Hello, I got a great deal on a BSA monarch 30/06 rifle that had no bolt. I figured how hard could it be to find a bolt for it. To make a long story short, after a two year search covering two continents I finally was able to purchase one. Imagine my dismay when I tried it in the gun it didn't fit. It's probably within less than a 32nds of an inch from the front lugs engaging in the raceways. I did a little more research and discovered that there were two bolt styles, an A and a B. The only difference between the two that I can tell is the dimension at the root of the bolt handle. Of course I would like to find the right bolt for this gun and if there is anyone out there with the opposite problem from mine I would be happy to work a trade. In the absence of that possibility my question is do you think that if I carefully re- contoured the root of the bolt handle until the front lugs engaged would there be a problem. A little background info that I learned in my research is that it is a post 1968 gun as it no longer has the integral Sako style scope bases. It is also the model imported by Herters and marketed as the model U9. Thanks in advance for any replies. da V
BSA Monarch Question
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Old Shooter
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Numrich lists it at $76.50 for a stripped 30/06 bolt, long action. but since they don't list some of the other component parts I guess that doesn't help a whole lot unless the parts of your current bot would fit it. I don't know if the bolt body listed is any different that the one you have in hand now. Good Luck!!
TRX
Member
Stick a piece of '06 brass in there and make up some shims to go behind it so you can check if the problem is the bolt handle or if your bolt has longer locking lugs. If the excess headspace matches the handle interference, great.
If the cocking piece notch looks like it will line up with the rest of the fire control group after you clearance the handle, I don't see any problem.
WATCH YOUR HEADSPACE. Ideally you'd want proper headspace gauges for doing this, but you can use new unfired commercial brass. The SAAMI headspace dimensions are here:
http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/30-06 Springfield.pdf
If the cocking piece notch doesn't line up have it welded if necessary and file a notch in the required location.
The bolt doesn't fit now, so you can't make it not-fit any worse... take your time, don't get carried away with metal removal, and make sure the safety works, etc.
If it's the backs of the lugs that are the issue you'd need to recut them on a lathe. Because the handle is in the way you need a fixture unless you have a really big lathe. The fixtures are made for recutting the bolt face, but many of them should work to recut the lugs too.
Most gunsmiths wouldn't touch a job like this nowadays because any reasonable rate for their time would exceed the value of the rifle. But unless you have to pay someone to recut the lugs, your main investment here is your time.
If the cocking piece notch looks like it will line up with the rest of the fire control group after you clearance the handle, I don't see any problem.
WATCH YOUR HEADSPACE. Ideally you'd want proper headspace gauges for doing this, but you can use new unfired commercial brass. The SAAMI headspace dimensions are here:
http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/30-06 Springfield.pdf
If the cocking piece notch doesn't line up have it welded if necessary and file a notch in the required location.
The bolt doesn't fit now, so you can't make it not-fit any worse... take your time, don't get carried away with metal removal, and make sure the safety works, etc.
If it's the backs of the lugs that are the issue you'd need to recut them on a lathe. Because the handle is in the way you need a fixture unless you have a really big lathe. The fixtures are made for recutting the bolt face, but many of them should work to recut the lugs too.
Most gunsmiths wouldn't touch a job like this nowadays because any reasonable rate for their time would exceed the value of the rifle. But unless you have to pay someone to recut the lugs, your main investment here is your time.
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