how do you dress a bolt with a file

andrewh · January 09, 2013, 22:09

My frankenfal has the occasional bolt over case FTF.
It's a century Imbel L1A1.
I read in another post that you can dress the bolt with a file.
Can somebody tell me the technique perhaps with some pics.
Thanks

mutter · January 09, 2013, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewh

My frankenfal has the occasional bolt over case FTF.
It's a century Imbel L1A1.
I read in another post that you can dress the bolt with a file.
Can somebody tell me the technique perhaps with some pics.
Thanks

Try a new mag before taking a file to your bolt to square it off.

I'd say dress your mag lips with a file before you attempt to dress the bolt.

You might even try thinning the rails in receiver first.

andrewh · January 09, 2013, 22:24

Can you explain how mag lips cause bolt over case FTF.
I haven't ever tried fixing magazine feed lips.
I'm afraid I'll do more harm than good.

**garyd1961** · January 09, 2013, 23:09

It could be the ejector is too high causing the the bolt to ride up and over the round.

**garyd1961** · January 09, 2013, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewh

Can you explain how mag lips cause bolt over case FTF.
I haven't ever tried fixing magazine feed lips.
I'm afraid I'll do more harm than good.

Try a different mag.

Hot-fal · January 10, 2013, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyd1961

Try a different mag.

Yes, and the first round jamming into the throat can be the mag lips..Some of them just do not like to run, others that look terrible will feed perfectly???My2cents.

ce · January 10, 2013, 16:23

Open the breech and remove the dust cover, insert the mag and work the action by hand. Note that the right side is usually secure in feeding, but the left side only has a small engagement by the leading edge of the bolt.

If the edge is rounded, and the left side rail or the ejector moves the bolt upward in its travel, the bolt willl ride over the base of the cartridge.

Square that edge with a file, or bevel the trailing edge of the left side rail, next to the ejector, or lower the top of the ejector if needed.

andrewh · January 10, 2013, 18:36

I don't think the problem is specific to a mag, but I could be wrong.
I haven't marked a mag when the problem happens. I have 5-6 l1a1 mags.
I'm kind of broke right now, moving and buying new house, so I don't have the money to burn 100 rounds and see which mags are doing it. It is an intermitent issue, so I would have to run multiple rounds through each mag to get a reliable test result.
Thanks for the advice, I'm going to put it to use.

tac-40 · January 11, 2013, 18:43

Dummy cartridges or action proving rounds can be used to see how the bolt, ammo and mag all interact. Normally you can see where the problem is occurring (right side fee or left side feed). Additionally, bolt over base is sometimes caused by the bullet nose striking the feed ramp and not lifting up.

Stuff you can do without a lot of money spent. Cycle to bolt with the dust cover off and see if the bolt is hitting the ejector (wear marks or upward movement. File down the ejector till no longer in contact. Check the rails to make sure they are straight and level. Polish if needed to remove finish. Your wife's nail emery boards are great for this step (use the fine grit side). Polish the feed ramps. Use 600 or finer sandpaper and lightly polish the feed ramps. Do not remove to much metal/finish. Kinda shiny is enough. Research the ggiilleeee rail modification and see if your rails could use it. Many positive thing are to be said oubout this. Compare all of your mags side by side. Do the lips all look the same or are some of them at different heights or angles? Check your followers and make sure they freely move up and down in the mag body. Fix any rough spots. While checking make sure the springs have plenty of "spring" left. Weak springs mean slow feeding resulting in fail to feed problems.

January 09, 2013, 22:09	#1
andrewh Registered FALaholic #: 31445 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: st. louis mo Posts: 44	how do you dress a bolt with a file My frankenfal has the occasional bolt over case FTF. It's a century Imbel L1A1. I read in another post that you can dress the bolt with a file. Can somebody tell me the technique perhaps with some pics. Thanks

January 09, 2013, 23:09	#4
garyd1961 Curio & Relic Contributor Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 39373 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 2,757	It could be the ejector is too high causing the the bolt to ride up and over the round. __________________ One nation under God.

January 11, 2013, 18:43	#9
tac-40 Moderator Armed Curmudgeon FALaholic #: 12090 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SC-Low Country Posts: 4,554	Dummy cartridges or action proving rounds can be used to see how the bolt, ammo and mag all interact. Normally you can see where the problem is occurring (right side fee or left side feed). Additionally, bolt over base is sometimes caused by the bullet nose striking the feed ramp and not lifting up. Stuff you can do without a lot of money spent. Cycle to bolt with the dust cover off and see if the bolt is hitting the ejector (wear marks or upward movement. File down the ejector till no longer in contact. Check the rails to make sure they are straight and level. Polish if needed to remove finish. Your wife's nail emery boards are great for this step (use the fine grit side). Polish the feed ramps. Use 600 or finer sandpaper and lightly polish the feed ramps. Do not remove to much metal/finish. Kinda shiny is enough. Research the ggiilleeee rail modification and see if your rails could use it. Many positive thing are to be said oubout this. Compare all of your mags side by side. Do the lips all look the same or are some of them at different heights or angles? Check your followers and make sure they freely move up and down in the mag body. Fix any rough spots. While checking make sure the springs have plenty of "spring" left. Weak springs mean slow feeding resulting in fail to feed problems. __________________ Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF ______________________________ If you do in fact have a problem, you have the rest of your life to solve it. How long your life lasts only depends on how well you solve it.

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January 09, 2013, 22:24	#3
andrewh Registered FALaholic #: 31445 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: st. louis mo Posts: 44	Can you explain how mag lips cause bolt over case FTF. I haven't ever tried fixing magazine feed lips. I'm afraid I'll do more harm than good.

January 10, 2013, 16:23	#7
ce Registered FALaholic #: 373 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,917	Open the breech and remove the dust cover, insert the mag and work the action by hand. Note that the right side is usually secure in feeding, but the left side only has a small engagement by the leading edge of the bolt. If the edge is rounded, and the left side rail or the ejector moves the bolt upward in its travel, the bolt willl ride over the base of the cartridge. Square that edge with a file, or bevel the trailing edge of the left side rail, next to the ejector, or lower the top of the ejector if needed.

January 10, 2013, 18:36	#8
andrewh Registered FALaholic #: 31445 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: st. louis mo Posts: 44	I don't think the problem is specific to a mag, but I could be wrong. I haven't marked a mag when the problem happens. I have 5-6 l1a1 mags. I'm kind of broke right now, moving and buying new house, so I don't have the money to burn 100 rounds and see which mags are doing it. It is an intermitent issue, so I would have to run multiple rounds through each mag to get a reliable test result. Thanks for the advice, I'm going to put it to use.