Gunsmithing Clean it up, send it back, or smile at it?

[antithesis]

While not the best quality picture, the photo is a shot of the mini m16 ejector slot on a new bolt. The red arrow is pointing to the area of concern, which is the cut that opens to the firing pin. I am not sure what the purpose of the cutout is, my guess is gas relief, but not sure that it matters what I think it is for :/

The question is regarding the flashing and seemingly incomplete mill work. I was able to scrape some of the flashing off with a pick. What remains in the photo does not appear to be anything that will vibrate off during firing (.223 bolt face). Do I clean it up with a dremmel, send it back to the manufacturer and have them fix it, or just leave it alone?

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Send it back

 

[antithesis]

Send it back

Because it's bad craftsmanship or because it will be a problem?

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Both

 

[ugsly308]

Is this a rem 700 bolt?? I've never seen nor have I milled the slot deep enough to go into the FP hole.

 

[1moaoff]

Ugly!!!!! Wasnt done by LRI or SAC

 

[antithesis]

It is from an aftermarket action. Certainly not what I am guessing anyone would expect from this particular company so I am guessing someone had a really bad day.

I have another bolt from a different one of their actions. I don't recall if the other one is milled through but I will check tomorrow.

I am not a machinest / don't know Jack about milling, I had assumed the flashing indicated it was cut from the inside out.

 

[TheGerman]

What is that line of sludge?

Looks like someone tried to mig weld something together and gave up.

 

[antithesis]

What is that line of sludge?

Looks like someone tried to mig weld something together and gave up.

No sludge from welding, definitely from the cut. It is hard to get a picture of such a small spot and not have everything around it look like hell. The main slot is the width of an extractor, and you can see the width of the roll pin.

 

[TheGerman]

I would just send them this pic. It's pretty self explanatory.

 

[TxWelder35]

Looks like the result of a dull bit to me

 

[Praeger]

Whoever butchered your action milled the extractor slot too deep. Here are some photos from Area 419 of the way it should look. Send it back.

 

[308pirate]

Holy shit what a burr. @Gunfighter14e2 is correct. It's both shit workmanship and a potential problem.

WECSOG

 

[antithesis]

Thanks for the input. I sent an email to the mfg. with the photos.

 

[antithesis]

Mfg. wants the bolt back. They are handling shipping both ways. Sounds like this will come to a reasonably quick and satisfactory conclusion.

 

[357Max]

Looks like they milled the slot first and then drilled the hole. Should have been the other way around.
Drill bits don't like interrupted cuts.

 

[LRI]

The issue with the M16 extractor in an M700 bolt has always been the distance from center to the pocket floor. The issue at hand is because its a smaller case diameter, stuff has to move inward for it to work. Because the striker pin hole and striker don't scale down proportionally, you run out of real estate. Ignoring the surface finishes for the moment, that's what you have here as the root cause of the issue.

The solution?

Mine was to start making my own extractor. Been at it now for several years and its never been an issue since. The other is altering some toolpath strategies. Basically altering the pocket so that it's not parallel to the centerline, gets the claw over the case rim while letting its rear end sit elevated so that it clears all the internal features.

This bolt may work, but its not as intended. That slot serving as a gas check may or may not work out as hoped. Pretty easy for the forces at play during a "case fart" to really make a mess of things.

We install quite a few of these, north of 100 per month.

C.


LRI M16 XTR

 

[Average guy]

The issue with the M16 extractor in an M700 bolt has always been the distance from center to the pocket floor. The issue at hand is because its a smaller case diameter, stuff has to move inward for it to work. Because the striker pin hole and striker don't scale down proportionally, you run out of real estate. Ignoring the surface finishes for the moment, that's what you have here as the root cause of the issue.

The solution?

Mine was to start making my own extractor. Been at it now for several years and its never been an issue since. The other is altering some toolpath strategies. Basically altering the pocket so that it's not parallel to the centerline, gets the claw over the case rim while letting its rear end sit elevated so that it clears all the internal features.

This bolt may work, but its not as intended. That slot serving as a gas check may or may not work out as hoped. Pretty easy for the forces at play during a "case fart" to really make a mess of things.

We install quite a few of these, north of 100 per month.

C.


LRI M16 XTR

I always love reading your replies. No bullshit and solutions stated.

 

[antithesis]

The issue with the M16 extractor in an M700 bolt has always been the distance from center to the pocket floor. The issue at hand is because its a smaller case diameter, stuff has to move inward for it to work. Because the striker pin hole and striker don't scale down proportionally, you run out of real estate. Ignoring the surface finishes for the moment, that's what you have here as the root cause of the issue.

The solution?

Mine was to start making my own extractor. Been at it now for several years and its never been an issue since. The other is altering some toolpath strategies. Basically altering the pocket so that it's not parallel to the centerline, gets the claw over the case rim while letting its rear end sit elevated so that it clears all the internal features.

This bolt may work, but its not as intended. That slot serving as a gas check may or may not work out as hoped. Pretty easy for the forces at play during a "case fart" to really make a mess of things.

We install quite a few of these, north of 100 per month.

C.


LRI M16 XTR

I don't know that it was supposed to be a gas check-- don't know my head from my ass when it comes to that kind of stuff --which is partly why I made the tongue in cheek comment that it does not really matter what I think. Looking at @Praeger 's photos and then going back to my other bolts, it is pretty easy to say they screwed up this particular bolt and that the hole just should not be there.

I was also thinking this was some fluke thing, but a member sent me a PM and hit the name of the manufacturer dead-on. If in fact this is not isolated I would hope the manufacturer steps up and lets people know they may have a hidden problem. Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[antithesis]

Spoke with the manufacturer last week. Was told the cutout should have been finished but was not. My initial reaction was to argue a bit as I really did not think my other bolts from them had the cutout - between thousand of rounds producing fine brass shavings around the extractor, and being put through hell from blowing sand into the action for hours on end, the pin has never been dirty to the point of any kind of concern. Told them I would check my other bolts and then get back to them, if the pin on this one gets dirty as I was completely sure it would then they are going to have to make it right, all that jazz.

Turns out they are cutout so I had to call back an apologize.

Anyway, got it back today.

FIN

 

[Threadcutter308]

Whoever butchered your action milled the extractor slot too deep. Here are some photos from Area 419 of the way it should look. Send it back.

Beautiful work......