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Bolt head sizes?

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shiloh View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shiloh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2022 at 1:05pm
Kind of risky heat treating something if you`re unable to verify hardness, you risk the chance of failure if it became brittle.
Just saying. Wink
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britrifles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2022 at 1:10pm
True, but probably OK for the bolt head, as it only experiences a compressive load, albeit rather suddenly….


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shiloh View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shiloh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2022 at 1:19pm
Which could make it shatter, drop a plate, on impact its under compression, its brittle so it shatters.
Kind of a loose analogy, but the same principle applies but at 10`s of thousands of psi, instantaneously.
There`s no way I`d risk my face to that possibility.
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britrifles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2022 at 1:33pm
No question, an understanding of metallurgy is important when one does these sort of modifications. I don’t know how the bolt heads were hardened, and if they were subsequently tempered.  

In your plate analogy dropping on the floor, it’s really a bending type load that causes it to fail.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2022 at 5:53pm
Originally posted by shiloh shiloh wrote:

Kind of risky heat treating something if you`re unable to verify hardness, you risk the chance of failure if it became brittle.
Just saying. Wink
I have access to a Rockwell test stand shiloh. 
The actual heat treating proces took a combined time of 3.5 hours. 3 hours of which were just the tempering process alone.
I have 750 rounds through the rifle and the bolthead was magnafluxed after 250 rounds to check for any cracks.
Thank you for your concerns though...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Doco Overboard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2022 at 7:51am
Originally posted by scottz63 scottz63 wrote:

Awesome! Thanks for the info! I can do that. Kind of fun too. Can't wait until my receiver comes in so I can start.

What is the standard length for firing pin protrusion on these?


I fit my FP/striker protrusion between .040 and .050
Something else to consider in addition to striker protrusion is bolt head lift in a properly fitted bolt/striker combo.
At about the last 1/2 to 3/4 turn of the screwing in your bolt head you should have the cocking piece begin to lift. Clearance between the cocking piece and rear of bolt body should be around .016 and .060

The reason this is done is to prevent the safety stud of the cocking piece and from contacting the the long cam in the groove of the bolt and potentially damaging/ destroying it or other hard work that's been accomplished like lug fitting.

If the striker is to short, reduce the collar at the front of it. If it's too long adjust the receiving surface manufactured into the rear of the bolt head tenon.
Make sure the threads at the rear of the striker fit the cocking piece tightly to prevent them from wandering around inside the cocking piece which causes inconsistency in pull off and is cumulative to other poor fitting techniques.

The hemispherical shape of the striker where it protrudes through the bolt face should also be carefully examined for safety. If the shape is malformed to where it allows gas leakage to get past it where it meets the bolt face it could be hazardous, if its pointy the possibility of a primer pierce exists and the port in the front of the bolt face should be carefully examined to make sure its not pitted damaged or worn to where it has excess clearance.
Vickery's book has additional information for firing pin fitting for both rimmed and rimless cartridges across the board for various weapon types and contains additional reasons for fitting that are often overlooked or not considered by many so called professionals/gunsmiths.
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scottz63 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote scottz63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2022 at 8:32am
Thanks! I will check that as well.
14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 02 2022 at 9:17am
I know the gentleman that has built me several Lee Enfields uses the heat/oil hardening process as I got to visit his shop a couple of times last year. Loved the smell of it! Linseed oil, burnt oil, wood, leather... he mentioned he had enough parts to build 60 complete rifles. I believe him! Good bloke!
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