Bolt fluting

[Paul1262]

I plan to have my Bergara B14 HMR 6.5 CM bolt fluted ( standard helix design). I'm doing this for cosmetic reasons only and was wondering if there were any possible negative aspects of accomplishing this task?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Makes your wallet lighter

 

[Paul1262]

That's true when it comes to most cosmetics

Just my opinion, but instead of having the bolt fluted or perhaps in addition to having the bolt fluted, have the firing pin hole bushed.

I have the Bergara BMP in 6.5 Creedmoor. The firing pin hole on the B-14 bolts for 6.5 Creedmoor is too big. As a result when shooting a high pressure cartridge, like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the primer will crater and flow around the firing pin.

I did not think much of this, even after someone at the range inspected a spent cartridge and commented on it.

I attended a Bergara sponsored range day last year. After shooting with the Bergara folks, I set up my rifle a few lanes down. Out of coincidence, the firing pin on my BMP pierced the primer on a Hornady 140gr ELD Match round. Some metal from the primer was stuck in bolt and prevented the firing pin from dropping on the next round. Luckily the guys at Bergara where there and quickly disassembled the bolt to free the firing pin. Not difficult to do. But not something you want to happen on a hunt.

Lesson learned... get the B-14 bolt bushed.

Gre'-Tan Rifles is a gunsmith that will bush the Bergara B-14 bolts. Note that he also replaces the firing pin.:

https://www.gretanrifles.com/product-page/bush-firing-pin-hole-turn-pin

Bergara has just been added to one that we can do. But it will need one of our pins because we can not turn their's down. To bush the bolt, labor to change out the cocking piece and a new firing pin is included $130.00 + $13.00 for shipping = $143.00 total.​

I haven't had this problem with the Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor and I use Hornady 140 gr ELD Match ammo also. I appreciate you relating your experience in this matter and will check out Gre'-Tan Rifles web site just in case.

 

[308pirate]

I haven't had this problem with the Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor and I use Hornady 140 gr ELD Match ammo also.

I would stop right there worrying about your firing pin hole.

This is a deal that either happens right from the start or never does. The clearance between the firing pin and firing pin hole in a particular rifle is what it is and won't change unless you change something.

If yours is working fine leave it alone. Someome else's rifle blanking primers or not is of no significance.

 

[Paul1262]

I would stop right there worrying about your firing pin hole.

This is a deal that either happens right from the start or never does. The clearance between the firing pin and firing pin hole in a particular rifle is what it is and won't change unless you change something.

If yours is working fine leave it alone. Someome else's rifle blanking primers or not is of no significance.

Thanks for the input. I probably should of posted this thread originally in the gunsmithing section.

 

[Jake the dog]

Here's another option. Buy the Premier bolt from Bergara and take care of both issues. I have a B14 BMP that was piercing SRP. I wanted to buy a bare bolt and have it brushed, but they don't sell them that way. A complete Premier bolt comes fluted with a small FP for about $300. It dropped right in, no headspace issues. Another plus, ordered Wednesday, had it Friday. You will probably have to call to order, try to talk with Chad.
I believe Sonicburlap did the same thing, maybe he'll chime in.

 

[Paul1262]

It came down to buying the Bergara Premier bolt for $300 or having LRI flute my current bolt for about $50.00 (includes shipping) and I decided to go for the LRI option. I know that the Premier bolt has some other advantages like ease of cleaning, already fluted, and is a drop in however, I couldn't justify the extra $250.00. If the LRI options doesn't work out then I will purchase the Premier bolt. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[hafejd30]

I went through LRI and couldn’t be happier. Zero downsides I can see. Made the bolt operation smoother as well on mine

I do agree with 308 above. If no issues I wouldn’t send back or upgrade the bolt unless you truly feel it’s worth it

 

[hafejd30]

I’ll add to the above and note both were also cerakoted by LRI as well. Which could attribute to the smoothness

 

[Paul1262]

Thanks for relating your experiences with LRI. Everyone says that LRI is a great company and provides terrific gunsmithing. Mailed my bolt yesterday. Will let you know how it turns out.

 

[LRI]

Thanks for relating your experiences with LRI. Everyone says that LRI is a great company and provides terrific gunsmithing. Mailed my bolt yesterday. Will let you know how it turns out.

Give us a good review or I'll saw it in half.





EDIT:

In all seriousness. IF you own an M700 bolt and your having it fluted and IF you ever have aspirations of installing an M16 Extractor down the road, TELL US WHEN YOU SEND IT IN FOR FLUTING so that we use a program designed to account for that.

I try like hell to articulate this on the store, but it happened again this am. We flute a bolt and when Kalli is catching up the tracker the owner called and added the additional work. Had we known this ahead of time we'd of left material there.

It doesn't hurt function, but it does have a bit of an "amateur night" appearance afterward.

MAKE A NOTE!

 

[hafejd30]

They also emailed updates with pics of my bolt from receiving to shipping it back. And turn around time was about 2 weeks if I remember correctly

 

[Krazy_jim]

Give us a good review or I'll saw it in half.

Could take a video of it on the new machine

 

[LRI]

They also emailed updates with pics of my bolt from receiving to shipping it back. And turn around time was about 2 weeks if I remember correctly

We need to work on that delivery. Holidays, getting rid of the old machine, a new machine install, and the "show season" where our big vendors lean on us hard, pushed everything back further than normal.

Sorry about that.

 

[hafejd30]

We need to work on that delivery. Holidays, getting rid of the old machine, a new machine install, and the "show season" where our big vendors lean on us hard, pushed everything back further than normal.

Sorry about that.

I thought two weeks was awesome ?

I’ve had stuff sent out than it would vanish for a year or so and all the sudden show back up at my door. And that company was not only hard to reach but quoted like 4-6 weeks. I thought my experience with you guys was one of the best I’ve had and would recommend you to anyone. So ya two weeks is what I was quoted and almost spot on. So thank you for that ?

 

[Paul1262]

Give us a good review or I'll saw it in half.





EDIT:

In all seriousness. IF you own an M700 bolt and your having it fluted and IF you ever have aspirations of installing an M16 Extractor down the road, TELL US WHEN YOU SEND IT IN FOR FLUTING so that we use a program designed to account for that.

I try like hell to articulate this on the store, but it happened again this am. We flute a bolt and when Kalli is catching up the tracker the owner called and added the additional work. Had we known this ahead of time we'd of left material there.

It doesn't hurt function, but it does have a bit of an "amateur night" appearance afterward.

MAKE A NOTE!

I'm sure it will be a good review. The bolt that I sent was from a Bergara B-14 HMR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Therefore, the edit doesn't apply to me but it does puts others on notice. Thanks.

 

[Paul1262]

Give us a good review or I'll saw it in half.





EDIT:

In all seriousness. IF you own an M700 bolt and your having it fluted and IF you ever have aspirations of installing an M16 Extractor down the road, TELL US WHEN YOU SEND IT IN FOR FLUTING so that we use a program designed to account for that.

I try like hell to articulate this on the store, but it happened again this am. We flute a bolt and when Kalli is catching up the tracker the owner called and added the additional work. Had we known this ahead of time we'd of left material there.

It doesn't hurt function, but it does have a bit of an "amateur night" appearance afterward.

MAKE A NOTE!

Just a follow up on my bolt fluting experience with LRI. Any business can learn from the way LRI runs their company. They keep you informed at every stage, email when part(s) received with full description along with an assigned job number, a completion email with a photo of your part(s), a shipping email with tracking information, a follow up email ensuring that you received your part(s). Finally, the customer service was excellent and the bolt workmanship outstanding.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Just a follow up on my bolt fluting experience with LRI. Any business can learn from the way LRI runs their company. They keep you informed at every stage, email when part(s) received with full description along with an assigned job number, a completion email with a photo of your part(s), a shipping email with tracking information, a follow up email ensuring that you received your part(s). Finally, the customer service was excellent and the bolt workmanship outstanding.

Yes indeed couldn’t agree more. Chad is killing it over there!