Panda conversion...

[20PPC]

Those who have had a drop port conversion done on a Panda did you have to replace the bolt or just have the extractor cut at 6:00.
Which gunsmith did you have do the work ?

 

[Mulligan]

Those who have had a drop port conversion done on a Panda did you have to replace the bolt or just have the extractor cut at 6:00.
Which gunsmith did you have do the work ?

modified old bolt with extractor at 0600. I think it was a Dan Dowling modification?
CW

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Please only use a remington extractor as the original designer intended

 

[jackieschmidt]

Please only use a remington extractor as the original designer intended

It would be almost impossible to incorporate a Remington extractor in a coned bolt. There simply is not enough metal in the right place.
There Is no doubt that if you employ a Sako style extractor in the correct place in order for the drop port to work, it will creat a potentially dangerous situation in the event that you ever had a serious overcharge and ruptured a case head. That extractor has a clear path right up the raceway and potentially into the shooters head.
Several years ago, the late “Stick” did some mods on a Panda that included a blocking lug In that boltway to block the exit. I never saw one, rumor has it that Kelbly did not appreciate it too much.
I am not sure how Dan Dowling did them.
I converted my favorite LV Farley to a drop port by doing the Sako, and yes, it would probably be considered a dangerous conversion. But it is for my own use.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It would be almost impossible to incorporate a Remington extractor in a coned bolt. There simply is not enough metal in the right place.
There Is no doubt that if you employ a Sako style extractor in the correct place in order for the drop port to work, it will creat a potentially dangerous situation in the event that you ever had a serious overcharge and ruptured a case head. That extractor has a clear path right up the raceway and potentially into the shooters head.
Several years ago, the late “Stick” did some mods on a Panda that included a blocking lug In that boltway to block the exit. I never saw one, rumor has it that Kelbly did not appreciate it too much.
I am not sure how Dan Dowling did them.
I converted my favorite LV Farley to a drop port by doing the Sako, and yes, it would probably be considered a dangerous conversion. But it is for my own use.

Yes i meant to get a flat bolt, no cone

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have done them, I ordered a bolt with no ejector or extractor. Also no flutes because Kelblys runs the flutes up pretty far and the extractor cut on a mini 16 or spring hole in a sako will get into them. I sent them to @boltfluter after I was done to get fluted, Im sure he still has the program and the flutes looked excellent (see picture). I mostly used Sako extractors just like Bat does on their drop ports. Combined with timing them, those actions were awesome. With other drop ports on the market now, I have no interest in doing any more conversions. The way Stick did them was cool, he had a secondary lug that blocked off the race way exactly like a Savage does. But it did take away from the smoothness of the action slightly. And, it could be argued that secondary lug would just be additional debris in the event of a bad over pressure. The recess on a Panda flat bolt is only about .130 VS .150 on a Remington, you cant fit a Remington extractor in one, not to mention the only drop ports that I have seen have any reliability issues all have the remington extractor. If your concerned about safety with a drop port the 2 to look at would be the Borden with his internal hook extractor (you could use this in a Panda bolt) and the Bat Neuvo with the sliding plate and full diameter bolt that blocks off the whole raceway.

 

[snert]

well that sums it up nicely Alex

 

[20PPC]

I built the Panda for my 14 y/o grandson Remy to shoot this year it is a RBLPRE but he shoots LH.
The reason for the right bolt was I wasn't sure if he was going to like competing and I didn't want a LH gun if he didn't stick with it.
Mid way through the season he started shooting one of my Borden drop ports and decided he liked it much better not having to keep track of the brass.
This is the reason for looking to turn the Panda into a drop port.
As it turns out he loves it and as a rookie he shot exceptional this year placing 13th overall in IBS score shooter of the year, 1st in Jr. and 14th in the agg. at the Tackdriver.
As well as he's been shooting the Borden I probably shouldn't change guns on him.