Action/Bolt Lifespan
- Thread starter Danale147
- Start date
There was an AW that had well over 100,000 rounds on it at Rifles Only. Eventually it had to be replaced do to the action stretching over time.
ive got at least 25,000 on one of my actions...keep your lugs lubed.
Just curious, where did you hear Jacob’s AW had to be retired because of “action stretching”? He posted a video not long ago installing barrel number 20 on his 97 AW. And what exactly is action stretching?
Over time the headspace can grow a few thou due to wear and erosion or the lugs. Cant find the thread where this was discussed more recently, think it was in the gunsmith section, but several of the well respected members backed up the claim as well. Doesn't make it obsolete, off the shelf prefits gave just a hair extra headspace than they otherwise would have.
In his class at the PR Expo a couple months ago he mentioned he is still using that rifle.
I was at a match recently and someone mentioned "Jacob Bynums famous AI"... What makes it so well known? Has he just been using it for a long time? It caught my attention for some reason, seemed like a super cool story.
Thats basically the gist of it, 100,000 of anything is impressive. The same rifle for that long without getting bored is notable. I start to get bored with one after 1% of that figure
As far as I know it's only famous due to its round count. Rumour is that it's the highest round count AI out there, which is why AI wanted to buy it back from him.
Perhaps there's other AI actions out there with a higher round count, I don't know. But 100,000 rounds is a hell of a lot on any single bolt action. That's a lot of shooting.
Thats basically the gist of it, 100,000 of anything is impressive. The same rifle for that long without getting bored is notable. I start to get bored with one after 1% of that figure
No kidding! I got so bored with my Desert Tech after 2 years (after swearing it was my forever rifle)... Using an AI for that long is amazing. Are there any pictures of it?
^^^^^^^^^^^^Man that dude just screams precision the way he changes that barrel and he was so carful not to ding up his new barrel with any tools!
The one of many actions that would be impossible to stretch! Lock ring might be worn or set-back, or the bolt lugs slightly worn but that beefy-ass action is the same dimension it was when it was milled back in ‘97. All serviceable components of course.
The AW action has a replaceable breech ring(receiver abutments are a separate piece)and a replaceable bolt head. Due to the hardness off those parts, they’re extremely long wearing but they can be serviced.
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Which pixel is it?
Haha I thought it was my shit internet that it wasn't loading up
Here's a higher quality video. If Jacob wanted to make it even more cringeworthy, he should use a toothed pipe wrench on the barrel in lieu of the giant crescent wrench... Lol!
The AI round count is impressive but I believe that the Marines have actually worn out a few Rem actions. I am not sure that a life round count is kept on an action though but it might be possible. I would think in a smaller caliber the number would be astronomical but in something like a 338L or the other upper end mags that end up in the 700 platform the number might be surprisingly low.
I love watching this video because 1. It’s awesome to watch and 2. I know there are people cringing at a rifle being treated as a tool and not a safe’s IG display model.
Never had a work rifle’s action fail on me, even with the mil surplus ones. However I’ve had a few issues with barrels, scopes, and stock parts shit the bed on mil surplus rifles passed onto private contract companies.
Action lifespan has never been a concern on the systems I personally buy/use. I’ll be long divorced if I ever burn out an action lol.
Years (decades?) ago when PWS in Quantico actually built real bolt guns a litmus test used for receivers was the bore/bolt diameter clearance. Over time, be it from dry firing during grass drills or outwright use, the rear bridge would slowly wear and the diameter difference increased. These were gauge pinned in a pass/fail exercise.
I don't recall what the tolerance allowed for, but failure would result in the action being taken out of service.
If I recall correctly, he once broke a pin on the bolt stop. In the 12 years I’ve known him, that’s the only thing I’ve heard him mention having to replace when this topic comes up- and it comes up fairly often in classes.
