Time to replace this bolt yet?

[Claven2]

This bolt is on an AR180B, but it could equally be an AR15 bolt as the lug layout is the same.

The two lugs at the very top in this picture display some wear on the right edges. On a new bolt, these surfaces are bevelled, but on this bolt they are worn a bit as well with minor peening from friction upon the bolt opening when firing. The mating surfaces look sound.

I have a new bolt AR180 in my parts drawer - they question is, should I keep running this bolt until it's a lot worse, or replace now?

For reference, the two lugs indicated by red arrows are the ones exhibiting the most wear and slight peening, while the blue arrow points to a lug whose factory bevel isn;t significantly worn and which has no detectable peening.

 

[Boltgun]

keep running it...I would wait till you break a lug off....I have seen cases of AR bolts where they can keep running with up too 3 lugs gone.

Boltgun

 

[Armedsask]

Run it too destruction.

 

[Urban_Ops]

If it ain't broke.....

 

[Claven2]

Sounds like good advice. I have a few "must have" AR180B spares stashed away since parts are no longer going to be made. (Wolverine tells me when their parts are gone, that will be it).

For example, I have a spare bolt holdopen, spare bolt, spare springs and a few other items.

 

[300Spartans]

That's the nice thing about the AR. You can replace the bolt easily.

 

[FLUXCORE]

keep running it...I would wait till you break a lug off....I have seen cases of AR bolts where they can keep running with up too 3 lugs gone.

Boltgun

X2 Ive seen waaaaay worse, run it until you have a failure of some kind, it looks like that could take a while. The bolt will will run fine missing a lug or two

 

[Claven2]

That's the nice thing about the AR. You can replace the bolt easily.

Replacing the bolt isn;t an issue, availability is! It's an AR180, not an AR15.

That being said, I think an AR15 bolt could be modified to fit.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Replacing the bolt isn;t an issue, availability is! It's an AR180, not an AR15.

That being said, I think an AR15 bolt could be modified to fit.

Never really compared the 2 but I would purchase another spare bolt or two if they won't be available soon...

Altering an AR bolt will probably be much more difficult than building one from scratch.

 

[Claven2]

Having compared and AR bolt in detail yesterday, it's not readily possible. Essentially I would need a new bolt if I were to replace. I thought I had a spare bolt, but the spare turned out to be a Daewoo bolt

Oh well, consensus is this bolt still has a lot of life left in it.