Anyone ever seen a bolt crack like this?

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  • Last Post 08 February 2017
SierraHunter posted this 30 January 2017

So, the other day, I was making a deal on a rifle, and during my inspection of it I noticed the bolt was cracked. Rifle is a 1943 (I believe) Remington 1903A3 4 groove 30/06. I ended up taking the rifle home, but havnt shot it yet.

Anyone ever seen a bolt crack like this before?

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onondaga posted this 30 January 2017

yes, weld it.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 30 January 2017

cracked bolt

the good news is only the area of the bolt from the back of the locking lugs forward has to be strong  .... the area of the crack could be aluminum ... or even plastic ....  

it will probably function  just fine as is ... but if it gets passed on it really should be repaired ....  so tig weld it , dress it as best as you desire for clearance ... error will be only cosmetic ...

******

the crack is probably just from a local flaw in the metal .... but there is a small chance the whole bolt body is heat treated to over-brittle ... that would make the locking lugs very ” strong ” but also subject to cracking themselves ... not likely, but keep in mind .  i don't know the spec hardness, but bolt heads should not be glass hard ... they can be machined and even can gall without lube.

ken

 

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Rich/WIS posted this 30 January 2017

If it worries you 03A3 bolts are cheap and plentiful, although will need bending/new bolt handle for scope use.  Could have left Remington, or a subcontractor that way or happened when the new bolt handle was welded on.

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RicinYakima posted this 30 January 2017

Yep, from oxy-acetylene welding on of that bolt handle.  

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R. Dupraz posted this 30 January 2017

"yes, weld it"

NOT A CHANCE. I have never seen a Springfield bolt that was cracked.

If this is a bonified crack, You already know that that bolt has one flaw. How do you know that the bolt doesn't have others that you can't see? Such as in the locking lugs,etc

Could it be one of those that was poorly heat treated in the first place when it was made along with those low numbered actions?

Who manufactured the action? Is the serial number still on the receiver ring? There should also be a date on the barrel, just behind the front sight. But this only dates the barrel, not the action. But this rifle could have been rebuilt and such several times during it's life time. So, dating parts is not a sure thing.   

I do have an old Lyman loading manual that lists 1903 Springfield serial numbers by manufacturer and date and heat treatment. If you are interested. But this only applies to the actions. 

Otherwise, If it was mine, that bolt would end up in the junk box. It's just not worth it.  

 

 

 

 

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mrbill2 posted this 30 January 2017

I wouldn't put my kisser anywhere near that bolt when I pull the trigger!

mrbill2

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tturner53 posted this 30 January 2017

Better safe than sorry.

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RicinYakima posted this 30 January 2017

I agree with mrbill2 and RD, If you can't find a replacement bolt for less than $20, contact me and I'll send you one. Then have it forged to the low handle, not cut off and welded, by one of the many guys who advertise that service on the net. Not only has it been over heated, the primary extraction ramp has been ground off.

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Ed Harris posted this 30 January 2017

Agree with Ric, Springfield bolts, even arsenal turned down A4 ones are not that hard to find.  Fit a new bolt.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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OU812 posted this 01 February 2017

Is there a way to determine that this bolt came with and matches this rifle? Wouldn't a matching bolt be a big deal to a collector?

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RicinYakima posted this 01 February 2017

Springfield bolts are not ID'd to a rifle  except for one exception. Tolerances were so closely maintained that only after an action had seen extensive service, did bolt / action tolerance stacking become an issue. A 1943 produced 03A3 has several possible bolts that could be proper. HTH, Ric

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4060may posted this 01 February 2017

did you try magnafluxing the spot?

big horseshoe magnet, filing from the grinder, stick the magnet on the bolt over the crack, sprinkle metal filings on the bolt

if it is a crack the filings will stand up

if there is an actual crack...PM me, my friend had three,  03 bolts on the table this last gun show

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SierraHunter posted this 02 February 2017

I havnt really done much with it yet. I did get to wondering if maybe it's just a defect in the chrome finish All the other 03s that I have had have blued or parkarized bolts. I haven't had time to mess with it much yet since I've been putting in a lot of time working on my old truck.

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Bud Hyett posted this 04 February 2017

With the low cost of another bolt and the ability to get correct welding done, I would give up on this bolt. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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4570sharps posted this 08 February 2017

Yes I have!

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