Ruger American Bolt

[ARGUNGUY]

Does anybody have any idea what a Ruger American bolt is made of? I find it strange that it is very magnetic and accepts Birchwood Casey blueing. Measured the surface as 35HRC.

There's no way they are just raw steel, are they? I feel like rust would takeover very quickly.

 

[Normmus]

That's interesting, perhaps some grade of ferritic stainless?

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

4140 steel is rated at 28-32 hardness. The alloy in the Ruger bolts be fine for the purpose. Besides, that's why we keep our guns properly cleaned & lubed
to keep the rusties at bay.

 

[RifleDude]

Does anybody have any idea what a Ruger American bolt is made of? I find it strange that it is very magnetic and accepts Birchwood Casey blueing. Measured the surface as 35HRC.

There's no way they are just raw steel, are they? I feel like rust would takeover very quickly.

Nothing unusual. Most bolts are some form of steel alloy and thus attract magnets. So, no worries mate.

 

[cosmic]

Polishing steel does a lot to reduce rusting potential, as does a bit of oil.

 

[Slimbo]

Ruger Americans are known for their finely polished metal work.

 

[remington jim]

Ruger Americans are known for their finely polished metal work.

RJ

 

[Restoule]

I believe 4140. Or very similar alloy. I machined some flutes on mine and that's what it cut like. They do rust, but
it takes a lot to rust 4140. Machined a chunk, and realized it had too big of a hole in the middle so I put it outside, and it's barely rusted through the rain and such.

Also, pretty much every steel used in firearms is magnetic. Even 4 series stainless. A magnet is used for aluminum and some 3 series stainless, and titanium I guess, but some 3 series stainlesses are slightly magnetic.