uneven lug contact

[okie man]

I have a weatherby vanguard and when you look at the lugs on the bolt one has full contact and the other has no marks at all. gun shoots 5/8'' groups with my handloads. should I try lapping it? will that screw up the head space?

 

[shortgrass]

It might!

 

[Gunpoor]

Since you are a roll-yur-own guy a little more headspace shouldn't be that big of concern. If you don't already neck size your brass that is about the worst that could happen and really I don't think you would remove that much metal unless the lugs are waaay out of spec. I have only used lapping compound on action lugs once and that was a co-workers Rem 700 BDL 22/250Rem that had been re-blued by Remington. When he got the rifle back the bolt wouldn't hardly close. I suggested he make arrangements with their service dept. to fix it, but he begged me to see what I could do. It didn't take very long running the action with the compound in it to loosen it up just enough. Make sure to remove the compound when you have finished with it.

 

[mrbigtexan]

just out of curiosity, how many rounds have been run through it and what caliber is it? If it shoots that good, then depending on caliber, i wouldnt mess with it.

 

[mrbigtexan]

Since you are a roll-yur-own guy a little more headspace shouldn't be that big of concern. If you don't already neck size your brass that is about the worst that could happen and really I don't think you would remove that much metal unless the lugs are waaay out of spec. I have only used lapping compound on action lugs once and that was a co-workers Rem 700 BDL 22/250Rem that had been re-blued by Remington. When he got the rifle back the bolt wouldn't hardly close. I suggested he make arrangements with their service dept. to fix it, but he begged me to see what I could do. It didn't take very long running the action with the compound in it to loosen it up just enough. Make sure to remove the compound when you have finished with it.

Could you explain alittle further as to why more headspace would'nt matter much? What if its already close to the total maximum allowable headspace?

 

[okie man]

just out of curiosity, how many rounds have been run through it and what caliber is it? If it shoots that good, then depending on caliber, i wouldnt mess with it.

it's had about a 100 rounds through it. 257 weatherby. more worried about safety factor than accuracy. my 15 year old has taken a liking to it. here's a picture of lugs. left lug has no marks .right side has all the finish wore off

 

[Dr. Vette]

I'd call Weatherby. They are usually quite responsive to questions, and happy to discuss it.

 

[etisll40]

Yes, call Weatherby, let them fix it or recommend. We need to keep these service departments in business and they need to know if something is off. A good service department will look up the manufacture date and discuss with a supervisor. That's how QA works. Please report back here if you do.

Happy New Year.

 

[J E Custom]

Don't do anything until you know where the problem is. It may not be just the lugs, It could be the bolt face is not square or the receiver face is not square to the bolt, ETC.

You are right to concern yourself with head space because with belted cases It is more important
to have good head space for accuracy and brass life.

I would recommend that you First check Head Space and if it is between .0005 and .002 you can proceed to find where the problem is and address it.

Just a recommendation

J E CUSTOM

 

[okie man]

Don't do anything until you know where the problem is. It may not be just the lugs, It could be the bolt face is not square or the receiver face is not square to the bolt, ETC.

You are right to concern yourself with head space because with belted cases It is more important
to have good head space for accuracy and brass life.

I would recommend that you First check Head Space and if it is between .0005 and .002 you can proceed to find where the problem is and address it.

Just a recommendation

J E CUSTOM

gonna call weatherby Monday.

 

[Hired Gun]

In a perfectly square action the top lug will not touch when checking it with the trigger in place. If it shoots goods just go shoot it. I bet you find with unsized fired brass it will start showing wear on that sharpie mark in short order. Those Vanguards are usually pretty good as they come.

 

[LONGSHOOTER]

It's his bottom lug that's not seating.

 

[Hired Gun]

This is unusual. I guess that's what I get for staying up late.

 

[okie man]

shot 6 shots out of it today. 3 hornady 117 sst, 71 gr. h1000 ,215 primer. just under 1". 3 117 sst, 68.5 gr 7828, 215 primer. right at a inch. brass looked great on both loads. below book maximums. neither was as accurate as 70 grains h1000. colored both lugs with sharpie and checked them after 6 shots. still no contact on one lug.