How to determine if action has been squared and trued?

[twofish]

I am looking at a rifle locally. Owner says action has been squared and trued. Is there a way to determine this with or without removing barrel. The only thing I know to do is look at the bolt face for any indication of truing.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

twofish

 

[Preacher]

It would be nearly impossible to know if it was done with out removing the barrel.
The bolt may or may not give you a hint...
Look at the bolt lugs and see if you can tell rather they have been touched.
Compare it to a different bolt if you have one, you may be able to see tooling marks different from factory..

 

[Rem6br]

You might could also look at the face of the action to see if has been machined. You can't see much
Of it with the barrel on but you can see a little of it

 

[twofish]

Thanks to all.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Mark bolt lugs with a sharpie and close and open the bolt while pulling back on bolt handle to determine bolt lug contact. If it's close to 100% contact, then action has probably been trued.

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi folks

Sorry to hijack the thread sort of,but I followed Eric's advice and noticed that my Vanguard 2 bolt isn't trued at all...I sharpied the back of the lugs and only the left one seems to make contact,the right one wears no trace at all,which accounts for the fact that on an empty chamber,when I close the bolt and pull and push on the shroud there is 0.5mm play fore and aft,whereas on my CZ 550(Mauser type action)you feel absolutely no play at all,just as with the new Zoli that just came in.What do you reckon I should do,or rather have done?Thanks in advance.

 

[GSPV]

With all respect and in all seriousness, I'd sell the factory rifle as is and invest in a custom Remington 700 clone. It is too easy to drop a ton of money in a factory action, never be completely satisfied and never get a penny of the upgrades out.

Borden, Kelbly, Pierce, Stiller, etc. Hard to go wrong.

I have nothing but praise for Jim Borden. I haven't had a Pierce or Stiller. I have friends that do and are happy.