Advice needed ... bolt opens on firing!

[Peter Laidler]

I think Cinders is right. And I think that the moderators ought to step in and close these foolhardy notions and ideas that really have no place in a common sense led and sensible discussion that now seems to be bordering on the farcical. Not because of any censorship issues but to be honest, safety and what I call 'the bleedin obvious.......'

Just my common sense approach based on a couple of years on the bench

Information

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[spentprimer]

Hello gentlemen,

I just thought a short report to let you know that I appreciate your well wishes and concerns for my health. Unforunately, my mental health is the same as usual, fast cars, fast motorcycles, fast rifle (.220 Swift), etc., etc., etc.

I suspect Scott will post a video sometime this weekend of the proceedings of the day that I can link to so you can see the set-up.

A little smoke was placed on the locking lugs and the bolt closed several times to see if both locking lugs were bearing equally, no changes were made. Satisfied with that, off to the range it went. The rifle was placed on a machine type rest from the local Wal-Mart store and clamped in place, then a 1 inch wide nylon cargo strap secured the rifle and rest to the shooting bench top. A loop of paracord was tied through the trigger guard to actuate the trigger. The magazine was loaded one at a time and six rounds were fired in that manner from twenty feet away with the paracord. Scott recorded this part of the shooting session. No case head separations, no hard extractions, all went normal as I had hoped. The rifle was removed from the rest and I fired ten more rounds from my shoulder while seated without incident. I do not have a source for any proof loads or I would acquire some and see what happens. The bolt did not jump up or even move with this test firing today. No punctured primers were observed.

Afterthoughts: The bolt body that came with the rifle is very badly worn. The bolt that was just fitted to the rifle shows some signs of blueing finish wear, but, no material wear. When pushing down at the rear of a closed bolt with the striker forward, the old bolt moved more than 1/8", the "new" bolt shows no visually discernable up/down movement. After grinding the boltface, the dimension from the boltface to the shoulder of the bolt head is .631". The method of chucking the bolt in the lathe and grinding the boltface has the boltface flat and square to the world. Plastigage on a fired case is a useable method of determining headspace. The ammo used today was a mix of BG 1944 VII surplus, HXP 75 surplus and reloads utilizing WRA 1943, Federal Cartridge, REM-UMC, Dominion, R-P, 1942 DC G IV Z and Superspeed brass. All cases chambered without an issue.

This has been a very interesting learning experience and everyone's input here on this thread have been very much appreciated. Your concerns for my safety have been much appreciated as well. I have a thick skull you know. This rifle will probably be shot once or twice every few years just see if it still goes bang with my own lower pressure reloads. A big THANK YOU to all of you.

I will post a link to Scott's video when it is uploaded on U-tube.

[CINDERS]

Can anyone tell me which end the pointy bit comes out of?

Oops sorry for the mirth but I just wanted to get the last hoorah on this rather long saga which could have been cured on the first bolt lift.
I am for spentprimer now his rifle will not hurt anyone also all the knowledge and info I gained in trolling through theis mammoth saga of ?

"Smelly lifts bolt, thousands bemused by this happening" Keep the faith have fun and enjoy a rifle that has such a long history and really is an induvidual to each other one!!

Cinders