Opening up a remington bolt face

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Willy 1

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Can anyone tell me is it possible to open up a remington bolt face from .473 to .540 and still use the original style extractor? I know it would be better to find a bolt with the proper bolt face but they are getting harder to find. If a aftermarket extractor is needed is there a preference between sako and m16? Or is there a better one out there.
 
Depending on your bolt nose-
The current production .378" & .473" face bolts use a snap in extractor.
The .532" mag bolt face bolt nose uses a riveted extractor.
The OEM Rem Lapua bolt noses were fit w/a pinned M16 style extractor.

Steer clear of any SAKO style extractor modifications to any Rem bolt nose.
 
Mine is the older style with the rivet type extractor. Just curious what is involved take the extractor out and remove a few thousands to open it up the nose or does the place where the extractor sits have to have a few thousands removed as well.
 
Willy 1 said:
Mine is the older style with the rivet type extractor. Just curious what is involved take the extractor out and remove a few thousands to open it up the nose or does the place where the extractor sits have to have a few thousands removed as well.
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Contact Josh Salzmann from Accurate Rifle Company in Creston, BC.

He can be reached at 250-254-0489, or email at: josh@accuraterifleco.ca

Josh is an excellent gunsmith will great rates. He does a lot of custom work, and knows Remington actions very well.

I'm on my third custom build with him, never a disappointment........:)
 
Willy 1 said:
Mine is the older style with the rivet type extractor. Just curious what is involved take the extractor out and remove a few thousands to open it up the nose or does the place where the extractor sits have to have a few thousands removed as well.
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Why do you feel you need to do this?

Quite often the nose of the bolt and the edge of the extractor need a little polishing with a dremel so the rim of the case enters more easily. Get someone experienced with 700's to look at it. The original enclosed extractor system is what makes the 700 so safe and strong. Don't screw it up with a different style replacement.
 
It’s 100 percent doable. I built a 405 winchester on a 700 with a sako magnum extractor. Works like a dream. The M16 extractor is better in my opinion but my tolerances are tight and the Sako works just fine plus I had a few in inventory. It’s now my favourite rifle. Good luck.
 
longrangethumper said:
It’s 100 percent doable. I built a 405 winchester on a 700 with a sako magnum extractor. Works like a dream. The M16 extractor is better in my opinion but my tolerances are tight and the Sako works just fine plus I had a few in inventory. It’s now my favourite rifle. Good luck.
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It will work just fine if you never have a catastrophic case failure...
Why didn't you have the complete Sako extractor system installed? You left out the most important part.

The bolt guide or deflector is part of the original Sako extractor system. It protects the shooter.
243-BLOW-UP-ACTION.jpg
 
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The gun that I am talking about has a bolt in it that has a sako extractor. From what I understand a person could have issues with that setup and even worse if you shoot left handed. Well guess what. I do have a spare bolt here but it has the .378 bolt face so just looking at options to make this into a safer situation. I do realize that if I change bolts it also changes headspace. I also am having issues with extracting fired cases. It is not a pressure issue or anything like that , it just seems like the extractor is slipping off the rim when lifting the bolt. Possibly a weak spring in the extractor. Trying to fix everything in one go.
 
I think I made a mistake on the size of the bolt face on my spare bolt in my previous post. It is .473 ( 308 ) and I want to go to .532
 
OP,
As per guntech's recommendations-
&/or
Change the extractor.
Depending on bolt/handle vintage,the handle is usually the culprit for poor extraction , since the bolt/handle is TIMED into Battery & not for Primary Extraction.
 
Thanks for all the information I think what I will do is find a new magnum bolt as suggested. Is there a source for one of these in Canada or can they be imported from the U.S.?
 
Over ten years ago I managed to find a new magnum bolt in Canada for $250... I was as happy as can be...
 
Willy 1 said:
Thanks for all the information I think what I will do is find a new magnum bolt as suggested. Is there a source for one of these in Canada or can they be imported from the U.S.?
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Maybe try an ad to trade your spare bolt for a magnum one
 
guntech said:
It can be done correctly and safely with a considerable amount of labour but not all 'smiths' are capable of doing it... it's easier to buy a bolt with a factory magnum face.
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Those bolt faces are "HARD"

Most smiths lathes aren't up to the job, let alone their tooling.

I knew one smith that used to just take the bolts to the local machine shop and pay them to do it.
 
The bolts aren't really that hard but off set recesses need to be cut quite precisely for extractor clearances. Different cuts for rivetted or snap in extractors. I reground a keyway cutter and used a milling vise in the lathe and turned the cutter in the chuck.
 
A guy could try to import a bolt from the U.S. but the way things are going down there they may not have the staff at the government to do the paperwork. lol
 
In the past, I have purchased bolt bodies from Pacific Tool & Gauge. These are parts, not bolts, being unfinished. A handle must be obtained and properly installed, along with extractor, the ejector assembly and firing pin/bolt sleeve unit. Might be an option.
 
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