Guys,

I took a 98 apart and shot peened the bolt sleeve (but not the stop), and treated it with Gun Kote.

The bolt sleeve stop is now sticking when the bolt is opened on the rifle. Can result in some aggravating moments. Have oiled it.

Would breaking the corner of the slot in the bolt sleeve in which the ear rides reduce this problem?

Thanks,

I'd start at the problem and work backwards...These "coatings" add dimension. remove the coating and you'll probably find everything works plumb swell again

Another reason not to paint your guns.

I just had a sleeve that one of the original plunger and spring would not fit. The little extension on the plunger would not allow it to fit. I dug in my goo stuff box and found one that would. It appears now that there's quite a bit of difference in some of these.

Breaking the corner did work. The cause was not added thickness of coating ... was roughening the surface of the edge of the corner with the 120 grit blasting agent required by the coating.

BTW: I had not coated the bolt sleeve stop itself.

Works fine with just a little polish on the edge that the stop was catching on.

Gun Kote is not pretty like rust bluing ... but is a practical solution to really bad weather for those of us who are not yet up to speed on rust bluing. Will try that next. Stuff is almost acquired/built to do that.