I purchased a Mark X bolt which is correctly identified as the speedlock version, The bolt is stripped except for the extractor and collar.

I have a standard Mark X cocking piece, which looks like it can be modified to work properly, judging from pictures posted in an earlier discussion.

I plan on using a Dakota safety.

Now I want to obtain the correct firing pin and spring. I already have several military pins, and at least one extra Mark X pin. They all look the same to me. I also have several standard springs, both military and commercial, but none to my knowledge came from a Mark X speedlock bolt.

One of my questions is should I purchase a spring like those made by Wolff or perhaps the Timney speed lock spring, or just use one of the standard springs?

Second question - what about the speedlock pin/spring kits such as the one sold by Brownells?

Thanks, KB

The spring and pin are the same as far as I could ever tell. Only the bolt and cocking piece are different. I've used new factory, stronger springs and old M98 along with new and M98 pins in a speedlock. I could not tell any difference.

Without checking I think the Brownell kit is a ligher pin and stronger spring. I've never seen any benifit in my Mauser to the stronger springs or speedlock.

With the Dakota Safety you will need to remove extra metal on the safety side since the cocking piece is further forward. They can be made to fit jsut a little more work.

Do a search on speedlock in Gunsmithing. It has been discussed several times.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.as...LOCK+FIRING+PIN+KITS

These sure look interesting - but I have no experience with them.

Trust the writeup on Brownell's page, try one and see? Humm.

KB

Ramrod, I did the search you suggested, and found some answers.

Heavy bolt lift could be an issue

Thanks
KB

quote:

Heavy bolt lift could be an issue

With factory springs I can tell the difference in bolt lift between old MKX and the later MKX or Daly with the speedlock. Lift is more but not enough to cause a problem. My wife has the speedlock she does ask why hers is harder to lift than mine. I simple say mine is older.

So, I ordered a Timney Speed Lock spring from Midway for $10. That's conservative, and not much invested. I'll try it compared to some of the others non-speedlock I have and feel the difference, especially in bolt lift. $10 to satisfy my curosity is worth it, and I can probably use the spring on a standard bolt anyway.

KB