How often should you strip and clean a rifle bolt?

[muddy42]

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?

 

[Muir]

Almost never. ~Muir

 

[Woodsmoke]

Stripped my 452 bolt out of curiosity once. Haven't bothered with any of the rest. I guess if they start causing issues I might, but until then I'll just leave them alone

 

[Stalker62]

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...

 

[cjm1066]

The main pressure points are he locking lugs and the cocking cam, these are easy to access for a grease.

Internally, wet and crud are the enemy, I tend to strip a bolt yearly, once practiced its so easy to do.

 

[Klenchblaize]

As a rough guide every 40-years.

K

 

[Muir]

My first year production Steyr Scout 308 requires stripping of the bolt to lube the cocking cams but it was designed so as to be a very easy procedure. ~Muir

 

[dropmdead]

If its a second hand rifle, and easy to open up, I'll have look, a quick wipe and a fresh smear back over it...other than that for a stalking rifle....use it and enjoy it.
If it's a full on comp rifle ran at its limits, then yes I maintain it the same as every other part (clean barrel, trigger, bolt, action etc) after every outing.

 

[bowji john]

Never have - don't know how

 

[muddy42]

OK, I'll stick with "if it stops working or every 40 years" then!

 

[deerstalker.308]

Almost never. ~Muir

That’s almost as often as I’ve done mine, just remove the word “almost” from the statement….

 

[User00040]

What's more important is cleaning the excess oil/lubricant off a brand new bolt, which should be run dry for the most part, bar a very thin film of high quality grease on the locking lug faces and cocking cam surfaces.

 

[palo]

I usually strip mine down once a year.

 

[Skietindiekop]

I did my first rifle three times in twenty five years and on reflection that was at least twice more than necessary and probably three times.

 

[kenbro]

If your modifying cartridges cases and especially if you’re creating false shoulders the innards of the bolt come out pretty regular so there is no resistance when closing the bolt on a case, so, it’s very easy to keep the inside clean.

Another point, it’s surprising (If you’re not familiar with it) just how much crud can find it’s way into the bolt via the firing pin hole.
Bad practice not to strip and clean a rifle bolt. Then again, some people reckon they seldom clean their rifles period.
Ken.

 

[8x57]

When you know how it's usually easy enough to strip and clean a bolt as preventative maintenance. I usually do mine once a year.

 

[enfieldspares]

Never...but...and the OP's circumstance is that but. .22LR cartridges are filthy waxy little devils if of the "back in the day" type. And that grease gets everywhere and eventually gets under any extractor or ejector on the bolt and stops it clamping on the cartridge. So never...but....for a BRNO then, yes, when needed!

 

[kenbro]

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?

 

[GGG]

In short, very rarely.

I do however lube sparingly the locking lug faces and cocking cams with high temperature synthetic grease.

 

[Heym SR20]

About once a year.