I just bought a bolt rifle in .222 and realize now that my inspection was not as complete as it should have been. Got caught up in the shape of the metal and the stock and how it grouped. It's history was unknown to me and I guess I was thinking with my heart not my head. A close inspection at home revealed some serious bolt face erosion from gas leakage past the primer. I'm talking about a pronounced ring around the firing pin hole than is not merely darkened but in fact corroded. What are my options?
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bolt face erosion
- Thread starter Quadra
- Start date
Inspector3711
New member
Quadra, thats tough to answer. I may not know the answer to your question but there are those who will on here. It's critical that you post a picture so we can see the degree of the erosion.
I understand it bothers you.Lets think about it.
Hot loading ,to the point of loosening the pockets,is the most obvious possibility.
Overzealous "case preparation" to the point of reaming the pockets oversize is possible.
Realize reloading can create a situation that is functionally excessive headspace ,by setting the shoulder back.Excessive headspace ,well,the firing pin drives the case forward,obturation causes the case to grip the chamber walls.The primer is forced back to the bolt face(protruding).Then,as pressure builds,the case sets back to the bolt face.
I suggest you use SAAMI spec safe reloads.Do not hotrod.I suggest fresh brass,so you have good primer pockets.I suggest an RCBS precision Mic so you control the functional headspace.
So long as there is enough steel to support the primer and case,some erosion is cosmetic,and I would enjoy the rifle.
Hot loading ,to the point of loosening the pockets,is the most obvious possibility.
Overzealous "case preparation" to the point of reaming the pockets oversize is possible.
Realize reloading can create a situation that is functionally excessive headspace ,by setting the shoulder back.Excessive headspace ,well,the firing pin drives the case forward,obturation causes the case to grip the chamber walls.The primer is forced back to the bolt face(protruding).Then,as pressure builds,the case sets back to the bolt face.
I suggest you use SAAMI spec safe reloads.Do not hotrod.I suggest fresh brass,so you have good primer pockets.I suggest an RCBS precision Mic so you control the functional headspace.
So long as there is enough steel to support the primer and case,some erosion is cosmetic,and I would enjoy the rifle.
SwampYankee
New member
I've got an Ishapore Enfield with significant bolt head erosion around the firing pin hole but the headspace is fine. It never occurred to me that the erosion could be a problem, I assume it was from the extensive use of corrosive ammo. I paid 100 bucks for the thing and just shoot it with POF ammo because it goes bang. Should I bother trying to find a replacement bolt head?
Quadra, the gas that escapes is hot, high pressure, metal cutting gas, if the case was not traveling, the primer would not be backing out, I know when the case is removed the primer is seated, the ring on the bolt face is evidence the primer backed out, then reseated, the scary part is when reloading the reloader thinks the shoulder is moving out (forward) when in fact the shoulder is attached to the body of the case, this could mean the case with it's shoulder is locked to the chamber and it is the head of the case is traveling, leaving the only part of the case that can stretch is the area between the body of the case and case head, this will cause insipient separation, I apply the leaver policy, when the case stretches and the shoulder? moves out, I 'leaver out', this avoids primers going back and forth and cases stretching in the only place it can stretch, in front of the web.
And: when sizing the hand loader thinks the shoulder is moving back and never considers the shoulder is attached to the body of the case, this could mean the sizing, reduction, could be taking place at the junction of the head of the case and case body, shoot it-stretch it, size it-compress it, cut down on all of that travling, when the shoulder moves out, 'leaver' out.
F. Guffey
And: when sizing the hand loader thinks the shoulder is moving back and never considers the shoulder is attached to the body of the case, this could mean the sizing, reduction, could be taking place at the junction of the head of the case and case body, shoot it-stretch it, size it-compress it, cut down on all of that travling, when the shoulder moves out, 'leaver' out.
F. Guffey
The bolt can also be bushed and the firing pin hole re-bored.
The damaged area is cleaned up and a step is left in the new hole (larger at the bolt face).
A steel step bushing that is barely a friction fit is then pressed into the bolt face and cleaned up to just flush with the old face.
I would not bother unless it is very pitted, and then I would want to have the bolt lugs at least magnafluxed even if the headspace checked.
The damaged area is cleaned up and a step is left in the new hole (larger at the bolt face).
A steel step bushing that is barely a friction fit is then pressed into the bolt face and cleaned up to just flush with the old face.
I would not bother unless it is very pitted, and then I would want to have the bolt lugs at least magnafluxed even if the headspace checked.
Ignorance rules, in more ways than one!
Sorry guys I have been struggling with this format all day and have tried on 3 occasions to reply to my initial post of "bolt face erosion". But anyway here I am. Thanks for your speedy and informative replies. Today I spent considerable time and energy examining all of the brass and loaded rounds, both factory and reloads that came with this rifle. The brass from factory loadings appeared fine. The extremely well worn Sako brass both loaded and not displayed some serious discrepancies. Case length was all over the place and at least two of the LOADED rounds showed obvious signs of primer pocket leakage. The two powders used (IMR 4064 and IMR 3031) don't seem to me to be the optimum powders for the .222 calibre. They are listed in Speer #11 but I don't think too many guys are using them with 55 grain pills. I am seeing a picture of careless or inexperienced reloading and hopefully this was the cause of the damage. I've just ordered some go and no-go guages to check the rifles head space to be safe. Hopefully the cause is apparent and the solution at hand. Regards
Sorry guys I have been struggling with this format all day and have tried on 3 occasions to reply to my initial post of "bolt face erosion". But anyway here I am. Thanks for your speedy and informative replies. Today I spent considerable time and energy examining all of the brass and loaded rounds, both factory and reloads that came with this rifle. The brass from factory loadings appeared fine. The extremely well worn Sako brass both loaded and not displayed some serious discrepancies. Case length was all over the place and at least two of the LOADED rounds showed obvious signs of primer pocket leakage. The two powders used (IMR 4064 and IMR 3031) don't seem to me to be the optimum powders for the .222 calibre. They are listed in Speer #11 but I don't think too many guys are using them with 55 grain pills. I am seeing a picture of careless or inexperienced reloading and hopefully this was the cause of the damage. I've just ordered some go and no-go guages to check the rifles head space to be safe. Hopefully the cause is apparent and the solution at hand. Regards
Q,So there I was,mopping a locker room when your bolt face floated up in my mind and I had one more idea for you to check out.
Most rifles in .222 are also available in .223.Most folks would choose a .223.
But,one kind of shooter who might choose a .222 would be the guy who says,"Yeah,your .223 will bust grapes at 200 yds,but I shoot match heads.The OCD benchrest accuracy freak would pick a .222.One of the things these guys do is neck turn,sometimes just a little for concentricity,sometimes more to control neck tension.Now,this neck turning might be counter productive if it left the cases fitting loose in the neck of the chamber,so these OCD freaks who want to shoot matchheads at 200 yds have special chambers cut with undersize necks.If the rifle opens way up to shooting .125 MOA groups,they go apoplectic and dump the gun.Now,if you have one of these and do not turn your necks,your cases won't expand to let go of the bullets.Good,sane,reasonable book loads might make way high pressure.
A clever guy with some guage pins could probably figure out if your chamber neck ID was at least .0015 or .002 larger than the OD of the neck on a loaded round.
Most rifles in .222 are also available in .223.Most folks would choose a .223.
But,one kind of shooter who might choose a .222 would be the guy who says,"Yeah,your .223 will bust grapes at 200 yds,but I shoot match heads.The OCD benchrest accuracy freak would pick a .222.One of the things these guys do is neck turn,sometimes just a little for concentricity,sometimes more to control neck tension.Now,this neck turning might be counter productive if it left the cases fitting loose in the neck of the chamber,so these OCD freaks who want to shoot matchheads at 200 yds have special chambers cut with undersize necks.If the rifle opens way up to shooting .125 MOA groups,they go apoplectic and dump the gun.Now,if you have one of these and do not turn your necks,your cases won't expand to let go of the bullets.Good,sane,reasonable book loads might make way high pressure.
A clever guy with some guage pins could probably figure out if your chamber neck ID was at least .0015 or .002 larger than the OD of the neck on a loaded round.
Q,check my last post on your original on neck turning.See if that Sako brass mics the same OD over the neck as your other brass. If the sako brass mics small,or if the brass looks neck turned,be suspicious the rifle may have a tight neck chamber.
Benchrest type guys sometimes will find maybe 36 rounds of brass they like and then use it over and over,neck sizing only and reloading at the range.Maybe that brass was fired 20 times.
I intend no disrespect to benchresters,you guys have contributed a lot!!
Benchrest type guys sometimes will find maybe 36 rounds of brass they like and then use it over and over,neck sizing only and reloading at the range.Maybe that brass was fired 20 times.
I intend no disrespect to benchresters,you guys have contributed a lot!!