Gunsmithing Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

[BigBrother]

Hey all, have a stock 700P. It took some work to solve a sight in problem, unrelated to the rifle itself, but as a result, I had to switch out components, whole rifles, etc., and I'm pretty much done sending my rifle out for inspections- it's mine and I want to shoot it already

This one shoots true, but the bolt is a little stiff. Now, pardon my terminology here as I'm a little new, but the phases of the action that are stiff are locking the bolt down and then rotating it back up to extract the round. The rest (sliding, etc.) is smooth as can be.

My previous 700P action and barrel, which were sitting in the same stock, weren't as stiff. So I don't know if it's a stock thing, etc. I did install an HS-P DBM way back, but I don't suppose that should have any effect.

Anyway, I don't know what causes a bolt to be stiff on those two phases (the rotation ones). But I was wondering what I can do myself, with just basic household tools, to smoothen it out, if anything.

Thanks a lot!

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

how many rounds on it? And the lugs or lug recess may have a burr or something that needs to be knocked down, it may smooth out over time

 

[JRose]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Sit behind it and cycle it a few hundred times. That should wear it in.

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Interesting. Probably fewer than a hundred rounds.

I must profess to an almost porn-like gun addiction, so sitting and cycling it a few hundred times actually sounds like some damn fun.

Will do

 

[C.Hazelton]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Your front action screw isn't protruding into your action is it?

 

[C.Hazelton]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Or your front base screw?

 

[Hateca]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

If the bolt is stiff during closing this could be an extractor issue not wanting to snap over the case rim, but this is normally seen in the .223.

If the bolt is stiff when opening the bolt check the bolt where the cocking piece cams on the bolt to see if there is any galling. If it is polish it.

If you changed firing pin springs to say an aftermarket unit that is for "faster lock time" those springs are heavier and can cause you heavy bolt lift.

Some Remington’s were shipped with J-Lock firing pin assemblies without the little lock on the side. If this is the case the screwed up firing pin and spring can bind and this can screw with your bolt lift.

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Out of curiosity, is there any harm in inserting a spent 308 casing, and opening and closing the bolt with it repeatedly? I want to simulate break in with an actual round, but obviously am not going to go loading one in my home

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

do you relaod? know anyone that does? have them make you 5 dummy rounds and you can just load them and cycle them. or good metal snap caps if you want to pull the trigger. some have said use erasers in the primer pockets of the dummy rounds. im going to try silicone. it cures pretty firm.

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Well I don't have much need for actual trigger pulling. All I'm doing is working in the surfaces involved in working the bolt. So I really just need to know if an empty casing is safe to be in there, worked repeatedly through the bolt cycle, minus the firing aspect.

 

[lrs50bmg]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

BigBro,

Yes, it is perfectly safe to have a case in there while you are cycling the action. Just periodically check to see if you are getting any build up of brass shavings that need to be cleaned out in the process.

Scott

 

[Hateca]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Not pulling the trigger is only going to maybe help you with closing of the bolt. Without pulling the trigger and dropping the striker assemble you won't be working the cocking of the bolt.

Fired cases are fine. No need for snap caps.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

what i meant was that if you make up dummy rounds you will be able to insert them in the mag/magwell and cycle them thru the action easier than just having to put the empty brass in there each time. even just one dummy will be easier than the empty. unless you are just going to lock and unlock the bolt then draw it back partially rather than open and close the bolt all the way thru the sequence. heck you could just open and close it with no shells in there. i was told by a smith to lightly apply grease to the back of the lugs on my savage, the parts that actually make contact when locking up and sit there while watching tv and just cycle the action. he said after a few 100 times my action should smooth out. dont discout dryfiring either. its a good way to develop feel for the trigger. your already doing part of the motion, add snap caps and get a better feel. sometimes my hands dont type what my mind is thinking

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Rough/heavy bolt lift on an empty chamber - polish your cocking peice, the shroud where the cocking piece inserts and the cam. Cycle the action a few hindred times, WHILE DROPING THE HAMMER, otherwise you arent working anything with the cocking mechanism. No harm in dry firing.

Rough/heavy bolt close on an empty chamber - take a look at your bolt lugs and internal lugs.

if your working with dummy rounds, and are still having issues, it may be a brass sizing issue, or extractor issue.

 

[user]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Dryfire +1

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Thanks for all the advice guys. If it helps, I have a better description of how it feels- again, I'm using descriptive words here as I'm not sure on exact terminology.

Let's start with a slid-open bolt. The handle is obviously rotated facing upwards. I slide the bolt forward- smooth, no problem. Now, once I start rotating it closed, it first feels like it's hitting some sort of engagement stage where it's "locking" in- like a little jump -then much heavier pressure as I rotate closed - very workable, but not light. The reverse is then basically the same- a lot of pressure rotating back up, then almost a "click" (it's a feeling, not audible) at the top, and then it's smooth extracting. It happens with an empty chamber, and gets increased in stiffness by about 30% with an actual round in there.

So, again, from an open bolt, it's <overcome the locking click> <heavy pressure down> <heavy pressure up> <overcome the locking click>

I think from my experience with other bolts that the steps themselves are par for the course, but the pressure, I don't know.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

And no chance your scope base screw is protruding into the top of your action, rubbing on the bolt lug as it turns?

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

is that with an empty chamber or unfired factory ammo or a spent case?

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

I'll check for any protruding screws.

And it's with an empty chamber, and then a bit tighter with any ammo put in.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

if its new it just may need broken in. shoot or cycle it a bunch. its a 308? can you get dummy rounds made?

 

[cwshooter]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Loosen your front scope base screws and your front action screw several turns. Still have a problem?
You mentioned having swapped the bottom metal, so there's some chance that the screw is protruding into the lug recess. It's also likely that if this were the case, and you pushed the bolt closed under friction from those screws, you'd see some marking on the O.D. of the bolt lug.
CW

 

[TexasUSMC]

Re: Any do it yourself to smoothen a bolt?

Per Remingtons website. (I looked it up because I have always heard two different things, now I know)

The design of our Model 700, Model Seven, Model 7400, and Model 7600 will not be damaged by dry firing.

We do not recommend dry firing any of our rimfire models.

Our tempering process used to manufacture the springs inside the trigger and bolt assemblies will not be harmed if stored under tension.

If you do dry fire your rifle make certain that the firearm is unloaded. Visually inspect the chamber and be certain that there is not a round in the chamber. As always, treat every gun as if it were loaded and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Do not point the muzzle at any object you would not want to shoot.