Sloppy bolt

[2aimtrue]

Hello Friends,
I have been lurking and learning here for some time, now. My Austrian sporter rifle was introduced here by Rick the Librarian a few years ago. I have added a sling with Uncle Mike's hardware since then and will put up new photos soon if you're interested.
My question is about the sloppy bolt. The receiver is nickel-steel but the bolt is an early, straight-handle design. There is quite a lot of slop in the fit of the bolt to the receiver but the action works fine and many rounds have been fired without incident. The problem is that the action of pulling the trigger actually moves the bolt up, which makes for a less than stellar trigger pull. Holding the bolt handle down with my free hand on a bench rest mitigates the problem somewhat but that is not ideal, to say the least.
Would a nickel-steel bolt fit better in the NS receiver, assuming the head spacing was correct? If I find an NS bolt body, will the internals of the early bolt work in it?
I am going to a local gun show this weekend to look around for one. I'll take the rifle with me to check for fitment - I hope there are go/no go gauges, or at least a field gauge, available to purchase if I find something.
I will also need to check for bolt-handle/scope clearance. That may have been the reason for using the early bolt in the first place.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

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[2aimtrue]

OK, I puled the gun out and looked it over again. Part of the problem was that the bolt handle was hitting the stock just slightly when closed. I just increased the little notch by denting it a small amount with a piece of round stock steel and hammer so as not to remove the finish. I also realized that I had been working the bolt with an empty chamber. Putting an spent case in there helps a lot. Still wouldn't mind having a correct NS bolt.

[2aimtrue]

At a gunshow today I tried a couple of other bolts in the rifle. A type 3 bolt was very snug in the receiver and locked-up nice and tight. However, the safety lug did not make contact the receiver leaving about a 32nd of an inch gap and it would not clear the scope. Another type 3 bolt would not even close. I also tried an A4 bolt, which was as loose in the receiver as my bolt and, of course, would require modifying the stock, which I am loathe to do. But it did clear the scope.
I spent a lot of time with a very knowledgeable gentleman there, the vendor who had a beautiful (and pricey) 1936 NM rifle and two A4s, among lots of other military surplus rifles. Per his assessment, it appears that the handle on my bolt was bent to allow it to clear the scope. He also found the faint outline of an "X" on top of the bolt handle that had been mostly polished away - which is why I could not find any markings. There is a punch mark on the bottom of the handle that indicates heat-treating, I understand.
Is it important that the safety lug contact the rear of the receiver? He advised me that accuracy can be adversely affected by even the slightest bolt movement. He also said that I would be better off having the handle of a type 3 bolt, that fits snugly, modified to clear the scope, assuming head spacing is OK.
I am going back tomorrow. Any advice?

[Kirk]

The safety lug MUST NOT contact the receiver bridge. There should be a small gap, .03-.04" or so.

[2aimtrue]

OK, wound up not buying a bolt. The vendor I was working with is fairly close so I can always go down there and pick something up. He also says he has some NOS unfinished C-stocks by American Bowling Pin. He priced a C-stock and all SA metal at $600. Seems a bit pricey but I am tempted.
Thanks, Kirk, for that info. The clearance between the receiver bridge and the safety lug on my bolt is a very small .005 inches when closed. The gap on the type 3 bolt I tried was actually closer to .1 inches.
I used my 10X diamond loupe to look for an "X" outline on my bolt handle that the guy said he saw but could find nothing. Hmmm.

[Chuckindenver]

some bolts will contact the stock, {replacement stocks} and or repalcement Bolts,
you can slightly notch the stock as the military did to fix this issue, or find a correct bolt, and or stock.