I've searched the internet for bolt shims for an Anschutz match 54 with no success in Canada. I also did inquire at Nordic Marksman, but did not get a response. I looked elsewhere, to TriggerShims.Com in Michigan, and got an immediate very friendly response. I ordered the required shims and they were received within a week. So if anyone does require bolt shims, I would highly recommend TriggerShims.Com, Lance is very good to to deal with.
Anschutz Match 54 bolt shims
- Thread starter yyj200
- Start date
The website for TriggerShims explains that the bolt shims are for altering headspace.
How do Anschutz users determine what the existing headspace is prior to deciding what shims, if any, are required?
How do Anschutz users determine what the existing headspace is prior to deciding what shims, if any, are required?
Hi Glenn..As you know, my smith has re-barrelled a number of rim fire actions for me. He machines his own head space gauges but always asks me to send some Lapua cases (unfired with the bullets & powder removed!) with the package.
My understanding is that he removes the extractors and/or firing pin/cocking piece if necessary in case there is any friction with trigger sear engagement. I've tested builds that he has returned and can usually feel just the slightest resistance as the bolt handle engages the receiver with an unfired case in the chamber.
Anschutz 54, Lithgow, B14R type bolts can have Lance's shims placed in front of the bolt handle or between the bolt halves and you can get a pretty good idea of the thickness required by closing the bolt on an unfired case IF you use one brand of ammo exclusively.
I've found that you need to verify the shim thickness is OK by firing live ammo. If your chamber is cut to close tolerances the extra resistance as the bullet engages the lands can make bolt closure a little more difficult.
THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE ONLY....TO EACH HIS OWN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF MODIFICATIONS!
Cheers,
Allan.
My understanding is that he removes the extractors and/or firing pin/cocking piece if necessary in case there is any friction with trigger sear engagement. I've tested builds that he has returned and can usually feel just the slightest resistance as the bolt handle engages the receiver with an unfired case in the chamber.
Anschutz 54, Lithgow, B14R type bolts can have Lance's shims placed in front of the bolt handle or between the bolt halves and you can get a pretty good idea of the thickness required by closing the bolt on an unfired case IF you use one brand of ammo exclusively.
I've found that you need to verify the shim thickness is OK by firing live ammo. If your chamber is cut to close tolerances the extra resistance as the bullet engages the lands can make bolt closure a little more difficult.
THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE ONLY....TO EACH HIS OWN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF MODIFICATIONS!
Cheers,
Allan.
Allan, I was curious about how casual Anschutz users might determine that the headspacing on their particular rifle was not what it should be. For readers in general (as you no doubt are aware), the best way to know what the headspace actually is on an Anschutz remains to use graduated headspace guages. Only then it's possible to know if headspacing adjustment with shims or other means is required.
Regarding bolt shims in general, is there a purpose to them other than adjusting incorrect headspace? After looking at the website in question, there was an absence of instruction on how to check Anschutz headspace. At the same time it implied accuracy-improving results simply by adding a shim, the size of which was to be determined by testing. The website showed pictures of targets shot with bulk ammo as evidence that adding a shim will work.
Unless a shim is needed to correct headspace to CIP specs, it's not clear what any shim will do in practice with ammo that can be relied on to give trustworthy results. Shooters should note that there's no reliable evidence that shorter headspacing produces any accuracy benefits. If this is simply a "shortcut" to improved performance, shooters would do well to recall that there are none that are effective.
Regarding bolt shims in general, is there a purpose to them other than adjusting incorrect headspace? After looking at the website in question, there was an absence of instruction on how to check Anschutz headspace. At the same time it implied accuracy-improving results simply by adding a shim, the size of which was to be determined by testing. The website showed pictures of targets shot with bulk ammo as evidence that adding a shim will work.
Unless a shim is needed to correct headspace to CIP specs, it's not clear what any shim will do in practice with ammo that can be relied on to give trustworthy results. Shooters should note that there's no reliable evidence that shorter headspacing produces any accuracy benefits. If this is simply a "shortcut" to improved performance, shooters would do well to recall that there are none that are effective.
For me, it's a mental thing, Glenn...I shoot SK/Lapua exclusively and 043 is my "go to" headspace setting on all my rim fires. My Lithgow as received was 045 & my B14R was 047 so I shimmed them as a "feel good" exercise - I certainly don't claim that reducing a headspace setting will improve accuracy. None of my 54's have been shimmed and the only reason I know precisely what the HS setting is on my 1761 is because my smith re-barrelled it.
Did you determine the cause of misfires in your rifle? Headspace is only one potential cause. Other causes include ammo; it can be related to the firing pin and/or its spring; there could be too much lubricant in the bolt (it should be dry); the trigger timing could be off.
The firing pin and spring were both changed prior to acquiring the shim package. Measuring as careful as I could it was determined to be .010 difference from the bolt face to the chamber. Installing a .005 shim solved the misfire problems. There was alway a good strike on the rim, so I assumed that the rim was not tight up against the chamber. Upon re-#### it would fire. Now to solve the FTE problem. I want to change out the extractor claw, but it is out of stock.
Do you have the single shot 54 target rifle or a 54 repeater?
- Location
- North-central Saskatchewan
I would like to know where you got that information. Not being snarky, just curious.
There is much anecdotal evidence otherwise, but I've never seen an exhaustive study.
- Location
- North-central Saskatchewan
Duplicate 
No one has seen an exhaustive study. While the lack of evidence is itself not evidence, the fact remains that no one has developed or published any reliable data to support the contention that a shorter headspace makes a rifle shoot better.
On the very subject of headspace and accuracy, Bill Calfee, the noted American .22LR benchrest rifle builder, has said on forums and his book The Art of Rimfire Accuracy that as long as headspacing was safe it didn't have an impact on accuracy. For what it's worth, champion prone shooter and rifle builder Kevin Nevius, who's words and deeds are widely respected in the serious .22LR shooting community, says he builds his rifles to have a .043" headspace, which is the standard headspace of both CIP and SAAMI. The majority of custom gun builders do likewise.
For all the discussion about Eley having a shorter rim than other manufacturers, the fact remains that Eley ammo is made to meet CIP and SAAMI specs -- as it must by law or regulation. For decades, Bill Calfee favoured Eley ammo (it was the best at that time) and he still made headspace at .043" on the rifles he built.
Yes, that one is out of stock. I asked because sometimes shooters refer to the 17xx repeaters as match rifles as well, and extractors for them are indeed in stock.
The single claw extractor on your pre-1964 1413 should be the same as it is on single shot match 54 rifles made since then.
