My bolt handle broke off!

[gunrunner8]

Have you personally heard of anyone with a 788, that had this happen to them?
I own two of them, and I've "heard" this mentioned to myself, alot from those who do not own a 788.
I've had the 222 since 1988 and the 308 since 1992. I've yet to experience this event.
I do my own handloading and do not push the envelope, so to speak.

Yes, not pushing the envelope is the key. I repaired about half doz of them that can be bought as "parts guns" at gun shows for cheap. My method is to make a 4340HT bushing, threading it internaly 5/8" 24TPI IIRC, tig welding a handle to it and screwing it to the threaded bolt stub and then red loctite it together (no heat transfer to the lugs). Threading needs to be quite tight for it to work properly. Of course caming notch needs to be cut after that. I find that method is strongest possible.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

I knocked a 788 handle off with the back of a screwdriver after chambering a round in a lightly rusted chamber. I soldered it back on and it fell off again because I ####ing SUCK at soldering!!!

Soldering I ####ing Hate it!

 

[Buckmastr]

Im not sure how many Remingtons ive had with no issues but this one is giving me headaches. Brand new 300 wsm in an XCR2
First extraction was an issue.
Now the bolt handle broke off.
Total rounds fired out of this rifle? Zero!

 

[gunrunner8]

Im not sure how many Remingtons ive had with no issues but this one is giving me headaches. Brand new 300 wsm in an XCR2
First extraction was an issue.
Now the bolt handle broke off.
Total rounds fired out of this rifle? Zero!

My history with Remington rifles started and ended in mid 90' when my new rifle had the same problem after two boxes of ammo fired
and that was during the hunt!
I am sorry to inform you that you got what you paid for. Those issues are common to companies that are managed by bean counters....
Next in line is "receiver accurizing", "bolt bushing", extractor replacement and trigger recall.
Did anybody ever heard of Ruger's bolt handle falling off from bolt body?

 

[tiriaq]

I knocked a 788 handle off with the back of a screwdriver after chambering a round in a lightly rusted chamber. I soldered it back on and it fell off again because I ####ing SUCK at soldering!!!

Soldering I ####ing Hate it!

Soldering?
I have reattached numerous 788 handles using high temperature silver braze. Never had one come off. The 788 design has a number of warts. Apart from the bolt handle attachment, indifferent primary extraction is another.

 

[PEI ROB]

Im not sure how many Remingtons ive had with no issues but this one is giving me headaches. Brand new 300 wsm in an XCR2
First extraction was an issue.
Now the bolt handle broke off.
Total rounds fired out of this rifle? Zero!

It appears the brazing was poor but that might just be the pic.

Please tell us, did this handle get somewhat abused or did it peel off with just your hand? I would guess the failure was "encouraged" by excessive force even considering the braze job that does look faulty.

A honest story would be fitting; no company deserves a report leading to false assumptions.

 

[homeboy1]

My bolt handle came off a model 660 Remington a few years ago. My dad was using it at the time and took it home. He fires up his 1950s Lincoln welder and farmer welds it back on. DONT DO THIS...LOL. Take to a gun smith and he will silver soldered it back on and than maybe put a screw or two in it as well.

 

[PEI ROB]

There is another option to have it TIG welded back on. He's on CGN and goes by Dans40X and has a website called Accu-TIG.com
Your handle will never come off again and heat control is done nicely with TIG.
I really need a to get a TIG welder and learn it.

I have been advised by a TiG welder I respect that this skill can be lost without practice and the investment requires money and dedication to learn. Since he knows how fussy I am and the field of work related, he suggested I would be happier to skip this one.
I was not willing to dedicate the time investment so I farm out TiG welding.

 

[tiriaq]

From the appearance of the handle saddle in the photo, it appears that the brazing was less than 50%. Not surprizing that it failed.

For what it is worth, I've seen Mauser, Lee Enfield and Winchester 70 handles separated from the bodies. Usually it takes serious aggression.

 

[Buckmastr]

It appears the brazing was poor but that might just be the pic.

Please tell us, did this handle get somewhat abused or did it peel off with just your hand? I would guess the failure was "encouraged" by excessive force even considering the braze job that does look faulty.

A honest story would be fitting; no company deserves a report leading to false assumptions.

The rifle had zero rounds down it. It came off in my hand cocking the action to determine trigger pull weight.
If it for some reason made it into the field and I was laying down a barrage at a running whitetail buck, I'm sure I'd be digging around in the snow looking for the handle. After the first shot. A bolt handle need not be babied. And so far in this guns short life, it has been.

 

[Tex Critter]

I guess I'll change my nickname to Lucky. My Remington 700 BDL Custom Deluxe Left hand .308Win is 30years old without any problems.

 

[Duck_Hunter]

So, as a gunsmith you have seen this personally guntech?

I ask respectfully.

Not a gunsmith but I have witnessed this. Guy with a Remington 700 at the range and some reloads well above max locked his action up tight. He and his friends solution was to find a block of wood and beat on the bolt like it owed them money. I was impressed the handle stayed on...

 

[220]

Just get a one piece bolt from PT)

 

[Ganderite]

I have had a 788 and a 700 handle pop off. Neither was beat on.

When you see how minimally the 788 handle is attached, it is a wonder that they all don't fall off. A good silver solder job by the gunsmith fixed them.

 

[220]

That was PTG

 

[guntech]

So, as a gunsmith you have seen this personally guntech?

I ask respectfully.

788 bolt handles have been known to break off when overloaded cartridges lock the bolt closed and then the bolt handle gets beat on, usually more than a few times... I have never seen a 788 bolt handle broken by lifting with a hand. It usually takes tapping by something and usually involves an over load.

I have had one 700 handle come off in my hand by lifting... new rifle...

 

[tiriaq]

788s are a bad choice for hot rodding. It is not that the action can't handle the pressure. The problem is that bolt compression allows case stretching, and this makes the handle very hard to lift. And 788 handles do not respond to well to cheaters, hammers, large rocks, etc.
I've seen stuck 700 handles pounded on to the point that they were peeled off the bolt body, bending in the process. One joint half failed, then the saddle of the handle snapped. That one was a pig to fix. Didn't have a spare handle, so I had to weld the handle back together, reform and fit it to the bolt body, and then silver braze it in place. Want to know how to lock up a bolt to the point that a hammer is used to try to open it? Allow rust to build up in the threads where the bolt shroud screws into the bolt body.
It appears that on rare occasions, the induction brazing that affixes the handle just isn't done correctly. Surfaces are not 100% wetted. Done properly, the handle isn't going to fail - whether factory or gunsmith installed - with out use of brute force, and mechanical damage in the process.
This is how a attach a 700 handle:
I made a jig to hold the handle in place. Threads into the bolt body. Then a "teeter totter" clamps the handle to the body. Paste fluxed high temp silver braze spread in the well cleaned joint area. Orienting the handle in the proper position is critical, to get proper primary extraction camming. Easy way to do it. Assemble the jig, install the bolt. Have it unlocked and slightly opened. Position the handle so that the stop shoulder is contacting the left boltway surface. Tighten up the clamp. Make sure the handle is located fore and aft correctly to insure optimum camming. Wrap the lugs with wet rags. Heat with a medium oxy-acetylene tip.

 

[crashcollins]

I would try contacting Gravel Agency to see what they can do for you.

 

[gunrunner8]

I would try contacting Gravel Agency to see what they can do for you.

Obviously they will replace his rifle for the same kind of turd....

 

[bushwhacker]

Had this happen to me on a .257 Roberts chambered Remington 722. This rifle has a tight chamber, and if brass not full-length resized, it will be hard to extract. I shot a buck and while it was flailing on the ground tried to work bolt with enthusiasm for a mercy shot. Handle came off in my hand. Can't remember how I got the bolt out, but I think I tapped the cartridge with a metal cleaning rod while applying torque to the bolt. Gunsmith re-silver soldered it. BTW the buck died.