Some new rifle bolts
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 6:07 pm
I recently read somewhere that there are only two ‘Non Military’ rifle action builders here in the UK which confused me as I could instantly think of half a dozen without too much imagination. Accuracy International build for the civilian market and Rangemaster are certainly doing something so this is two unique manufacturers, by unique I mean they are doing their own thing as opposed to something else, probably best to stop moving on this track as I will get myself into trouble. There is also Mayfair Engineering who I have a feeling are doing their own take of the Mauser action, there are a couple of custom builders doing two lug systems and there are the Chombart designed Model 59 rifle actions and the Model 66 rifle chassis systems. These last two are singularly unique in manufacture here in the UK based on a few features such as 22,0mm diameter three lug Delta configuration bolts with Belleville stack ignition systems and they are light metal with bolting inserts.
What this means in simple terms is the receiver is machined from 7075T6 with a steel insert at the front which enables the rifle bolt to engage with the barrel. As I said, simple terms.
Today was a special day for us here at the SHED as we have just had the bolts for the next batch of actions returned from heat treatment. I am always slightly wary of HT as until it is out of the oven and has been checked and test certificates issued to show hardness you never quite know what to expect. OK well actually I know exactly what to expect hardness wise as the HT process is very precise, carried out in a vacuum and with computer controlled process stages so really the final product is a given. One of the things about process control is get the process right and the end product should be as expected.
The bolts, firing pin sears, shrouds and bolting inserts that came back today from HT were no exception, perfect in every single way.
Here they are in all their splendour. Well OK here they are in plastic bags, yes if you look very closely you will notice the bolting inserts are not shown, I am not going to publish pictures of these parts as they are of a design that is unique and we will not share such information.
So what does this mean? Well I am going to be busy for one thing…
Actually the really good news is we have expanded the range of bolt faces and accordingly the cartridge families that can be supported are as follows:
.308 bolt face family with inertia ejector
.308 bolt face family without ejector
PPC bolt face family without ejector
.223 bolt face family with inertia ejector
So with the exception of magnum bolt faces we can support the vast majority of factory and wildcat cartridges. The interesting one for me is the PPC Non ejector as this family of cartridges is something I have never worked with and I do like the idea of a super polished aluminium action and barrel and one thing I can certainly do is make 7075T6 shine.
What this means in simple terms is the receiver is machined from 7075T6 with a steel insert at the front which enables the rifle bolt to engage with the barrel. As I said, simple terms.
Today was a special day for us here at the SHED as we have just had the bolts for the next batch of actions returned from heat treatment. I am always slightly wary of HT as until it is out of the oven and has been checked and test certificates issued to show hardness you never quite know what to expect. OK well actually I know exactly what to expect hardness wise as the HT process is very precise, carried out in a vacuum and with computer controlled process stages so really the final product is a given. One of the things about process control is get the process right and the end product should be as expected.
The bolts, firing pin sears, shrouds and bolting inserts that came back today from HT were no exception, perfect in every single way.
Here they are in all their splendour. Well OK here they are in plastic bags, yes if you look very closely you will notice the bolting inserts are not shown, I am not going to publish pictures of these parts as they are of a design that is unique and we will not share such information.
So what does this mean? Well I am going to be busy for one thing…
Actually the really good news is we have expanded the range of bolt faces and accordingly the cartridge families that can be supported are as follows:
.308 bolt face family with inertia ejector
.308 bolt face family without ejector
PPC bolt face family without ejector
.223 bolt face family with inertia ejector
So with the exception of magnum bolt faces we can support the vast majority of factory and wildcat cartridges. The interesting one for me is the PPC Non ejector as this family of cartridges is something I have never worked with and I do like the idea of a super polished aluminium action and barrel and one thing I can certainly do is make 7075T6 shine.
