Odd bolt surface wear

[brmfan]

Here is a bolt from a Remington 700 XCR in .300 WM. This was a used rifle when I acquired it and according to the shot count record the previous owner kept it has 117 rounds through it total. As you can see, the lug surfaces are wearing at the top edges, and there is a triangular shaped area that has not only become worn, but the width of the bolt face rim where the spot is located is .008" thinner than the rest of the bolt face rim. Sorry for the fuzzy pic... my iPhone camera suks!

What could be the cause of this type of wear and will the bolt sleeve need to be replaced? Thanks!

 

[GURU1911]

Bolt wear areas

The wear patterns are normal in appearance. However, wrap some red crocus cloth around a flat popsicle stick & polish the flats on the locking lugs & the shiny area on the bolt body. Then use some flitz, maas, or simichrome polish on the areas you just polished with the crocus cloth. Lube the bolt contact areas & put back into the receiver. You should immediately notice the bolt will lock-up & travel fore & aft much easier.

Any other questions, "pm" me !!!!!!

Guru1911

 

[Hog Buster]

Even though he’s a Texan, I agree with GURU1911. The wear patterns appear normal. They may be a bit more pronounced due to lack of lubrication. They always look worse on a dark bolt. Do as he says and you’ll find an improvement.

 

[brmfan]

Thanks fellas! I'll give it a try.

 

[James K]

Don't just polish the bolt; that wear is coming from rough areas in the receiver and bolt lug raceways. Wrap some emery cloth around a dowel and polish the inside of the receiver ring where the bolt nose enters and also the raceways, top and bottom.

What I always did to smooth up a 700 was to just remove the stock, clamp the barrel in the vise, dump some fine valve grinding compound in the receiver and work the bolt a half dozen times. Then rinse the whole thing out in the gunk tank, put the stock back on and Voila! a super slick action.

Jim