p14 cocking piece safety issues

[aletheuo]

Pictured above is the bolt assembly without spring showing the final position of the cocking piece as close to the head of the bolt as possible. The firing pin must be limiting travel.
Looks like I probably need a whole new bolt body or have someone perhaps add a bit of material into it without affecting it's head treat if that's at all possible.
Bolt lock is also missing and there wasn't a hole drilled in the new handle either so that needs to be done.
Firing pin protrusion is about 90 thou - Assuming that's the complete travel possible as there's nothing under the cocking piece to prevent it from going further that way.

So, am I in for a new bolt body and cocking piece? Also, is the handle just soldered on usually? Kinda looks that way. I'll def need a straight one to fit in the stock.

Jamie

[RC20]

No, they are not just soldered on. Often that is done for a military rifle that has the bolt modified for clearance when scope is put on.

I single load and shoot mine at the range so the safety would not be an issue for me.

I think the pin protrusion is too much, will see if I can find my data on that. Pierced primer and gas release so wait to fire it.

My take is that someone did a home shop job on that bolt.

I know its easy to say but I would be inclined to a new bolt and very likely trigger if that has been mangled the same.

I think it has to be a P14 specif bolt body as the 303 is a rimmed round and would be larger than a 30-06. Maybe P17 could be opened up.

I don't say that lightly but I did build a 7.5 Swiss on a modern action and was able to do that as the body diameter is the same, it was just a matter of how much materiel was opened up on the face.

I do say that with caution, the Savage can replace the head if I had made a mistake, no so on the P17 of course.

[oldfoneguy]

Jamie nothing about your bolt looks "normal" to a P14. Are you sure this rifle started life as a P14? Here is a picture of my M1917 bolt (left) and my P14 bolt. Your bolt doesn't seem to have the step on the left of the notch that mine has and your notch is much deeper.

I'm not really sure what's going on with your rifle at this point but my recommendation would be to bring it into a gunsmith to insure that it is safe to shoot. - Bill

[aletheuo]

Jamie nothing about your bolt looks "normal" to a P14

oldfoneguy - correct, it ain't normal. I've just ordered a cock on opening speed lock kit from numrich but that's not going to be enough. The bolt is either going to have to be fixed or replaced as it appears to be a cock on opening cock-up by a kitchen gunsmith. Because I like the handle and it's correctly headspaced already, I'm leaning towards having some material added to the bolt (yes, carefully, ensuring the lug temper doesn't get screwed up) and then re-grinding it to the stock profile at the cocking piece opening. I think that's the easiest way.

[oldfoneguy]

I hope this plan of attack works out for you and your not just chasing you tail as your original bolt IS a mess. A replacement stripped bolt at Numrich runs $37.25-US but has a non export warning. I'm sure you could find one in Canada, however headspace becomes an issue at that point and unlike an SMLE or No4-No5 rifle it is not as easy to adjust. It would have to be professionally installed. Of course overall condition of the rifle will have to justify such an investment including the muzzle and throat. Replacement barrels are available but you will have to decide how far you want to go with this project.

I wish you luck in this endeavor and hope it works out because as I've said before they are great shooting rifles and for the world to loose one because of a hack job would be a shame. - Bill