Gunsmithing Dialing in a 700 bolt

[flyfisherman246]

Ive read all I can about the best way to dial in a 700 bolt. Some ways sound better than others. Its hard to do when the whole thing is made up of different chunks of steel and egg shaped. What points are being dialed in? In my opinion, in theory, you would want to dial in the center line of the bolt. To me this would mean the firing pin hole on one end, and the OD of the bolt as far back as you can get an indicator. Even if the firing pin is off center, that's still where all the forces of the firing pin are being directed and all the contact surfaces can be recut around this. What are other guys doing? Thanks

 

[fdkay]

The problem with that is the bolt nose is brazed in place and normally not concentric with the centerline.
Most folks indicate on the bolt nose.
Some use the LaBounty fixture, some make a sacrificial mandrel and use the bolt body, some use the viper fixture, as it allows you to do the bolt, action and barrel in the same fixture.
As I see it, and I could be wrong, the biggest problem you face when removing metal from the lugs is that you typically remove metal from the lug recess as well and now you've thrown off your extraction and may need to move your bolt handle forward.

 

[flyfisherman246]

I'm alright with moving the bolt handle forward if too much is taken off. So should the bolt body just be forgotten about when dialing in, just indicate off the nose in front of and behind the lugs?

 

[fdkay]

I'm alright with moving the bolt handle forward if too much is taken off. So should the bolt body just be forgotten about when dialing in, just indicate off the nose in front of and behind the lugs?

Here is one way:

Truing The Bolt On A Remington 700

Blueprinting, or truing a rifle action ensures the receiver face, threads, lugs, bolt lugs and bolt face are square to the center line of the receiver. As part of the blueprinting process for bolt…

rifleshooter.com

 

[LRI]

I solved it this way:

5C collet chuck. 5C collet. A few hundred bucks in EDM work to have the lug profiles "wired" into the collet. What it does for you: You never, ever have to dial shit in again. Center is center based on the mean average across the length of the bolt supported by the collet. Need to get the front exposed? Warm up the handle and just learn how to solder it back on. WAY faster and cheaper in the long run than dickering around with dialing shit in only to have it slip on you should a tool engage a little too much 1st pass or whatever.

It's not for everyone I get, but if you do this for a living, this is how you don't starve.

 

[carlsbad]

I do a lot of bolt bushing. I have dedicated fixtures for many bolts that are validated aligned in 3 dimensions for the bolt it fits. For the one off bolts, I use a cathead with a slot in the side to dial 3 dimensions....gets a lot faster with practice.

--Jerry

 

[BadAccountant]

1.

I solved it this way:

5C collet chuck. 5C collet. A few hundred bucks in EDM work to have the lug profiles "wired" into the collet. What it does for you: You never, ever have to dial shit in again. Center is center based on the mean average across the length of the bolt supported by the collet. Need to get the front exposed? Warm up the handle and just learn how to solder it back on. WAY faster and cheaper in the long run than dickering around with dialing shit in only to have it slip on you should a tool engage a little too much 1st pass or whatever.

It's not for everyone I get, but if you do this for a living, this is how you don't starve.

This post requires pictures.

I don't build anymore because I make way more money with my big boy job now, but I'm interested to see this setup in action.

YT video maybe?

 

[Gene Poole]

I solved it this way:

5C collet chuck. 5C collet. A few hundred bucks in EDM work to have the lug profiles "wired" into the collet. What it does for you: You never, ever have to dial shit in again. Center is center based on the mean average across the length of the bolt supported by the collet. Need to get the front exposed? Warm up the handle and just learn how to solder it back on. WAY faster and cheaper in the long run than dickering around with dialing shit in only to have it slip on you should a tool engage a little too much 1st pass or whatever.

It's not for everyone I get, but if you do this for a living, this is how you don't starve.

This has saved me countless man-hours! I'd love to see you EDM'd collet.

 

[LRI]

1:10 starts the bolt work.

 

[BadAccountant]

That is awesome. No kidding that it keeps you making money in this business.

I saw your action truing video with the CNC machine cutting the action vertically with an endmill and then rethreading via CNC.

How much does that open up the receiver threads and can prefits be used?

 

[fdkay]

That is awesome. No kidding that it keeps you making money in this business.

I saw your action truing video with the CNC machine cutting the action vertically with an endmill and then rethreading via CNC.

How much does that open up the receiver threads and can prefits be used?

Typically, opens up .010.
No, you can't use pre-fits