No4 Bolt Head question

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   When looking for a replacement or spare bolt head for a No4 Mk1 or 2. Is there any problem fitting a bolt head from another manufacturer? i.e. if you have a Fazackerly made rifle, will a Savage or Long Branch bolt head screw in properly and line up? What about the SMLE's do the same rules apply?
I want to get a spare or two form my rifles so would rather find out the easy way!!

Thanks in advance, Zed

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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: No4 Bolt Head question Posted: July 08 2014 at 3:47am
	When looking for a replacement or spare bolt head for a No4 Mk1 or 2. Is there any problem fitting a bolt head from another manufacturer? i.e. if you have a Fazackerly made rifle, will a Savage or Long Branch bolt head screw in properly and line up? What about the SMLE's do the same rules apply? I want to get a spare or two form my rifles so would rather find out the easy way!! Thanks in advance, Zed
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 08 2014 at 3:53am
	All manufacturers should be interchangeable, with a couple of caveats. 1: You need the same length, or longer & reface it to match. Bolt head numbers seem to be debatable as to whether they were accurately made to a specific length & later re-ground as some kind of "field expedient" deal, or not. 2: Locking lugs need to be checked & maybe fitted for bolt lug engagement & then head-spaced. 3: No1 doesn't even pretend to have numbered versions with differing length you have to measure & match.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Bear43 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bear43 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 08 2014 at 5:51am
	One thing Shamu didn't mention is that the bolt head should only overclock by a relatively small amount (I don't remember the specs of the top of my head). Sometimes it can take a few bolt heads to find one that clocks in like it should.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 08 2014 at 8:21pm
	Well I've just bought a spare, that appears unused and is stamped 1. It's a bit of a gamble to see if it's better than the one on my rifle. My head space is within limits, but tightening it up a bit would probably help the case life a little.
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Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 08 2014 at 9:35pm
	#1 is fairly short. Good luck with it.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 1:57am
	I know there can be variation in length even with the same number, so it's a bit of a gamble. It's not too expensive and appears unused with no extractor etc. My rifle already has a No1 bolt head but has a bit more overturn than I would like. It's not easy to find these at a good price. What do they fetch in the USA? Are they easy to find.
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Bear43 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: August 11 2010 Location: Doland, SD Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bear43 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 3:16am
	They are easy enough to find over this way, Zed. Prices vary a bit depending on where you buy. What I have seen lately is they are running anywhere from $15-$30 a piece.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 5:07am
	About the same here.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

SW28fan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 3389	Post Options Post Reply Quote SW28fan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 5:10am
	The number 3 heads are harder to find and generally cost more
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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 5:18am
	One company in the UK has No3 heads at 90 pounds, thats must be close to 160 dollars US!! Has anyone ever tried getting new ones made?
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Canuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Cochrane, AB Status: Offline Points: 4021	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 09 2014 at 6:59am
	I suppose a tool and die maker could cobble up a bolt head in any dimension you would need.He might just need a blueprint to go by.
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TRX Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: November 20 2009 Location: Arkansas Status: Offline Points: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote TRX Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 12 2014 at 9:35pm
	US prices seem to run closer to 5 to 10 pounds, depending on whether it's new, used, or has the extractor bits included. I'd keep looking. The vendor you found seems to be mighty proud of his inventory, to paraphrase a local saying. Bolt head overturn was 5 to 10 degrees in the early days; near the end when the rifles were reaching the end of their service life the overturn figure was increased to 20 degrees. You check the bolt head clocking by turning lightly with two fingers, not like trying to twist off the cap of a beer bottle.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 19 2014 at 10:01pm
	Well I got to compare the new bolt head with the original one on the rifle. They are both stamped "1"; but due to the varying sizes it was a gamble if it would be any better. Well it sort of is, and isn't! It is exactly the same length at 0,632". But the good news is the new one clocks in perfectly to tighten exactly in line with the main lug rib. The old one would turn past it and was close to the 20° limit. So while there will be no improvement in headspace, it will prevent wearing the threads from recoil as it's perfectly on the shoulder. Which may also help with the accuracy due to more even load bearing onto the bolt. So in view of the fact I took a gamble and it was only 20 Euro's, I'm happy with that. Let you know if it makes any difference to group size.
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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: August 25 2014 at 3:20am
	Just to update; while on vacation I picked up two bolt heads for the No4 rifle. They are a 2 and a 3. both would bring the head space into a better place than it is at the moment; I bought both in case the clocking in the the bolt was off. Well, I got lucky again!The 3 head lines up spot on with the rib, which is great, the 2 over turns about 10°. Now I have to re-size all the brass to fit
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Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: August 25 2014 at 5:16am
	Welcome back I hope you had a good vacation.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: August 25 2014 at 8:15pm
	Yes the vacation was good;too much rain though! spent a couple of days in Normandy, and a lot of time working on the house, fitting parquet floors and making doors and stuff. It's coming together slowly. Got some range and shed time too as well as spending lots of time with my daughter, who's 3 1/2. I'm back to work now and my daughter will start school next week.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!