Gunsmithing Straight fluting bolts

[Brodie]

Is the absolute dumbest thing ever......I have a hart barreled 6BR on a remington 600 action, it was given to me by my father who also has two other 600's with the bolts straight fluted one of them by Hart.
All of them ratchet on the follower, he doesn't seem to mind but it drives me absolutely nuts.....I'm breaking out the dremel(yes the dremel) to put a chamfer on these flutes.
Sorry about the rant but to anyone thinking about fluting their bolts go helical or don't bother.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

so i guess you found out why all repeater bolts get flutted in a helical fashion

 

[steelcomp]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

LOL...well that answers that question.

 

[Tactical30]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

Im getting my first precision bolt gun built as I type this and having the bolt fluted was the last thing on my mind.

Its not worth the extra money to me. No real advantage. Just for looks.

 

[BlackOps Tech]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

Brodie,
I don't want to poor salt in the wound, and it's too late now, but it is possible to straight flute a bolt and NOT have it ratchet over the rounds in the magazine. Granted, the guys that already responded are correct, it is for looks (straight as opposed to helical).

 

[steelcomp]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

There may be some small advantages in severe environments like sand or frozen conditions, but for the most part, I agree. It looks very cool, though, and lets face it...looks are an important part of what most people are after with a custom build.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steelcomp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There may be some small advantages in severe environments like sand or frozen conditions, </div></div>

personally, i don't even believe that. i can see it causing a bolt to lock up from grit more than it can help keeping it from locking up. the flutes give a place for dirt to accumulate and could be cammed into the receiver when the bolt is opened where a smooth bolt body would not allow the dirt to accumulate at all. that is just my opinion though. i think debris blowing into the lug recesses will cause a malfunction long before flutes on a bolt would save it.

 

[BlackOps Tech]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

I think there's truth to what you're saying 300. Most bolt flutes appear to be in the wrong place to help with <span style="font-style: italic">debris</span>. The flutes should be placed in the areas that reduce surface area where the bearing surfaces are, which is mainly helpful for ice/snow.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

320 sand paper and a round sanding block might look better than a dremel.

 

[PMPerformance]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

AZPrecision beat me to the reply..Take some emery cloth or 600 sand paper around a small socket and some good old fashion elbow grease..I'm sure you'll be much happier with your results.I had to do that to an A-bolt I had straight fluted..

 

[subgunr]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

Just look at "equiptment" that operates in harsh enviroments...see any flutes on the cylindrical rotating parts.
99% for looks...and the 30 lb hard case that that fluted bolt travels in, to and from the range...for looks also.

Helical flutes tend to push debris towards or away from a point. Straight flutes just give it a place to sit until the flute fills up.

If you feel as you must have a fluted bolt..dont flute it where it contacts the rounds in the mag. That way a debris filled flute dosn't ever contact the brass case and deposit said debris on the case and into the chamber when it loads.

There is some food for thought..

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

So fluting is just a gimick used by AI........ damn their black souls!!!!!!

 

[BlackOps Tech]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

No. The AI flutes are in the areas of bearing, as I mentioned.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ROLEXrifleman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So fluting is just a gimick used by AI........ damn their black souls!!!!!! </div></div>

fluted bolt bodies in the ejection port area are a gimmick as far as i am concerned, <span style="font-style: italic">if</span> someone is claiming they increase the functionality in harsh environments. take a look where the "ice breaking" flutes are on an ai rifle and then take a look at the goochi flutes on our bling-bling rifles. notice anything different?

if someone says they fluted a remington style bolt because it looked cool, then that's not a gimmick. that's an opinion and they certainly have the right to make a rifle look any way they please. if they said they fluted their bolt because they had a weight limit for their competition class and they were less than an ounce over the limit, fine, i'll buy that.

 

[Brodie]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

yep, I will never own another fluted bolt.
As for debris, with the ratcheting effect on this rifle it sure sounds like you could break apart a large ice dam in the action

sandpaper, files, dremel we'll see what gets it fixed, then gunkote.

 

[Hooper]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

Take it to a local machinist and have them run it in the lathe while holding some sandpaper on the flutes. Be sure they do it in both directions.

 

[Brodie]

Re: Straight fluting bolts

hooper, i'll throw it in the lathe tomorrow night and let you know how it goes.