Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bolt face pitting/etching

Hello writers!

I wanted to run this one past the experts and see what you fellows think of it. I just received a 1948 Winchester Model 70 standard rifle in 30-06. It looked very good, bore looks great, etc. But I didn't look at the bolt face.

While I was shooting it today I noticed the primers had a little bit of material that was proud, which had to be from the cup flowing into pits on the bolt face under pressure. Sure enough there are two small pits.

But there are also some imprinted circles on the bolt face. The inner looks like its the outline of a primer pocket, but I don't know what the outer one is. Could that be the case head, because of strong rearward thrust? Has this old timer been fed some hot suppers, and should I be worried about setback, headspace issues etc?

I don't happen to have 30-06 gauges or else I would check. Rifle seems to shoot well though. The cases shown here were either a 130gr Barnes TTSX with 50.5gr IMR3031 or a Speer 130gr JHP with 48.5gr 3031. One of them is rather flattened, but I know my scale is accurate and these are both according to reloading data not heavy loads.

Actually, taking a look at the rear lugs, it looks like one had an attempt at lapping it, this top one here with the finish that goes from dark to light? The other lug has some kind of shallow gouge/trench across it's face.

Can't really say I am digging that.

Could have been from a bad lot of primers, obscenely hot handloads and/or loose primer pockets from bad brass or hot loads.

I’ll be interested to hear more informed opinions.

Me too, Brad!

To be honest, having seen the faces of the locking lugs and the apparent lapping they went through makes me a bit more concerned than the bolt face. The seller is an honorable guy and is offering to pay to have it inspected by a gunsmith, but not too stoked to have the rifle out of action that long either.

If he says the lugs make enough contact and the headspace is okay, cool. If not...Well.

Yea Winchester primers a few years (6-8?) Ago . Had issues

Ask him if he used WLR primers?

He hasn't shot it and i have no reason not to believe him. He said he had picked it up as trade bait for the same rifle in 270 Win and never got around to it. Could well be the previous owner used Winchester primers though!

Blown primer would be my guess.

These caused the same issue with one of my rifles.

Remington primers had issues and a recall some years back also. Same thing happened to the bolt face on a Kimber, Model 7 Rem., Ruger Ultralight. Remington paid to all 3 of them fixed.

Yep, had WLRs do that to a M700 bolt a few years ago.

etching of the bolt face in not too uncommon in a rifle that has been shot with hot loads that caused gas leakage, or brass with primer pockets no longer seal properly (even with “regular” loads).

The etching can deepen with continued misuse, which will exacerbate the problem. I have in the past repaired bolt faces like this by filling the pits with TIG welding, and refacing the bolt in the lathe. This is not work for the average hobbyist, or even average gunsmith.

Lapping the lugs on a factory rifle (that you aren’t planning to rebarrel) that is already probably on the “generous” side of the headspace range is not recommended. If you lap until you get to 100% contact, you will likely now have excess headspace. If you stop lapping at max H.S. you haven’t really accomplished anything, but enlongated your chamber. Setting back the barrel is an option, but is time consuming.

Post script: it’s worth adding that the degree of lug contact you see is about normal for a factory rifle. As long as the headspace is within specs, there’s nothing preventing you from shooting it in that shape. The bolt face might/might not be a problem for you.

Yeah...the bolt face has some pits in it. But other than cosmetics, it's a non-issue when it comes to safety or function. The bolt face can be repaired and when done by a qualified 'smith, the case head to datum will be within a few thou of factory, if not dead on.

On the lugs...again, a non-issue. When you close the bolt, the trigger levers the back of the bolt upward. On a factory action or one that has a generous amount of clearance between the bolt diameter and the raceway in the action, it's not unusual to see the back of one lug showing more contact than the other...normally it's the lower lug when the bolt is in the closed position. The locking lug abuttments in the receiver will show the same pattern.

Good shootin'. -Al

Greg Tannel for the win. He will make the bolt face better than new. The firing pin hole looks oversized. He will bush the bolt face and turn down a firing pin for the new smaller hole. His work is flawless and very reasonably priced. Call him: 970 878-5421

What Al said. Shoot it and enjoy. Keep a little grease on the lugs

Listen to Al.

I agree with Sakoluvr on Greg. Great guy and gunsmith.

I know Greg wasn't taking on any new bolt work recently. He does great work, as do several others. -Al

OP, I have found that calling Greg directly is the best way to see what he will do and not do. Very nice fellow.

Yep! -Al