How to improve heavy bolt lift?

[thumper4fun]

I have a Panda RBLPRE and the cocking bolt lift takes twice as much effort as my similar configured BAT SB action. This is not a brass issue since I did the comparison with no brass in either action. I have cleaned, inspected and lubed the Panda action and it didn't help. The heavy bolt lift is causing me to rock the rifle in the bags so I need to figure out a way to lighten the bolt lift. I would appreciate any ideas.

 

[Terry]

Sorry for asking, but have you contacted the manufacture?

 

[thumper4fun]

No I haven't. In my experience customer service seems to be better on this site.

 

[GSPV]

Check your total pin travel, cock on close, etc.

 

[ShootDots]

The Kelbly family is about the nicest people you can meet and their customer service is second to none!! Give them a holler! You will be pleasantly surprised!!

 

[thumper4fun]

Check your total pin travel, cock on close, etc.

Greg,

Exactly how would I go about measuring the pin travel and what is too much or too little? And if if it is too much how do I correct it?

 

[M-61]

No I haven't. In my experience customer service seems to be better on this site.

First call the manufacturer. Five minutes time. Who would know more about this than them?

 

[thumper4fun]

Okay, just got off the phone with the fine folks from Kelbly and got just what I suspected, no help. They said I was welcome to ship my rifle to them or they recommended that I reach out to Mickey Coleman or Billy Stevens and let them look at it. I knew those were my options all along but wanted to see if folks on this site had things I could try before sending my rifle off.

With firing pin removed and bolt inserted it falls and lifts with no resistance. Insert firing pin assembly close bolt and it takes a lot of force to lift the bolt. Twice as much force as it takes to lift the bolt on my Bat action. As I said before the firing pin assembly has been cleaned, inspected and lubed. And all testing has been done with no brass in the chamber so it is not a brass issue.

 

[Hondo]

Possible galling of locking lugs or cocking cam.
Worst case possibility locking lug set back.

 

[thumper4fun]

I've checked the lugs and cocking cam and see no signs of galling. I'm diligent about applying bolt lube every 15-20 rounds. Could it be trigger related or is that a stretch?

 

[Raythemanroe]

How many cocking cams does the Bat have? Could be the Bat is just easier.

 

[LHSmith]

There is quite a few BR smiths who have become specialized in tweaking Bat ignition systems..... it seems the Kelbly ignition system does not require such tweaking. It takes a certain amount of spring force to obtain optimal ignition...i.e. the competitor with the lightest bolt lift does not necessarily collect the wood.

 

[stool]

do you have other firing pin springs ??/
measure yours for oal and wire dia....maybe too long, too many coils just too heavy of a spring...

 

[bdale]

do you have other firing pin springs ??/
measure yours for oal and wire dia....maybe too long, too many coils just too heavy of a spring...

+1

 

[thumper4fun]

the competitor with the lightest bolt lift does not necessarily collect the wood.

The competitor rocking his rifle in his bags every time he ejects a spent round doesn't collect the wood either

 

[thumper4fun]

do you have other firing pin springs ??/
measure yours for oal and wire dia....maybe too long, too many coils just too heavy of a spring...

Good suggestion. I have a friend that has some bolt/spring options we are going to try. He has a firing pin dis-assembly tool too, which I don't have.

I've had this issue for a while but figured with time the bolt would break in and loosen up. Just got used to it over time until I got the second rifle and noticed the difference in bolt lift.

 

[jonbearman]

I think it is awesome to actually get through to kelblys.I have tried repeatedly and left messages for Ian and whom ever on many occasions to get a cocking piece and firing pin assy for a panda.So I gave up.I had a friend who knows them and shoots there year after year call,they picked up immedately and he ordered my parts and they showed up within 2 weeks.Lesson learned,unless you are known you are nobody to them as they are very busy and obviously dont answer calls from people like me.

 

[BoydAllen]

The first thing that I would do is to pull the striker assembly and measure the spring weight in cocked position. You did not mention whether you are the original owner of the rifle or action, and it could be that someone decided to put a heavier spring on yours. The other thing that I would like to know is what the diameter of your firing pin tip is. I have a Viper that came with a 19# cocked spring weight and .200 total fall, that never had any problems, but then it came with a nominal .062 firing pin tip, and they require less spring. I believe that the later Pandas are available with three different tip diameters, depending on what the customer wants.

 

[GSPV]

Greg Wally and others have told me that .250 is the right total fall on the Panda and Grizzly II. You measure this and cock on close, etc with the stem of your calipers on the back of the cocking piece and bolt shroud.

 

[GSPV]

This should point you in the right direction. If not, feel free to get with me and I'll walk you through it.