Gunsmith scored my bolt during blueprinting... need help!

[bluejay75]

Greetings Gents,

Sent my favorite rifle out to be blueprinted and it came back to me with a ring that the gunsmith said was a weak spot in the bolt when he was facing it.

I caught it because there was a flow out of primer that I could see on the brass and whatever it was doing was causing brass to not stay on the extractor.

How should I handle this. I was p-off because he waited until I found it to tell me what happened and what he could do to fix it. He wants to bush the bolt now.

Any tips would be welcomed.

JB

 

[bearleft]

I'd say his mill got away from him, he owes you a bolt!

 

[edwardware]

Poor customer service, he should have fixed it.

He should still fix it. Bushing and slightly reducing the FP to match is something I would expect to be included in a blueprint job.

 

[amd6547]

...And the OP wants to let this gunsmith go at it again? I wouldn’t.

 

[bluejay75]

AMD. Eat the cost of what I paid already and a new bolt?

 

[BBBBill]

...a ring that the gunsmith said was a weak spot in the bolt...

I would be asking for details on this "weak spot." Get clarification on exactly what he found/means by that. If it is weak enough that the bolt face deformed during machining or from firing then it is too weak to continue in service as is. If it is simply a machining artifact then it should clean up easily with a light pass, but will likely require setting the barrel back to keep the headspace within the blueprinted goals.

 

[edwardware]

...And the OP wants to let this gunsmith go at it again? I wouldn’t.

That's a good point. There are lots of gunsmiths who do "bush and pin turning" as a standard job for $75-$250. I might be inclined to get it done elsewhere, just because he tried to fool you once.

 

[spitfire_er]

I would never return a bolt looking like that. I've never had that happen, but if it did, it would be fixed before returning it to the customer. Even if it wasn't his fault, it was his problem to fix before returning to you. This is where some jobs you make money, others you loose money as the gunsmith. Better lose a few bucks than to have a bad review, or customer out there telling everyone the shotty work being done. 99% of my business is word of mouth, so this wouldn't fly with me.

 

[Nature Boy]

Sent my favorite rifle out to be blueprinted and it came back to me with a ring that the gunsmith said was a weak spot in the bolt when he was facing it.

The only weak spot I see is between the gunsmiths ears. Completely and utterly unacceptable to return work like that to a customer. I’d ask for a refund for the work provided and take it to another smith.

 

[LoonWulf]

AMD. Eat the cost of what I paid already and a new bolt?

I wouldn't unless you have to. Getting a bushing installed seems like the easiest fix, but like the others said id work on getting a refund from the previous guy.

 

[Armorer 101]

I sure hope you did not pay an awful lot for that “blueprint” job.

I would register a complaint, but would not darken his door again, ever.

 

[bluejay75]

Sad part is the rifle was a half minute rifle before now is 2.5-3 inches at 100. Really just wanted a heavier profile barrel. Added the extra work to help him. He apprenticed with the best gunsmith in my area and now teaches gunsmithing at a nearby community college. I’m disappointed more than anything. I’m in line to use the best in the area. I’m going to let him know his pupil is using his name and doing shadetree work.

 

[rbernie]

That sucks. It's also why I do NOT use local gunsmiths if any machining / refinishing is required - I send it out to folk that I *know* will do quality work and will stand behind the results.

 

[Bill M.]

Did he re-barrel it too?

Nothing shoots "2-3" unless something is seriously wrong. Headspace? Ding on the muzzle? Bad barrel? You having a bad day?

Me thinks you must have a bigger issue than just the score on the bolt face.

I do not know anything about bushing a bolt but do you really want a bushing big enough to cover that scored area?

Upon further reading of the forums, is this the 700 with the Remage barrel mentioned below?

 

[bluejay75]

Not a remage. It was a rebarrel with a proven shooter of a barrel.

I don’t think it’s the headspace, shoulder is only moving a couple thousandths on a fired case and the depth to the lands in two 700s in 308 is almost 2 thou shorter in the gun that’s shooting bad.

 

[Blue68f100]

What does the crown looks like? May want to run a bore scope down and see whats going on.

 

[LoonWulf]

Sad part is the rifle was a half minute rifle before now is 2.5-3 inches at 100. Really just wanted a heavier profile barrel. Added the extra work to help him. He apprenticed with the best gunsmith in my area and now teaches gunsmithing at a nearby community college. I’m disappointed more than anything. I’m in line to use the best in the area. I’m going to let him know his pupil is using his name and doing shadetree work.

I do shade tree work, and I sir am OFFENDED!

Id say he probably screwed up the blueprinting job, and now your barrels not square to the receiver. Was the recoil lug replaced, and what barrel did he use?