.

Good Luck
Donovan

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Jim, can you post a picture of this? I am curious to see what galled lugs would look like.

 

[Rustystud]

Lapping of lugs is not the answer for truing up lugs. Turning the lugs and lug abutments to the same length gets bilateral engagement. A big word of caution taking or having to take to much off will reduce or remove your primary extraction. Be prepared to remove and move the bolt handle forward to recover the primary extraction. Bolt timing is also very important. The action needs to be timed in both battery (aligning the bolt0 for the cocking piece forward traveling during firing, and for cocking piece alignment (during the cocked process) so the cocking piece will pass through the tang during bolt extraction.

The bold galling that I have encountered is due to trash from blown primers getting between the lug and lug abutment, and poor lubrication. Over the years I have seen a number of Remington 700 bolt lugs bent or partially torn due to excessive load pressures. Especially with the .338 Lapua, .338 Edge, .338 RUM, .300RUM, and other magnums. I have seen both lugs and bolt bodies cracked. Remember many Remington bolt bodies and bolt heads are pinned and silver soldered. The only real Remington one piece bolts are the PT&G aftermarket bolts. Most of the Remington clones, the bolt body and bolt head are one piece, and the bolt handles are silver soldered or tig welded on.
Nat Lambeth

 

[LawrenceHanson]

Nat,
Is this regular galling or trash galling?

Surely, through your many years of gunsmithing work you have encountered and documented numerous instances of bolt lug galling. You mention that there are different types of bolt lug galling. What do the different types of galling look like? Please share. Perhaps you could enlighten us with a photo or two of various types of bolt lug galling.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

Did almost exactly as is pictured above to my Rem 700 through shooting dirty and no lube. Ever since then I make double sure to clean the breech of all my rifles completely and to ensure they are lubed afterwords.

 

[Shynloco]

Nat,
Is this regular galling or trash galling?

Lawrence,
Now you have me curious...is that caused by not lubing the bolt properly (or cleaning it) or just from a high number of rounds being fired? Thx!

Alex

 

[LawrenceHanson]

Alex,

I don’t know for sure what caused this. It’s the only lug galling I have seen. That’s why I’m asking Nat what he thinks about it.

This rifle has seen a lot of use. It’s on its second barrel. It’s used for hunting so it has been exposed to the elements and rough handling. I’m pretty good about keeping the lugs greased though. I don’t recall blowing a primer in this gun but that may have happened without me noticing.

 

[Rustystud]

I have seen many lugs that look similar. That is typical of trash (PRIMER CUP) fragment getting between the lug and abutment.
Nat Lambeth

 

[GerryM]

If the accuracy is fine leave it alone Nate is correct.

 

[bsumoba]

I have a lug that looks like that. It is definitely stuff getting caught in there. For me, it was some particles that just got sandwhiched between there. I was pissed!

I have a BAT action and I use EWG (Extreme Weapons Grease) for the lugs. Have not had any problems with galling using this stuff.

 

[Judd]

I think there are as many Bat lugs that look like that than doesn't....if you shoot jammed the likelihood is greater. That is my observation anyway.

 

[BillPa]

I have seen many lugs that look similar. That is typical of trash (PRIMER CUP) fragment getting between the lug and abutment.
Nat Lambeth

I agree Nat. I watch guys cleaning at the range using Lucas bore (rod?) guides, one piece rods and etc, but rarely, if ever, see one of of these gadgets....

Bill

 

[Rustystud]

Gentlemen:

When shooting high pressure loads, and soft primers we often see cookie cutter disc from blown primers in our guns. Those little disc can and will get under/between the lugs and lug abutments. There is a tremendous amount of leverage with a bolt handle. Often bolts are only surface hardened, machining off or lapping can remove the harden surfaces. Some bolts are not that hard to begin with.
Nat Lambeth