Remington 788 - Bolt Modification - Is It Safe?

[hdbg62]

For years I have owned Remington 788s' in 7mm-8 and .308 without any problems whatsoever; great accuracy!  Recently I acquired one in .243 which is a great shooter also and after a few hundred rounds no problems occured.  However, the prior owner "dremeled" off about a quarter of each lug (3) on the top and right side of the bolt when it is in a locked position because as he says, he experienced headspacing problems many years ago and he has not had any after that modification.  There are still 3 good lugs on the left side.  Somewhere I read about headspacing problems with the 788 in certain calibers but never had any myself in the 7mm-8  or .308; I shoot factory ammo only.  As I said, I have not experienced any problems while shooting this one in .243, it is a real tack driver!  But is it safe? New Bolts are soooooo expensive!

[gunnut69]

You say he fremeled off some of the lugs? Did he remove them completly or just a portion of each lug. Have you had the headspace checked. I have never heard of any problems with headpsace in the 788 other than that it's more difficult to make 9 lugs bear evenly that 2..  I thing I would take the rifle to a smith and let him look at it. I get vary nervous when recoil lugs are removed.. Also as a note.. Finding a new bolt for a 788 will be hard and fitting a bolt is not cheap.. I would not fire the rifle until it's checked by a competant smith..

[hdbg62]

about 1/4 or less, cut at an angle has been removed with dremel tool from 6 of the nine lugs, meaning when the bolt is locked it's the top three and right side three; I've already fired a couple hundred rounds with great accuracy and no problems!

[gunnut69]

From what you say I assume the lugs (6 of them) have been reduced in contact area but still have some contact with the abutments in the receiver? I have no idea what posessed someone to make such a modification but the strength of the bolt has been reduced. Is it dangerous??That depends.. Stress is cumulative and then there are exceptional events. Unusual events that stress the rifle above the norm. Most of the time these won't cause problems as rifles have way more strength than is REQUIRED ofr normal operations but some of that extra is gone, on your rifle. Will it fail? Can't say but I still believe it should see a competant smith. I also believe the rifle likely needs the bolt replaced.. Just remember you've a crippled rifle and its containing over 50,000PSI of gas pressure a few inches from your face..

[mjbgalt]

yeah and a new face is REALLY expensive.

 

-Matt