https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/ AllGunStuff Discussion Board en-US Thu, 07 May 2026 21:46:19 +0000 wpForo 60 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7007 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:57:39 +0000
Due to machining tolerances of the day, RSA bolts are not always interchangeable. Most knowledgeable gunsmiths when faced with a RSA action would true the action before fitting a barrel; i.e. chase the thread, square the front and lap the bolt lugs.

Something else you may need to check. If you couldn't close the bolt, it is reasonable to suspect that the gunsmith didn't either. So, to my mind, the headspace is suspect. The bolt lugs may need lapping as well to ensure proper bolt lug contact.]]> Rifles - Long Guns janfred https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7007 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7001 Sat, 09 Aug 2025 06:32:22 +0000 I presume the thread is fairly fine?

It is a fine thread, I didn't measure what it is.

]]> Rifles - Long Guns 414gates https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7001 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7000 Sat, 09 Aug 2025 06:21:29 +0000
There is a definite undercut visible in the second picture, where the body of the bolt in is the collar, the collar overhangs the bolt body about half a thread.

If it was one piece, there would be no undercut, it would be flush, with no demarcation. It's highly unlikely that the the undercut was machined into a one-piece bolt.

If you remove the firing pin and look in, you'll clearly see if the body is threaded in or not.

No need to fix what isn't broken.

From a design point of view, these rifle bolts were probably made as economically as possible. Much cheaper to assemble a rifle bolt from screwed together bits than machine it from a solid block.

From a stuck bolt perspective, if you have a fired case stuck in the chamber and the collar unscrews on open, there is no way to open the bolt. The barrel will have to be removed, the case extracted, and the bolt lugs mechanically engaged and rotated out.]]> Rifles - Long Guns 414gates https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2/#post-7000 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2#post-6996 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:39:03 +0000
Good on you for fixing a professional's mistakes. Personally I'd try to get an original bolt. Might not look as tactical as that, but would be a lot safer in my opinion. Imagine the locktight gives again and allows the collar to rotate far enough without the locking lugs locking. I don't think that handle is strong enough to act as a bolt lug. Your idea of pinning it seems prudent.
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]]> Rifles - Long Guns janfred https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2#post-6996 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2#post-6995 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:11:41 +0000 Rifles - Long Guns Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind/paged/2#post-6995 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6994 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:09:30 +0000
My understanding is that all RSA action bolt bodies are threaded. If they are or not, I can't say, I have one other that looks different, it doesn't have the mauser claw, it has the same handle with threaded collar.

If yours look like this, it's threaded together.

Where the thing came from and how it came to be is not the issue, the issue is 'gunsmith oversight', of which this is just one example, the most recent for me.

]]> Rifles - Long Guns 414gates https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6994 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6991 Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:15:48 +0000
In my experience, there are generous tolerances around the bolt to avoid this exact scenario. Added to this is that I have never seen a RSA bolt with a threaded bolt handle "collar" that needed to be locktighted onto the bolt.

Was the action screw mod done to your action?
Is this an aftermarket bolt?]]> Rifles - Long Guns janfred https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6991 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6988 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:56:42 +0000
an area of contact, not a point

what is the significance ?


]]> Rifles - Long Guns 414gates https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6988 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6987 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:36:36 +0000 Rifles - Long Guns janfred https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6987 https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6986 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:16:29 +0000 None of the 4 models currently in my safes have a screw-in bolt handle

This bolt handle is not screw in.

The whole bolt body is 'screw in'.



This is exactly it. The bolt handle is on a collar. The bolt body is screwed into that collar. On the underside, there is a recess in that collar that the cocking sleeve slots into. If the bolt/collar is turning against the bolt without the bolt moving, ie : screwing the bolt further into the collar, the cocking sleeve can travel fully forward with the lugs not engaged, or at the very least not fully engaged.

]]> Rifles - Long Guns 414gates https://systemz.online/rifles-long-guns/sticky-bolt-of-the-other-kind#post-6986