How often should you strip and clean a rifle bolt?

[alberta boy]

It depends on the rifle and the conditions I'm using it in . Most , very rarely . I do strip down any milsurp rifles that I've been firing corrosive ammo in . I've had a few SKS that the firing pin would fur up fairly soon after a range session . Some semi auto 22 lr can gum up depending on what ammo you use .

AB

 

[wytonpjs]

I once stripped a bolt (Sako 75) to see if it would stand a clean.

I now have available a box of (almost complete) spares for a bolt (Sako 75).

PM me for more details...

I took my Sako 85 bolt apart after a particularly wet session up on Arran when I discovered that water running down the barrel had actually discoloured chambered rounds - I now religiously tape the mod in rain! I was horrified to discover that the firing pin was rusted and pitted quite badly - whilst the bolt, barrel and mechanism where stainless, the firing pins are not! Salutary lesson learnt and my bolts now get routinely inspected especially after my inevitably wet Scottish outings.

 

[Eddie P]

For those using Remington 700 etc.
When you’re out and about, if you have lace up boots/shoes on, that’s all you need to strip your bolt, easy peasy.
No excuse for not having a look even if you don’t want to clean it.
Blanking primers can cause a bolt to stop working completely.
Ken.
PS. Why would you not clean inside your bolt….out of sight, out of mind maybe?

I prefer to use a loop of paracord, less chance of breaking a boot lace (or eyelet) and making your day even worse.

 

[saddler]

With the Mosins - stripping the bolt down is almost a one hand operation, so very simple to do, so they get a clean after every use as it's part of the SOP for the rifle.
Anything else, depends on the model of gun and whether the bolt is designed to be stripped.
I have a few dedicated tools to let me take Rem 700 bolts apart, but they were initially for use to change firing pin springs.
I try to leave the Mauser bolts alone after managing to break the tip of a firing pin once

 

[muddy42]

I took my Sako 85 bolt apart after a particularly wet session up on Arran when I discovered that water running down the barrel had actually discoloured chambered rounds - I now religiously tape the mod in rain! I was horrified to discover that the firing pin was rusted and pitted quite badly - whilst the bolt, barrel and mechanism where stainless, the firing pins are not! Salutary lesson learnt and my bolts now get routinely inspected especially after my inevitably wet Scottish outings.

Wow! Also you could consider a waterproof gunslip? Ideal for hill reds where snap shots are rare but it is mostly wet. I do dry my bolts on a radiator / AGA if they get wet and mods every time they are fired.

 

[Firefly]

It’s a job I’ve got scheduled for my great Grandchild.

 

[wytonpjs]

Wow! Also you could consider a waterproof gunslip? Ideal for hill reds where snap shots are rare but it is mostly wet. I do dry my bolts on a radiator / AGA if they get wet and mods every time they are fired.

I took some pictures but sadly they were on an iPhone that got stolen and I was stupid enough not to have full iCloud back-up running (then). My Arran stalking is on the BASC Arran scheme and I've been fortunate to do that on 7 occasions. Its not classic hill stalking and "bumped" animals in the forests/tracks are common - so is the rain! You stalk in pairs and only the lead stalker naturally is loaded and actively stalking - when that's not me, my rifle is normally in a Vorn rucksack which means the barrel is pointing skywards. It came as a great surprise to me 5 years ago just how much water can make it into a moderator hole so electrical tape/fabric plasters are now what I always use and carry spares as Arran seems to be one of the wettest places on earth! I have always dried out the rifle, mags and bolt overnight but it never occurred to me how much wet can enter through the firing pin hole. Some bumped pictures from recent trips:

 

[mel b3]

I didn't clean the bolt on my cz452 for the first 15 or so years of its life (until I had a couple of misfires) , but now I need to clean it after around every 300 shots , or I get misfires.

 

[8x57]

I didn't clean the bolt on my cz452 for the first 15 or so years of its life (until I had a couple of misfires) , but now I need to clean it after around every 300 shots , or I get misfires.

Every 300 shots.
Something not quite right there mate, somethings worn or bent.

 

[mel b3]

Every 300 shots.
Something not quite right there mate, somethings worn or bent.

It gets a build up of crud where the firing pin seats inside the bolt . I would guess that it's just wear and tear , that allows crud to blow back through the firing pin hole .

 

[Tazz]

I did this yesterday. The firing pin in my BRNO Model 2 in 22LR had stopped moving completely. With great trepidation, I followed Youtube instructions to disassemble the bolt, clean, oil and reassemble. It actually wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. I had a vision of springs flying out everywhere and never being able to reassemble it again. Celebratory 'Beruit unload' followed (naturally into grass not sky!). I guess it hadn't been cleaned for the last 40 years and oil had solidified and took some soaking and scrubbing to shift it.

I did another old rifle once, it was oily but pretty clean. My main concern is function rather than rust. My older rifles rarely get used in the wet.

So how often do you strip a bolt?

About as often as you strip and service an expensive watch at home

 

[paul o']

As many times as the OCD kicks it but .22 cz i'v never just flood it off with spray oil.

 

[Stalker62]

View attachment 237713

That photograph is a belter.

 

[8x57]

As many times as the OCD kicks it but .22 cz i'v never just flood it off with spray oil.

An old soldier like you, you surprise me Paul.
What happened to the old adage "that a gun should be like a good soldier- spotlessly clean and lightly oiled"?

I've seen just as many problems caused by over oiling guns as by running them dry. Just enough of the right lubricant is the secret.

 

[paul o']

An old soldier like you, you surprise me Paul.
What happened to the old adage "that a gun should be like a good soldier- spotlessly clean and lightly oiled"?

I've seen just as many problems caused by over oiling guns as by running them dry. Just enough of the right lubricant is the secret.

CZ bud they run on crud got to be 15yrs plus since its last full strip down it still out shoots most posh .22 to the point the guys get ****ed off as i cut the strings holding there targets up at the range

 

[Pete6.5]

My Remington 700 is so easy to strip I do it every time I clean the rifle

 

[kenbro]

My Remington 700 is so easy to strip I do it every time I clean the rifle

And why not?
Ken.

 

[One on top of two]

By the sounds of every 39 years

 

[Cyres]

Agree Remmy 700 is easy and I was shocked to see how much debris came out of mine. Annie XIV carbine is a doddle to stripp in fact too easy as I told my No 1 son to stop playing with mine guess what it flew to pieces firing pin fell out and broke. It took months to get a replacement, Norman Clark to the rescue.

D

 

[regi]

answer: as much as possible. I bought a second vault so I could buy more stuff to put in it So I can clean more. Was great during lock down.