Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Question for J.B. about bolt timing

Good morning. My question basically boils down to whether having your bolt timed / TIG welded has any effect on accuracy potential, or does it just fix extraction problems. I am going to have a Rem 700 trued by LRI gunsmithing and the Tier 1 price is $175.00. To have your bolt timed / TIG welded raises the price to $290.00.

If I understand correctly, bolt timing does not affect accuracy, it just fixes extraction problems. I am thinking that I am going to get the Tier 1 job and if I run into extraction problems later on, I'll deal with them then, unless bolt timing does play a role in accuracy potential. Any info would be appreciated.

Can't answer your question but since the cost is not that high I would go ahead and do the TIG weld and timing. This eliminates any concerns of the bolt handle strength which some consider a serious flaw of the 700 action. If altered very much after chambering it can throw the head spacing off to the point the barrel would need to be set back and re-chambered. This only in a severe case.

My inclination is that timing would have to be off to the point that the bolt was trying to open or torq when firing for it to throw accuracy off but not sure of this.

For the welded price you are also getting close to the cost of a custom one piece bolt which can cure both problems and provide better tolerances. But then at some point a custom action is actually more cost effective.

I have just been squaring the receiver face off and running them stock otherwise. A couple had sort of a dimple around the firing pin hole and these got the bolt face squared off. The bolt lugs were polished and only faced off if less than 50% contact was occurring after the polish cycling. I know some gunsmiths will take offense at this practice but works for my purposes which is hunting at reasonable ranges.

As I mentioned on the other forum. Too much money. Have the best do it for $50 including priority mail insured to time and microtig.. Dan Armstrong- www.accu-tig.com

Do it right or not at all.

jackhammer,

If you're not having noticeable extraction, cocking or bolt-lift problems, then the timing is OK, whether before or after you have the handle cinched down.

In my experience, real bolt-timing problems are pretty unusual.

There's a whole lot of 700's that don't need either printing or timing to shoot well. Most just need a good barrel

Has nothing to do with accuracy, only extraction, and the bolt handle will not fall off.

Has a Remington 700 bolt handle ever “fallen off” ?

Yep, just not that often, as JB noted. But, it's 100% if it happens to you.

Butch’s recommendation is a sure fix for a rare but possible problem.

Also, ask Dan about bolt timing. He's good at that, too.

DF