Home done No 4 Re barrel

[Doco overboard]

So I checked the fit of the bolt body with dye chem to check engagement and it seemed to have even contact. I did this with a empty case with the stripped bolt head in place and there was about the same percentage of contact on both lugs. Those lugs are shaped like a helix and are very tricky to look at. I checked head space as best I could with make shift feeler stock and it was a little tight so I then lapped the face with a piece of oiled wet dry paper on a trued block just a touch to remove an even coat of the blue. The bolt head stops rotation right in line with the bolt guide rib and needs a push towards tight to get the bolt started into the rear of the raceway I felt the slack come out of the lugs and stopped when the bolt handle was at the point where it would drop on its own if there was no tension or resistance on it with the longer of the two measurements. Test fired into the ground four times and no problems with feeding or ejection. I must go back and read more about pressure at the fore-end because this one is tension-ed upwards but snaps to rest with a light tug in a straight line. The stock is little used with no burnishing at the knox form or barrel channel from contact so maybe more work is in order, need to read more. I think I like the design of this rifle vs. the other US rifles I own from the same period. Seems more rugged simple and complicated all in the same package which is more interesting to me, there's more to do with them. Going to punch paper quite soon.