All last year I was reworking a Winchester Pre War 70. This wasn't supposed to be a high end custom project- just my personal user rifle- but it seems to be escalating... Going pretty well but this issue is wildly bugging me:

The question is: I need to cut the bolt face back a bit to eliminate some gas pits and toolmarks- squaring it up. OK, after that, I will be left with a depressed circle cut around the firing pin hole. Does one have to switch over to the mill to even out the rest of the face? How critical is the depth of the bolt face to function? What does one indicate off of to insure the bolt is running true in the lathe? I have a mandrel and have fitted a "center" through the firing pin hole but I don't have a steady rest. Do I have to use the lathe bit in Brownells??? Will something else work as well? How will the bolt face cutting effect the relationship between the extractor? Do I somehow bend the extractor in to better engage the cartridge rim? How about the firing pin protrusion?

Help get this bug off my back...

quote:

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I need to cut the bolt face back a bit to eliminate some gas pits and toolmarks- squaring it up.

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Really really think this over.....how badly do you want to do this....it'll cause you to have to remove a thread from the barrel and rechamber in all likelihood....it also raises some issues about the extractor working properly.

Avoid this if at all possible

And on top of that, if you cut it too deep you run the risk of the extractor not working to hold the case. My advice to you: Send it to someone who can handle the job if you feel it necessary. You may have tyo weld it up and re-cut it to take care of the problem.