Bolt# doesn't match the rest of the gun?
- Thread starter petew
- Start date
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
You'll need to check it for head space first. Use of a go-no go guage or Plasti Guage will determine what additional work, if any, is needed to get the bugger out shooting.
I don't have the go/no go gages, but do have plasti gage strips from doing engines. I assume I can use a fired case, or new case as a base to work with. If the bolt closes on it , the next step will be the plasti? So where do I put the plasti? On the case head, or on the taper at the neck, and at what point, in thou , is the head space to great to shoot?
Pete
Pete
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Plasti Guage should be placed on the bolt face, under a new cartridge case of your choice and then close the action. (Best done with the rifle in vertical position.) If the measure is beyond 6 thou. ,I would want a tighter fitted head space. My own preference is between 2 and 4 thou.
In all likelihood it will be fine, headspace means different things to different people....some are terrified of the word lol.
If it makes you feel any better have it checked by a smith. I recently built a sporter off an M38 barreled receiver and had 3 different bolts checked, all passed. I also have a bunch of M98 target rifles with mismatched bolts, and none pass....but boy do they ever shoot.
If headspace is large and you just shoot factory ammo, or neck size your reloads and don't full length size every time you won't have any issues.
Best pic I've seen explaining headspace..... 308 fired in a 30/06
If it makes you feel any better have it checked by a smith. I recently built a sporter off an M38 barreled receiver and had 3 different bolts checked, all passed. I also have a bunch of M98 target rifles with mismatched bolts, and none pass....but boy do they ever shoot.
If headspace is large and you just shoot factory ammo, or neck size your reloads and don't full length size every time you won't have any issues.
Best pic I've seen explaining headspace..... 308 fired in a 30/06
Last edited:
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
For folks using factory ammo & not reloading the cases, a slight excess in head space ain't a bother. For us shmoes that are reloading, we want maximum case life for our loads. A lot of folk tend to hot rod their loads somewhat and that can certainly lead to trouble with sloppy head space.
I'm a reloading schmoe....if you neck size a cartridge fired in a large chamber, there is no longer a headspace issue, brass lasts a long time, everybody wins.
If it was a semi we were discussing, it would be a different story. You are stuck FL sizing and smaller is better in that case. In a bolt gun, I don't sweat it anymore.
Headspace should be correct.
The bolt should fit properly. Locking lugs should be making contact. This should be checked as well as headspace. If an action has two lugs, and only one is making contact, shooting will be affected.
Plasti Gage or other shims used in conjunction with a new case will give you information about the relationship of the rifle and that particular case.
Excess headspace is not the bogieman that it is often made out to be, particularly with quality factory ammunition.
Handloading can exacerbate or remedy an excess headspace condition.
The bolt should fit properly. Locking lugs should be making contact. This should be checked as well as headspace. If an action has two lugs, and only one is making contact, shooting will be affected.
Plasti Gage or other shims used in conjunction with a new case will give you information about the relationship of the rifle and that particular case.
Excess headspace is not the bogieman that it is often made out to be, particularly with quality factory ammunition.
Handloading can exacerbate or remedy an excess headspace condition.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Best pic I've seen explaining headspace..... 308 fired in a 30/06
Does that make it a 44-08?
Moderate excess headspace is of no concern if you only shoot factory ammo, and is merely a die adjustment if you reload. These military rifles were usually designed with excess headspace and it was quite common to see different bolts in these rifles. I wouldn't worry about it in the slightest until you fire it with quality modern loads and do a good inspection of the brass. As these rifles were mass produced by the millions it is logical to conclude that each bolt was never individually fitted to each rifle and there would be relatively minor variations in headspace as a normal condition.
The bolts were individually fitted, and that it why they were numbered - to keep them together.
More recently, bolts may not be numbered, and may be stored separate from the rifles. Under these circumstances, it is not unusual for a gauge to be used when bolts are installed prior to use.
More recently, bolts may not be numbered, and may be stored separate from the rifles. Under these circumstances, it is not unusual for a gauge to be used when bolts are installed prior to use.
Lexthedestroyer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford, BC
In all likelihood it will be fine, headspace means different things to different people....some are terrified of the word lol.
If it makes you feel any better have it checked by a smith. I recently built a sporter off an M38 barreled receiver and had 3 different bolts checked, all passed. I also have a bunch of M98 target rifles with mismatched bolts, and none pass....but boy do they ever shoot.
If headspace is large and you just shoot factory ammo, or neck size your reloads and don't full length size every time you won't have any issues.
Best pic I've seen explaining headspace..... 308 fired in a 30/06
I totally saw one of these in the brass bin at the range on Saturday! (It was a .308 head stamped case, but same deal). I was wondering what exactly had happened...
The 6.5 arrived, and like advertised it wouldn't fire. A quick turn on the sleeve and all is well in that department,the bolt was not assembled correctly. Plasitgage has confirmed it has about .004 headspace, so it should be just fine. I think a trim off that long barrel to get rid of the ugly threads is in order, as well as adding a couple holes for a scope base, and cutting the bolt and welding it back on for scope clearance.
I think I did good for a $50.00 purchase , to get a shooting 6.5 x 55 with a nice sporter stock .
Now to decide how long to have the barrel. I have a Model 38 with a 24" and another 96 with the 29" .
A short 20/22 " might be interesting, and a handy bush gun size, or a 26" could be a consideration too .
I think I did good for a $50.00 purchase , to get a shooting 6.5 x 55 with a nice sporter stock .
Now to decide how long to have the barrel. I have a Model 38 with a 24" and another 96 with the 29" .
A short 20/22 " might be interesting, and a handy bush gun size, or a 26" could be a consideration too .
