Help bolt action design

Ferris

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Hi,

I'm looking at designing a new bolt action..... I've been in the aircraft industry for some years as a structural designer. I've been shooting for 20 years and I want to design an action from scratch.....

I know how it works but I will need help from an experienced Gunsmith...

Somebody interested???

I don't want make a living out of it....I just want to build a few for friends and family......

Let me know.....

regards...

Phil
 
Try to obtain copies of S. Otteson's Bolt Action Rifle set, volumes 1 and 2, plus the supplement on benchrest actions. Out of print, reprinted by Wolfe Publishing, also out of print I think. Try interlibrary loan? Probably the single best reference on the design of bolt actions, with engineering data on stiffness, camming, lock time, etc. Covers most of the classic designs, and some uncommon ones. DeHaas' book is also useful. It would be worth getting brochures from the various custom action makers. Kuhnhausen's book on the Mauser actions is also excellent.
What sort of action are you considering, for what type of rifle?
 
action design

I want to build one in 338 lapua mag....

I had a few rem 700 and I like them..... just want to make a big one.....
Had a few savage and liked them also.....


I like the challenge...

I read a lot on the subject.... Its in my blood.....

thx for the book infos....

Phil
 
There are various .50 designs around, perhaps one of those could be scaled down a bit. Don't know what kind of machine tools are available to you, but there are some systems that are easier to scratch build.
For example, if the bolt body is the same diameter as the bolthead/locking lugs, it is unnecessary to cut lugways in the receiver. The barrel can screw into a collar into which the bolthead locks. This collar is mounted to a simple receiver tube. The bolthead can be made separate from the bolt body, like a Savage. If you use a cartridge that will fit a Magnum boltface, use a Savage bolthead. There are large head diameter, non-belted cartridges which approach the performance of the 338LM.
There is a way of making a receiver with lugways for a 2 lug bolt using an endmill to cut the ways. No shaper, broach, EDM, etc. Written up in Precision Shooting years ago.
 
338 lapua mag

I looked maybe a year ago at various designs.....
I like the windrunner look..... what is your background?

I looked at the reference manuals that you mantioned... they are hard to find....

So are you willing to help me a little?

cheers,

Phil
 
The Gaulin brothers in Sherbrooke, Quebec have been down this road. Prairie Gun Works in Winnipeg have been down this road. Who else? What part of the shooting spectrum are you trying to serve? Bench shooters look for very different features than hunters or F-class shooters or tactical or DCRA or .....

There are only so many combinations of bolt lugs and lockups. The innovations lately have been in striker springs (Belleville washers not coil springs). Personally, I like the British RPA Quadlock for a single shot for either DCRA or F-Class.

Standard triggers, stocks, barrel threads and scopebases will improve your return on investment. The Model 700 is the new standard, where the Mauser 98 once was.
 
I would like to compete in the tactical comp....
I know there are a lot of designs... I don't want to re-invent the wheel....

just want to optimize.......

Got a webite for the gaulin bros?
 
Just study the designs and go with it if your just looking to do it for fun. I don't think you're going to get someone to help you build it just for fun. It's usually a project that individuals take on themselves.

To be honest, I've thought about it too and I just can't come up with a reason to end up duplicating what has already been done a thousand times. What you end up with is a Rem 700 design with some modifications all based on the original Mauser design over 100yrs ago.

Getting everything machined correctly and then each part hardened properly will be a job for a master and will only frustrate an amateur. Do you have the equipment and skills needed to get tolerances down to .001 or better? You'll need special tooling, mandrels, jigs, fixtures, etc. Are you going to create each part from scratch or use existing parts like Rem 700 firing pins, springs, tiggers, etc.?

Most designers just use exisitng Rem 700 bolts or clones, triggers and build round stainless 17-4 actions around them and call it a custom action. That seems the most popular method. Cheaper and easier to buy one, but if you want to do it anyway, hey who am I to tell you no. ;)
 
I know its a big challenge....

I have designed a lot of stuff before.... some really tricky...
I have acces to good tooling and machinery.....

I don,t say I want to re-invent the wheel...... Just a good project for a target shooter.... What is better than to be at the range really early in the morning....

Phil
 
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