Scarring or melting on bolt lugs? (pics)

[MountainCatt]

Long time lurker here, first post.
Just got back from the range today with my Tikka T3 Lite in .270WIN. Was cleaning it and noticed a very strange scar on one of the bolt lugs. I swear I don't recall seeing that there before, though I suppose it's technically possible I somehow overlooked it when I bought the gun (it's used, bought at Cabella's).
See pictures attached here.
Any ideas what this is or how it came to be? It looks to me that the metal melted in that spot?
Thanks for any ideas!

 

[dfariswheel]

That looks like a manufacturer's mark stamped or cast into the bolt.

 

[MountainCatt]

Hopefully that's the case, though for the life of me I can't figure out what sort of synbol or character that is supposed to be.
Thanks dfariswheel!

 

[earplug]

Send picture to warranty center

It looks like a defect to my eyes.
Curious if its a cast steel bolt or a forging.
If its a makers mark other Tikka's would have them?

 

[243winxb]

Call 1-800-929-2901 & ask the Importer

That mark is no accident. I do not know what it is there for. There was a recall in 2004. Guns that have been repaired, usually get some kind of special marking after the repair. Ask the importer. http://berettausa.custhelp.com/app/utils/login_form/redirect/ask

 

[WAID]

That looks like a casting misrun that was in place prior to machining. Are those bolts cast? I could imagine billet or a forging ending up with similar defects but that is less likely. It was definitely there before machining the bolt. It's probably not harmful in that location, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I know it would irritate me.

 

[Shadow 7D]

That looks like an inclusion defect, most likely, if that's all of it, just cosmetic, most repair marks would be on the piece repaired and on the rifles receiver.

 

[MountainCatt]

What messes with my head more than anything is the thought that I didn't notice it before I bought the gun!

 

[788Ham]

Looks to me to be a forging mark, shoot it and forget about not seeing it!

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Or if it really really bothers you you could have the [STRIKE]defect[/STRIKE] Lion head removed with a die grinder, and tig welded up past flush and dressed down to the original contour.
Joe

 

[NCsmitty]

It certainly looks like a flaw in the metal, and I would pass the pictures on to the manufacturer for their evaluation.
You're dealing with 60,000 + PSI on a lug part with a metal flaw, and the smart thing to do is to find out if it is safe to use.



NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

Gosh guys!

A flaw in the casting???
Not hardly!

If you look at it from the left of the picture, (Or rotate the picture 90 degrees counter clockwise so it is standing up) it is very clearly a Crowned Lion stamp.
Which is the Finnish definitive final proof mark for smokeless powder firearms.

Fogadaboudtit!
It's supposed to be there.

rc

 

[Shadow 7D]

Ok
your right
as usual
it looks like an inclusion flaw because of the rounded shoulder, it's not crisp like a rollmark

 

[MountainCatt]

Thanks rcmodel!

 

[cerberus65]

rcmodel is right on the money. I just pulled the bolt from my Tikka and it has an identical mark on it.

 

[Millwright]

IMO RC hit it on the head !! Notice the clean/sharp lines along the outline. Been playing with metal for a long time. I never saw a "defect" exhibiting such.

Enjoy your Tikka !! >MW

 

[Horsemany]

You'll notice the same lion head stamp on the barrel after "Finland". Sako's have the lion head too. Definately nothing wrong with your bolt.