Polytech M14 on GB

[SRiverrat11]

OK, I have now heard the term "soft bolt" a couple of times and yet no one has explained what it is or how you tell if you have one. And, is it really possible for a gun that has been here since the 90's to not have had it changed? And here is yet another subject I must profess ignorance on. Thanks for any information.

[Neal Myers]

Headspace on most rifles is determined by the bolt & the receiver. The chamber supports the case & contains the pressure generated by firing. So, we prefer the bolt lugs to lock up tight in the receiver recesses. If either bolt or receiver steel is not hard enough, or the lugs don't fully engage, or both, you will get excess headspace which can lead to split cases, & eventually catastrophic failure. Early Chicom bolts were soft, plus some did not have good bolt lockup. I think the Chicoms have been in the US for > 30 years, but you never know how much it's been fired, or if it's been upgraded.

You can tell what kind of bolt your rifle has by photographing the markings on the top of the bolt & posting the pics here. You can tell if your rifle has excessive headspace if cases are splitting, &/or by measuring the headspace with gauges. If I were you, I would pay a gunsmith familiar with service rifles to perform a technical inspection (should be < $100).

Replacing a Chicom bolt is not a "drop in" operation. Most folks will want to use a USGI bolt, made to USGI milspec; it must fit perfectly in a Chicom receiver, that is NOT made to USGI milspec. Both are hard steel; which do you alter? Probably the receiver, because, once done, you never have to worry about problems replacing the bolt.

Neal

[Sarge]

Only the very early imports had problems! These were all correkted within a year or so.
Sarge

[Mikesm44]

I guess I'll put in my 2 cents. I have always liked the M14. I see a lot of M14s around here. Never seen one for $1000. If I did it'd be in my safe right now.