Interchange of bolts

[TAJ45]

I've picked up a spare small face 700 bolt. I have several 700 actions in 473 and ppc configurations/bolts. A couple are well smithed (Bryant for one) and don't see the need for any mods to them.

My question would be how does one get a switch bbl that requires a bolt change to transmogrify into a safe condition?

My limited reasoning power (and no experience) seems to lead me toward having to have both bolts' lugs made identical from the rip, then chambering/threading to fit. Otherwise would it be a roll of the dice if one would fit or be o'size enough to allow trimming to length/fit?

TIA

 

[Erik Cortina]

I did not understand your question 100%, but here it goes anyway.

Technically a barrel is headspaced to a bolt. If you only use that barrel with that bolt, it will be fine as long as you are using the same action.
So, if you have one action and two bolts and two barrels, you can interchange barrels and bolts as long as the same bolt is with same barrel.

Now, if you have different actions and you want to switch barrels between them, then you would have to take all your actions, and machine them identically. Depending on how far they are off and bolt timing, it might be as easy as facing off one of the receivers to match the others.

 

[TAJ45]

Thanks Erik,

I was trying to make it too complicated......you are 100% right. The bbl that would fit the small bolt face would indeed be machined to proper head space with that specific bolt. You understood perfectly and thanks for the reply.