The Accurate Reloading Forums
bolt handle alignment question-
18 August 2007, 21:08
tin canbolt handle alignment question-
IIRC, in one of the threads on the subject, it was stated that a bolt aligned at a true 90 degrees to the bolt body will appear to have a touch of forward sweep- yes/no, opinions?
I like a "straight" bolt handle at 90 degrees (like a replacement on a customized military action). I bought a few clunker bolts to practice replacing the handles on, and when I'll actually try it who knows, but that is the reason I ask the above question.
thanks.
18 August 2007, 21:30
Westpacquote:
Originally posted by tin can:
IIRC, in one of the threads on the subject, it was stated that a bolt aligned at a true 90 degrees to the bolt body will appear to have a touch of forward sweep- yes/no, opinions?
If the bolt handle is 90 degrees to the body then it is straight. If the bolt handle is swept slightly forward, then it is slightly out of square. If a true 90 degree handle appears swept forward, then that would more than likely have been caused by the way it was polished.
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
18 August 2007, 21:34
tin canquote:
it was stated that a bolt aligned at a true 90 degrees to the bolt body will appear to have a touch of forward sweep
I'm referring to the bolt at 90 degrees "fooling the eye", and appearing to be out of square.
read it on this forum.
thanks.
18 August 2007, 21:40
WestpacLook at the relections in the handle above. The center line is broken and the forward edge of the handle appears to be swept back, yet the rear edge looks fine. If a person is going to install a handle at 90 degrees, and he is a craftsman, all the reflections will be straight and will look straight.
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
18 August 2007, 22:03
craigsterquote:
Originally posted by tin can:
quote:
it was stated that a bolt aligned at a true 90 degrees to the bolt body will appear to have a touch of forward sweep
I'm referring to the bolt at 90 degrees "fooling the eye", and appearing to be out of square.
read it on this forum.
thanks.
I think you refer to what I call an "optical delusion".
18 August 2007, 22:33
ireload2quote:
Originally posted by Westpac:
quote:
Originally posted by tin can:
IIRC, in one of the threads on the subject, it was stated that a bolt aligned at a true 90 degrees to the bolt body will appear to have a touch of forward sweep- yes/no, opinions?
If the bolt handle is 90 degrees to the body then it is straight. If the bolt handle is swept slightly forward, then it is slightly out of square. If a true 90 degree handle appears swept forward, then that would more than likely have been caused by the way it was polished.
Malm is right about polishing.
If you can arrange for a grid pattern to be reflected on to a polished surface you will see distortions in the grid reflection due to any irregularities of the polished surface.
19 August 2007, 01:16
D HumbargerDitto everything
Malm ah Westpac said.

Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
19 August 2007, 02:17
maxbearI have spoken to a gunsmith from the ACGG, this is what he told me. If the handle is welded on 1 degree back from 90 degrees then this will elimanate the optical illusion of the handle having the forward look.
19 August 2007, 04:35
Westpacquote:
Originally posted by maxbear:
I have spoken to a gunsmith from the ACGG, this is what he told me. If the handle is welded on 1 degree back from 90 degrees then this will elimanate the optical illusion of the handle having the forward look.
He was pulling your leg.

_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
19 August 2007, 05:04
tin canquote:
He was pulling your leg.
I'll be a son-of-a-bitch.

19 August 2007, 05:16
maxbearI bought a new handle from half moon, and sent it off to my gunsmith. Do I just tell my smith to weld it on at 90 degrees and hope for the best or what? Good gosh this is confusing.
19 August 2007, 05:47
Westpacquote:
Originally posted by maxbear:
I bought a new handle from half moon, and sent it off to my gunsmith. Do I just tell my smith to weld it on at 90 degrees and hope for the best or what? Good gosh this is confusing.
If you want the bolt handle 90 degrees to the bolt body, tell him to make it look 90 degrees when it's done.

_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
19 August 2007, 05:55
maxbearThat sounds easy enough!!

19 August 2007, 06:02
maxbearThanks
19 August 2007, 06:14
WestpacYou're welcome...
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
19 August 2007, 08:59
TentmanHello Tin Can
There is definietly something of an optical illusion going on here, if you have a look at the bolt I just posted up under the VZ-33 thread, this is at 90 degrees, I was driven to check because in certain light every now and again it looks like it might have tilted forwards, then one looks again and its ok !!
19 August 2007, 10:06
Westpacquote:
Originally posted by Tentman:
Hello Tin Can
There is definietly something of an optical illusion going on here, if you have a look at the bolt I just posted up under the VZ-33 thread, this is at 90 degrees, I was driven to check because in certain light every now and again it looks like it might have tilted forwards, then one looks again and its ok !!
Tentman, that bolt handle in your photo looks too me to be swept to the rear. Lay a square across the body and check it out. Don't get me wrong, I think that handle looks good swept to the rear like that.
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
19 August 2007, 16:02
TentmanPhotos are very tricky, I have checked it with a machinists square (actually my neighbour, a machinist did, cause we both had doubts) but its as close to 90 as he can measure . . .
Cheers
19 August 2007, 19:38
Don MarkeyTC, don't take me the wrong way because it's a nicer job than I ever did or probaby can do. It looks to me as it is straight, But the polishing it causing the illusion. Look at the first inch of so and the refection line in bending due to the way the radius was polished.
19 August 2007, 19:57
tin canDon, I included the photo to show what I meant by "straight"- I didn't intend for it to be an example of a bolt that appears to have a forward sweep- but maybe it does.
thanks.
20 August 2007, 03:03
GeronomoYou guys are going to get dizzy staring ai bolts all day!!
Geronimo