Apparently, some of my past explanations about the rotation of the bolt
due to an eccentric spring raised the interest in some people
but also and intrigued some others.
Some of the readers believed that "my" theories concerning the
rotation of the bolt were splitting the hairs.
As a matter of fact, these were not even "my" findings,
but were discussed since forever in 10/22 circles.
And this rotation of the bolt in the OEM design and most of the aftermarket ones
was considered a problem by many of the purist 10/22 aficionados.
The “splitting the hairs” issue may be true if you are not genuinely interested
In 10/22’s, how they work and how they can be improved.
I will show here some very serious efforts for a design change
that addressed (and solved) this very issue of the bolt rotation.
Few years ago, the company Tactical Solutions came with
a 10/22 aftermaket receiver loosely based on the 10/22 design
that had a lot of internal changes and design improvements.
As a matter of fact, only few OEM parts could be used on that receiver: trigger group and barrel.
All the rest was changed (and proprietary), especially the bolt and the guiding system.
From the very beginning, the designer felt the time came to get rid of
the eccentric spring/guide rod.
There was the (theoretical) solution of making a spring/guide-rod system
right through the middle of the bolt. That would be ideal, since
it would void the eccentric spring action that would push the bolt on a side or up/down.
However, that would be of very little practicality, since the bolt/guide-rod
would be in the way of the hammer.
Then, the designing genius "parted" the spring/guide-rod in two separated assemblies
doing the same thing that together had the same effect of a single one right through the
middle of the bolt. That way, the hammer was working between the two and was left undisturbed.
That was pure genius.
Unfortunately for Tactical Solutions Inc., the market appeal was cut short because
of a glitch in the design/execution/materials of the round firing pin.
Even today, long after the glitch was solved, the public is still somewhat reluctant
in dealing with the company, for the reason of these past problems.
But either way, the double spring design is considered to be
one very important step forward in the evolution of the great 10/22,
namely in the minimizing of the bolt horizontal rotation.