where to locate turned-down bolt handle?

[TRX]

I'm building a sporting rifle out of an old military action. (assembled from pieces from auction sites and forums; no actual military-surplus rifles were harmed in this project)

The bolt handle sticks straight out the side. I'm fitting a turned-down handle to clear a scope. But where should the knob of the bolt handle go, for easiest operation?


I did finally figure out why most old military actions had the handle sticking straight out the side. You could smack the handle with your palm, or your shoe, or a spare tree, and beat it open if you had a stuck cartridge. It's much harder to do that if the handle is tucked in neatly against the stock.

 

[Art Eatman]

The usual fix for many is to have a competent gunsmith do the cut/weld/grind/polish routine.

 

[Onmilo]

Be a bit more helpful if you were to elaborate exactly what type of rifle action you are using.
Getting tough to find sporting quality parts for Lebel rifles now,,,

 

[Delmar]

If you can, its nice to locate the bolt handle where the ball is close to the trigger. Makes it a bit faster on the reload time from the magazine.

 

[fpgt72]

Be a bit more helpful if you were to elaborate exactly what type of rifle action you are using.
Getting tough to find sporting quality parts for Lebel rifles now,,,

Funny....But I bet that Bubba is hacking a 91/30...it is the choice of those that destroy history everywhere, and wanna-be gunsmiths all over the US.

If that is the case you are in luck, just google 91/30 bent bolt and you will find many that will aid you in the destruction of historical items.

 

[Bigdog57]

Wrong. OP said he was using disparate items from different sources -NO 'historical' gun is being destroyed or "bubba'd". Helps to actually read the post.
Depending upon the particular gun, you can google up a gunsmith who supplies a bent-handle bolt body, or will modify the original. I got a bent-handle bolt body for the small-ring Mauser from Numrich - and yes, I AM modifying a 'historical' Mauser rifle. My rifle, my choice.

 

[fpgt72]

Wrong. OP said he was using disparate items from different sources -NO 'historical' gun is being destroyed or "bubba'd". Helps to actually read the post.
Depending upon the particular gun, you can google up a gunsmith who supplies a bent-handle bolt body, or will modify the original. I got a bent-handle bolt body for the small-ring Mauser from Numrich - and yes, I AM modifying a 'historical' Mauser rifle. My rifle, my choice.

Sporting gun from an old military action can mean a great many things....and yes your property do what you will....I guess I should hang out on the surplus forums more where these things are treated with the respect the deserve....some have no care for history...shame lots of lessons there.

 

[jstein650]

Just a thought on what you might want to avoid: Some places offer a 'turn down' kit that requires the original bolt be cut off leaving a stub. The stub is then drilled and tapped to allow the new handle - that has a formed hole on the end - to be then secured with a supplied screw. I did this once on a Mauser, and it not only doesn't look very good, it still won't clear, or just barely clear some scopes. Actual bent is the way to go if you can find someone good to do it.

 

[Mauser lover]

How good are you at welding?

You could do your own...

Check ebay for bent bolts. Somebody might have one.

 

[TRX]

> The usual fix for many is to have a competent gunsmith do the
> cut/weld/grind/polish routine.

I suppose if you don't have the tools to do it yourself, you might have to do that. But you'd still have to tell him where you wanted the handle to be.


> Be a bit more helpful if you were to elaborate exactly what type of
> rifle action you are using.

No, I don't think so...