Safety question re mismatched bolt

[L.Sherm]

I wouldn't do anything untill you are sure you have the correct boltface and make sure its correctly headspaces.

 

[Ron-NJ]

The bolts are generally the same size, the bolt face openings are different (to a degree) --- did you try pushing the magazine follower down to make sure it's not catching on it?

Find a gunsmith and have him check it or send it back--- it's not right if the bolt wont close without a cartridge in the chamber.

If you were to fire a smaller cartridge case than the chamber you have, the brass will surely balloon to your chamber but may not seal and could allow gasses to escape back to your bolt face, or worse- your hand or face.

Play it safe and have a more knowledgeable person look at it when it comes to safety.

Tried it with and without the magazine in. Bolt face is too big for the action. You can see as the bolt approaches the chamber it stops as the action narrows. The question wasn't about putting a smaller cartridge in the chamber it was would the gun cycle with the appropriate cartridge in the in the chamber with a smaller bolt. My gun will not chamber any round because the bolt face is too big to seat all the way to the chamber. But I was concerned if the sent another incorrectly sized bolt, this one smaller than 6.5PRC instead of bigger, if the gun would cycle. It appears the opinion of people is that the gun would not cycle.

 

[wildcat455]

The reason for the post was to ask people more knowledgeable than myself what the possibilities are. Say they send me another bolt. This one is 6.5 Creedmoor. (The bolts aren't marked.) Will it fit and cycle in my 6.5 PRC rifle? End of question.

OK.

Here's my more knowledgeable response to your dilemma.

If I were you, I wouldn't have them send you a bolt.
Matter of fact, I can't imagine they would. That bolt needs to be fitted to that action. They need to make sure they get proper lug engagement with whatever bolt they put in there.
You know when you said the bolt wouldn't close all the way? That's because it's not the right bolt fitted to that action. The locking lugs weren't fitted properly, is my guess. If you are able to partially close the bolt, that tells me you are at least on the lug cam surface of the action.
I haven't seen the rifle.

The takeaway here is Improper lug engagement can cause devastating things to happen at 65,000 psi.

You should expect nothing less than full lug engagement, especially from a "semi custom rifle".

Send everything back. Get whatever RMA you need from them to track and reference.
Due to this situation happening with this rifle of yours and the company who made it (unnamed)
I would also ensure an independent gunsmith local to you, looked it over and gave you a "Green Light" to take it to the range and shoot it.

Ron, no one is preventing you from learning anything here. I choose not to comment on the "Possibilities", especially where safety is concerned.

 

[Ron-NJ]

Thanks. Its not the magazine. I tried it with and without the mag in. You can see through the ejection port that there is not enough room in the action for the bolt to make it to the chamber. It hits the sides with about an inch to go.

The question was never about firing a smaller cartridge in the gun. It was always, would a bolt for a smaller cartridge fit in the action and cycle a round.

Thank you to Mallardhammer for being the only person to actually answer my question.

 

[Ron-NJ]

OK.

Here's my more knowledgeable response to your dilemma.

If I were you, I wouldn't have them send you a bolt.
Matter of fact, I can't imagine they would. That bolt needs to be fitted to that action. They need to make sure they get proper lug engagement with whatever bolt they put in there.
You know when you said the bolt wouldn't close all the way? That's because it's not the right bolt fitted to that action. The locking lugs weren't fitted properly, is my guess. If you are able to partially close the bolt, that tells me you are at least on the lug cam surface of the action.
I haven't seen the rifle.

The takeaway here is Improper lug engagement can cause devastating things to happen at 65,000 psi.

You should expect nothing less than full lug engagement, especially from a "semi custom rifle".

Send everything back. Get whatever RMA you need from them to track and reference.
Due to this situation happening with this rifle of yours and the company who made it (unnamed)
I would also ensure an independent gunsmith local to you, looked it over and gave you a "Green Light" to take it to the range and shoot it.

Ron, no one is preventing you from learning anything here. I choose not to comment on the "Possibilities", especially where safety is concerned.

Thank you Wildcat.

 

[wildcat455]

You are welcome Ron... but I noticed things changed a bit..

Is there a scenario where a 6.5 Creed or 6 Creed would fit into a 6.5 PRC barrel. Chamber a round. And then fire that round.

It was always, would a bolt for a smaller cartridge fit in the action and cycle a round.

You went back and forth on your question.

Mallardhammer was not correct in the context of how I think you are taking it.

I actually took Mallardhammer's post:

"Dude..no"

To mean you were barking up the wrong tree...

The only correct answer to a very vague and ambiguous question without having the particular defined samples of bolt and action in hand is:

"Anything is possible, when the Possibilities are anything".

It doesn't really help you resolve your situation though. So it's really mental masturbation...

I swapped bolts on 2 remington 700 rifles that shoot 2 different cartridges. One in 264 win mag and one 30-06. The bolts cycle completely.

Right there is or should be enough for you to send it all back and have them make it right, and then have a local gunsmith check it over with go no go gauges, etc.

Well, certainly hoped you learned something.
(Besides thinking I'm a jerk.)

LMAO!!!

 

[Ron-NJ]

You are welcome Ron... but I noticed things changed a bit..





You went back and forth on your question.

Mallardhammer was not correct in the context of how I think you are taking it.

I actually took Mallardhammer's post:

"Dude..no"

To mean you were barking up the wrong tree...

The only correct answer to a very vague and ambiguous question without having the particular defined samples of bolt and action in hand is:

"Anything is possible, when the Possibilities are anything".

It doesn't really help you resolve your situation though. So it's really mental masturbation...

I swapped bolts on 2 remington 700 rifles that shoot 2 different cartridges. One in 264 win mag and one 30-06. The bolts cycle completely.

Right there is or should be enough for you to send it all back and have them make it right, and then have a local gunsmith check it over with go no go gauges, etc.

Well, certainly hoped you learned something.
(Besides thinking I'm a jerk.)

LMAO!!!

AHH I see the confusion. I should have said "Is there a scenario where a 6.5 Creed or 6 Creed BOLT would fit into a 6.5 PRC action. My bad.

"I swapped bolts on 2 remington 700 rifles that shoot 2 different cartridges. One in 264 win mag and one 30-06. The bolts cycle completely." THAT'S the answer I was looking for. Thanks

 

[Eat Rice]

"I swapped bolts on 2 remington 700 rifles that shoot 2 different cartridges. One in 264 win mag and one 30-06. The bolts cycle completely." THAT'S the answer I was looking for. Thanks

Just because they swapped and ran smoothly between 2 different guns and a standard cartridge and a magnum doesnt mean thats an answer. Your bolt raceway sounds like it not correct. When somebody says that you need to open up your bolt for a magnum cartridge its only where the head of the case goes. The outside if the bolt(where you are having problems) does not change(well it does between manufacturers etc) you need to take the firearm to a smith and get it checked out completely and fitted.please dont just swap bolts and fire. Most if not all bolts need to be fitted and tuned to the action.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Any SA bolt of the same make as the action should fit in a SA. Action dimensions don't normally differ much.

You have not given much information about the rifle. Like what action it is.

Here is a scenario: If you have an R700 SA in 6.5PRC, it is a SA bolt with magnum .532" bolt face. But an R700 SA bolt from a .308Win .473" bolt face will still fit in your action. Or from a .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5CM, 7SAUM, etc. And vice versa. But may not necessarily close WITH A CARTRIDGE due to the case head not fitting in the bolt face.

Here is a story from my local range a couple months ago.
I was helping a stranger bore sight and zero his scope at the table next to me. The guy at the next table saw and heard what I did and asked if I could help him. I did. Pulled his bolt and bore sighted it. He had a target at 50 yards. I was watching through my spotter. He touched off the first shot, it hit the dirt by his frame. So I watched THE SHOOTER next. Form looked OK. His next shot was 3' left. Then in the dirt. He asked if I would come shoot one. Well, when I closed the bolt, something didn't feel right. So I ejected it and rechambered it. Still felt off. Ejected it again and looked at it. 6.5CM round......barrel was stamped .308Win.....
I handed him him round and said, "You are shooting the wrong ammo in this gun man, you are one lucky moron." and walked away. He packed his **** up and left without saying a word, looking like someone kicked his puppy. Not even a thank you or I'm sorry..
Wished I would have looked at and got photos his fired brass.

 

[longrangebob]

No Serial # on Bolt that matches # on Action?
Are Bolt Lug "races" in action clear?
Detachable Box Magazine ?? If so, will Bolt Glide Closed with it removed??
Assuming same make Bolt as Action - should close with different Bolt face - (ie. if .308 vs. 6.5PRC)
Have you talked with GunMaker who made it??

If all above consistent - cleared — send it back (or did you & friend assemble it yourselves?? & if other disassembled rifles exist where bolt(s) could have been put with wrong rifle(s) in error ???

If it were me and I have purchased a barreled action - i'd Phone & send it back to maker

 

[longrangebob]

Follow-up to above - another Bolt is not the solution !!
Hope I'm not being too obvious but another bolt would necessitate "Headspacing"

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

Please post a solution once you get this figured out. Good Luck.

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

Could it be something as simple as a too-long screw that is blocking the raceway?

 

[Ron-NJ]

Just because they swapped and ran smoothly between 2 different guns and a standard cartridge and a magnum doesnt mean thats an answer. Your bolt raceway sounds like it not correct. When somebody says that you need to open up your bolt for a magnum cartridge its only where the head of the case goes. The outside if the bolt(where you are having problems) does not change(well it does between manufacturers etc) you need to take the firearm to a smith and get it checked out completely and fitted.please dont just swap bolts and fire. Most if not all bolts need to be fitted and tuned to the action.

It does mean that's an answer. For me anyway. I'm shipping the entire rifle back to the company.