plowboy
10 pointer
Hey guys, I got a new Ruger ranch rifle that the bolt is really stiff and hard to work. What do yall recomend to buff and slick up a new bolt with?
Need help/advice
- Thread starter plowboy
- Start date
KYH5N1
12 pointer
Maybe some Flitz and repeated cycling of the bolt?
1wildcatfan
12 pointer
I'd spray the bolt and action with degreaser. Reapply oil to both, then work the action a couple of hundred times. Worked on an AR I was having issues with.
riverboss
12 pointer
Does it chamber a round?
Sounds like a head space issue.
Could just be a bur on the lug lock.
Sounds like a head space issue.
Could just be a bur on the lug lock.
bluegrassDan
6 pointer
- Dec 17, 2008
- 249
Need more information to help you. Is it hard to lift the bolt on a fired round, close it on a fresh round? Empty does it cycle smoothly or does it still have some stiffness? A lot of the time the time, it's not the lugs, it's a rough nose on the cocking piece where it cams on opening to cock the striker for the next round. Give us a bit more information and I am sure we can get you on the right track.
plowboy
10 pointer
Thanks for replies. The whole thing is stiff and hard to cycle, opening and closing. Recycles but stiff as all get out.
bluegrassDan
6 pointer
- Dec 17, 2008
- 249
OK, this sounds like a really tight action. The best way to fix that is to lightly lube the firing pin spring, cocking piece nose, a single drop on back side of the locking lugs and on the bolt body. Then, unloaded, go find a TV show you like and sit there and cycle the action a few hundred times. If that does not help wear it in, then you need to have someone like me take a look and see whats causing the action to be so stiff. Do not put any form of abrasive on it or you void the warranty, let us look at it first and if it is something that is pretty simple it can be fixed but if it is something that should have been caught at the factory, it may need to go back and for that you don't want any work done on it before it goes back.
plowboy
10 pointer
Thanks, will try..
JR PORTER
10 pointer
That makes a lot of sense.
bluegrassDan
6 pointer
- Dec 17, 2008
- 249
You may also have a look at how tight the lock up is on the bolt lugs. Remove the bolt, wipe off the oil, color the back face of each recoil lug with a sharpie and then cycle the bolt 1 time. Look at how much marker has been rubbed off. On a well fitting bolt, you should see at least 50% or better engagement on both lugs, with the bottom lug usually showing the most. This is factory rifle specs mind you, on a custom action I want to see 100% on each lug.
There are a lot of reasons for a tight action, but tight can also mean that the bolt is binding, a burr in the lug area, on the cocking piece nose or the bolt body. It could also mean that you have a high compression spring or maybe one that slipped by an extra coil or two. After several hundred cycles, most tight actions will smooth out as the parts wear in and sort of lap themselves into place, if they don't then it needs to be looked at in depth to see why.
There are a lot of reasons for a tight action, but tight can also mean that the bolt is binding, a burr in the lug area, on the cocking piece nose or the bolt body. It could also mean that you have a high compression spring or maybe one that slipped by an extra coil or two. After several hundred cycles, most tight actions will smooth out as the parts wear in and sort of lap themselves into place, if they don't then it needs to be looked at in depth to see why.
