"open the bolt face"

[pig ranch deadeye]

My gunsmith told me he could rechamber my .270 win to the .270 Weatherby Mag. He said he would "open the bolt face." What exactly does that mean? How would he do it? Would that leave the bolt weaker?

 

[sedancowboy]

It is a common practice to "open" the bolt face. That is to enlarge the bolt face to accommodate the larger diameter of the Mag cartridge. That is really all the factory does when you get a rifle for a standard .473 case head or a .534 case head. It does no harm. Sometimes there may be factors that make it more or less difficult. Such as where the extractor is located and what type it is.

 

[pig ranch deadeye]

it is Rem 700

 

[sedancowboy]

Then it would be standard practice to open the bolt face.

 

[pig ranch deadeye]

Do they just drill it out bigger?

 

[elkaholic]

Do they just drill it out bigger?

Yes, to magnum diameter around .550".
He will probably put an m16 extractor in it too while he's at it.

 

[pig ranch deadeye]

Thanks for explaining it.

 

[066wally]

Not drill though. Machine on a lathe with a boring bar.

 

[MagnumManiac]

It's actually done vertically in the mill.
In this case, the extractor has to also be fitted and riveted.
If it requires the ejector plunger to be moved, then the face will require bushing and a new ejector hole drilled. I know I do this when going to a 404 Jeffrey case or a Rigby case head. I can't remember if it's necessary on a standard magnum bolt face.

Cheers.