Opening up Remington bolt from 223 to Mag. bolt face

[jamesh]

Can any of you gunsmith folks tell me if it's necessary to put in a filler ring when opening up a Remington 700 bolt from 223 rem bolt face to a magnum bolt face? I know it isn't necessary going from std. to Lapua. I'm already planning on adding a mini M16 extractor so don't need advice on that part.

 

[XTR]

Why not just buy a bolt from PT&G?

 

[jamesh]

Wait time. I may do both, have more than on action I'm playing with.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Most times the bolts are in stock

 

[boltfluter]

Can any of you gunsmith folks tell me if it's necessary to put in a filler ring when opening up a Remington 700 bolt from 223 rem bolt face to a magnum bolt face? I know it isn't necessary going from std. to Lapua. I'm already planning on adding a mini M16 extractor so don't need advice on that part.

No filler ring should be needed. Not sure if the ejector plunger would be in the right location for ejection or if they even vary from bolt to bolt.

Paul

 

[DaveTooley]

Technically speaking you don't have to put a ring in any conversation when going up in size. Coming down obviously is a different story.

 

[XTR]

Midway has them in stock right now. Ships today.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ion-magnum-bolt-face-chrome-moly-in-the-white

 

[jamesh]

Technically speaking you don't have to put a ring in any conversation when going up in size. Coming down obviously is a different story.

Thanks Dave. I was just reading PTG and Badger ordinance directions for opening up the bolt face and installing an M16 extractor. That is where I got the idea I may need the filler ring. If I don't need to add the filler ring I think I will go forward with it. I really appreciate it.

 

[jamesh]

Midway has them in stock right now. Ships today.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ion-magnum-bolt-face-chrome-moly-in-the-white

Thank you Dusty. It is actually a model 7 Remington but the bolt nose is the same as 700 so that's why I didn't specify that is a model 7 in original post.

 

[jamesh]

I had also considered converting to a Savage floating bolt head but think that may be even more work than opening up bolt face and adding the mini M16 extractor. Particularly if I don't need to add the

No filler ring should be needed. Not sure if the ejector plunger would be in the right location for ejection or if they even vary from bolt to bolt.

Paul

Thank you Paul. I noticed that PTG locates the ejector plunger in a different location with the M16 ejector than Remington does. On the Remington bolt the plunger is directly opposite from where the extractor will be located so I would think that would work. I may be mistaken though.

 

[jamesh]

Ejector location comparison. Right is a PTG standard bolt face with mini M16 extractor.

 

[msalm]

No filler ring needed. I used a m7 blackout action for a 6.5 RSAUM and didn’t need to fit a ring. Standard bf to mag you do.

 

[jamesh]

No filler ring needed. I used a m7 blackout action for a 6.5 RSAUM and didn’t need to fit a ring. Standard bf to mag you do.

Thanks. Guess I got some work to do. Think I'll do a 6.5 PRC and 7/300 RCM

 

[jamesh]

Well I got one bolt opened up and the mini M16 extractor installed.



I used the installation instructions for a Badger Ordinance M16 extractor install since PTG gives no dimensions for their installation instructions. On PTG's instructions it says rotate the bolt 45º and Badger says 30º from lugs being horizontal. Since both of theirs are for installing the full size M16 extractors I just set it up so the mill would cut across the root of the bolt lug.





I used 5mm end mill to cut the slot for the extractor because that was the closest to the mini extractor as I could find at the time.

I only opened up the bolt face to .540 because Badger's recommendation is .536-.003, I was sure that would be too small. The .540 appears to be good enough for the PRC case but it is tight for the RSAUM case so I think I may open it up to .550 as PTG recommends.

 

[jamesh]

Got the second one finished.


With all the discouragement about installing a mini M16 extractor I am surprised at how easy it was. Now I wouldn't want to be paying the shop fees for a gunsmith to do it vs. just getting a bolt from PTG but if you like doing your own work and have the equipment I see no reason not to give it a go.
I don't think I would try it without a rotary table for the mill though. It would be tougher to get the retaining pin exactly 90º to the extractor.
I did spin on 7mm RSAUM barrel off another rifle to make sure it extracted and ejected properly. The 6.5 PRC and 300 RCM empty cases I tried ejected perfectly. If the action canted to the left the SAUM cases would flip back into the action. I don't think that will be a problem since this is a bench gun it should always be held level when ejecting the shells.