Improved bolt on my custom .358Win mauser

[wquiles]

Although I really like my custom .358Win mauser, I have always hated the bolt - specifically the bolt head. A couple of weeks ago, when myself and others got to shoot it with subsonic loads (my cast Lee 200gr PC load), everyone included myself had a hard time operating the bolt - not only that, but being it was so close to the scope and mounts, about 1/3 of the folks got cut/scraped while operating the bolt. Now that I am vacation, and had time to think, I decided to "fix" that bolt for good.

Before pictures:









I browsed the internet on and off for several days looking at pictures to get ideas/inspiration, and then decided to call my mentor and long time friend for advice. He recommended oxy/acetylene to bend it and possibly remove the "ball". I settled on bending like he suggested, and then making a threaded stem to then manufacture a suitable bolt head.


I followed my mentors advice to setup the right tip on the gas welding torch, and had plenty of soaked rags to prevent over-heating the bolt body itself:


Once at temperature, and by trial and error (3x tries on the rifle), I was able to get it bend "just right":


I then took a bolt as a guide, and I ground down the ball until it was "close enough" to start threading by hand (using a tap):

 

[wquiles]

I then using sandpaper, molded the stem until it was ready to tap. Yes, slow process, but worth it doing it right:





Now I had to make a bolt head. Al, steel, or ..., why not Titanium? Found a rod of CP, and realized it was bent - oh man, that took a while between centers to get straight:



Put on a new insert face before getting to the target diameter before knurling:





Once straight, I looked at my Savage 308 police rifle with the large bolt for "inspiration":

 

[wquiles]

The bolt head's OD was right at .885"


Using the online-calculator for knurling diameter gave me a target of .879"


I got close enough, I think:


Right about .878"-ish:

 

[wquiles]

Then mounted my Dorian cut knurler and went to town:





Yes, made this portion twice as long in case I messed up:



Then the 2nd most hated part about working with Titanium - drilling


and the #1 thing I hate the most about working with Titanium - threading:



As always, so nice when things work out with threads:

 

[wquiles]

Then started work shaping the bolt handle to make a "long" taper to clear the scope:




I did it 3x times, at 20deg, then tried 10deg, and finally settled at 5deg. Once I had the right taper, I gave it some grooves:



Then parting off:


Mounted on the original bolt I used as a guide while grinding the stem, so that I can clean up the back side:



Then finally tried it on the rifle bolt itself:



Then on the rifle to make sure:

 

[wquiles]

Then sandblasted the bolt - still with the original bluing left from 20 years ago:




And gave it a couple of coats of thermally cured Molly Resin:


And then using red threadlocker, threaded the new bolt head into the bolt, finished assembling the bolt, and put back on rifle:







As expected, using/operating the bolt now is not only easy, but far from any sharp edges, while still having lots of clearance. Look forward to trying it out at the range soon

Will

 

[Brad]

Wow, nice work.

And as always a nice, clear, well illustrated write up.

 

[Spindrift]

Nice work, awesome result!

 

[Ian]

Beautiful and meticulous work as always, Will.

Titanium is an excellent choice for a knob. Some of those Savage tacticool bolt handles require a strong arm just to lift the weight.

 

[Cherokee]

Really nice work.

 

[CZ93X62]

Well-thought-out, and finely executed. NICE.

 

[Missionary]

That is a nice design !
Thank you for posting this with all the good photos.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

It's interesting watching a master work metal.

 

[dale2242]

Excellent post. Thanks.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Much better and GOOD JOB!!!

CW

 

[wquiles]

Thank you guys for your kind words. I wish I would have done something earlier, but better late than never I guess

 

[L Ross]

Very nice and an interesting post.

 

[Ben]

Wonderful Photos !
Nice.

Ben

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

You have inspired me!!

I have a Savage WSM I added a aftermarket bolt to some years back. While I like it I dont like how it hits my index fingers knuckle.

I need to remove it heat it red and tweak its bend. Unlike you I neednt need worry about heat as I can remove the handle to heat it.

I use the rifle exclusively for Coyotes aftwr the new year. So nows a good time to fix it up. Im gonna be reachin for it soon!!

Very Jealous of your abilities a d equipment. Good job!

CW