Bolt lug mating surfaces - checking

[Peter Laidler]

Just taking one minute part of that argumant a stage further Thunderbox, can I comment on line 2, sentence commencing 'Given the teeth... down to ......... wear out'. That is absolutely incorrect to the point of, well........., let's not even go there....... In the course of my dealing with a few No4's, I've seen literally HUNDREDS.............., no........ MANY hundreds that have worn through the induction hardened locking lug surfaces to the point where CHS is impossible to achieve.

I appreciate that our Base workshop facilities have the metallurgy facilities to test this. Something that the ordinary dealer probably doesn't have (do any out there have these facilities? Some probably do) so I'm minded to ask the obvious, that how does the average dealer or trader KNOW this? Indeed, it was this VERY point that decided the late 50's trials being undertaken to ascertain the viability of a No4 bolthead.

Work hardening.................. Mmmmmmmmm a much used - or in this case, much MISused notion. I say no more. But my last word here is this. Just make sure that your bolt is correctly fitted to and identifiable to your rifle. The other alternative is to just use ONE bolt for everything. Now there's an idea...................