Chipped bolt, is it OK? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Chipped bolt, is it OK?

Posted: 2/2/2020 1:54:02 PM EDT

I've got what looks to be a chip in the bolt of my AR right along the cam pin hole. Actually looks like it's chipped on both sides, but one is way worse. I would think it's still OK to shoot, eventually the bolt will just crack and it will fail to go in to battery. But should I consider it unsafe to shoot and go get another one? This thing probably doesn't even have 1000 rounds yet.

Posted: 2/2/2020 2:10:31 PM EDT

[#1]

No, replace it with a quality bolt.

Posted: 2/2/2020 2:24:52 PM EDT

[#2]

It's going crack out of that notch. I'd put that bolt aside.

If it were mine I would blend and polish the defect, add an id tag, and put it away for use in an emergency when there is no other choice.

Posted: 2/2/2020 2:27:41 PM EDT

[#3]

Replace it.

Posted: 2/2/2020 2:57:55 PM EDT

[#4]

don't chance it, chuck it and take a very good look at the BCG.

Posted: 2/2/2020 3:02:35 PM EDT

[#5]

Toss in trash.

Check the EE, someone has a nice quality one for $400

Posted: 2/2/2020 3:20:15 PM EDT

[#6]

What bar and is that pos?

Posted: 2/2/2020 3:37:00 PM EDT

[#7]

Matter of time before it becomes two or more pieces.

Posted: 2/2/2020 6:07:39 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I've got what looks to be a chip in the bolt of my AR right along the cam pin hole. Actually looks like it's chipped on both sides, but one is way worse. I would think it's still OK to shoot, eventually the bolt will just crack and it will fail to go in to battery. But should I consider it unsafe to shoot and go get another one? This thing probably doesn't even have 1000 rounds yet.

https://i.imgur.com/MsvWBI4.jpg

View Quote

Who is mfr of bolt?

Posted: 2/2/2020 10:50:18 PM EDT

[#9]

Replace it; there’s no reason to continue shooting a defective bolt.

Posted: 2/2/2020 10:53:30 PM EDT

[#10]

Hell no.

Replace as posted above, it will fail.

Posted: 2/2/2020 11:55:11 PM EDT

[#11]

Pretty sure it's clear from the previous replies, but in case you're still on the fence: Replace it.

Who made that bolt?

Posted: 2/2/2020 11:58:02 PM EDT

[#12]

Definitively replace it. That already is a weak spot on a bolt.

Posted: 2/3/2020 12:01:25 AM EDT

[#13]

replace it ASAP

Bolts are like hiking boots, good ones last a long time, but they wear out.

should run a lot longer than 1000

what brand ?

Posted: 2/3/2020 12:27:03 AM EDT

[#14]

Buy 2 new bolts and hold a reliable bolt in reserve; chuck that one in the trash - it's an accident waiting to happen. If you were to shoot it failure could be sudden and catastrophic; damage to the upper is likely and injury to you is possible.

Posted: 2/3/2020 12:55:06 PM EDT

[#15]

Thanks for all the replies. I was planning to buy a new one but wasn't sure if it was worth shooting this one to failure or not. Consensus seems to be to toss it. I'm not sure who the maker is. The gun is from Precision Reflex Inc. Great gun, super accurate, going to fire off an email to them because it shouldn't have failed this soon I wouldn't think.

Posted: 2/3/2020 3:38:59 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for all the replies. I was planning to buy a new one but wasn't sure if it was worth shooting this one to failure or not. Consensus seems to be to toss it. I'm not sure who the maker is. The gun is from Precision Reflex Inc. Great gun, super accurate, going to fire off an email to them because it shouldn't have failed this soon I wouldn't think.

View Quote

Maybe they will replace it under warranty.

Posted: 2/3/2020 4:31:29 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Maybe they will replace it under warranty.

View Quote

That's exactly what they are going to go!

Posted: 2/3/2020 5:43:14 PM EDT

[#18]

Glad to hear it, that's the way it should be!

Posted: 2/3/2020 8:00:35 PM EDT

[#19]

How tight is the cam pin? I would think that it could be loose and caused that. Cam pin
too small or the hole is too big?

Posted: 2/4/2020 11:51:28 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
How tight is the cam pin? I would think that it could be loose and caused that. Cam pin
too small or the hole is too big?

View Quote

Hmm. Nothing obvious, to me. I could always measure it. Any idea what the size/tolerance should be?

Posted: 2/4/2020 12:12:30 PM EDT

[#21]

What manufacturer? Just toss it. Bolts are cheap.

Posted: 2/4/2020 12:18:19 PM EDT

[#22]

The edge around the area the cam pin enters is not normally a sharp abrupt edge on most of the bolts I have purchased. I think the drawings might show a radius along and around the edge of that side of the bolt. Not saying it would make a difference in what happened. That could be material or treatment or even some other thing that caused that.

Posted: 2/4/2020 12:57:01 PM EDT

[#23]

That happened with my bolt on my first AR build, with a BCG I bought from Tom's Tactical. When I showed it to them, they replaced it for free, and quickly. The 2nd bolt has worked perfect. Get whoever you bought it from to replace it.

Posted: 2/5/2020 3:03:58 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
What manufacturer? Just toss it. Bolts are cheap.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:
What manufacturer? Just toss it. Bolts are cheap.

Quoted:
Get whoever you bought it from to replace it.

Umm...

Quoted:
Thanks for all the replies. I was planning to buy a new one but wasn't sure if it was worth shooting this one to failure or not. Consensus seems to be to toss it. I'm not sure who the maker is. The gun is from Precision Reflex Inc. Great gun, super accurate, going to fire off an email to them because it shouldn't have failed this soon I wouldn't think.

Posted: 2/6/2020 4:51:51 PM EDT

[#25]

Mfg should replace it.

Posted: 2/11/2020 2:39:11 AM EDT

[#26]

When bolts eventually wear out and break, it's usually either a crack there or a bolt lug shearing off.

It's odd that it's chipped, not cracked or just outright broken in half. I don't think I've seen a chip like that before in that location.

Posted: 3/21/2020 6:17:35 PM EDT

[#27]

The bolt looks brand new.
The only way I see this happening is if someone tried to hammer the cam pin all the way through.
The hole for the cam pin is smaller on one end to help keep from putting it in the carrier backwards.
I think there is more to this story than what has been said.

Posted: 3/29/2020 2:43:39 PM EDT

[#28]

Paperweight

Posted: 6/9/2020 4:18:18 PM EDT

[#29]

i have cracked two bolts. Both cracked right where your chip is located. Mine did not chip just cracked on one side. Get you a new one of better quality.

Posted: 6/12/2020 11:24:25 PM EDT

[#30]

Do I even need to say.... toss that bolt in to the weeds As Fas As You Can!!!! Why shoot a rifle that is Known to fail at Any time on the very next round!?!?

H

Posted: 6/21/2020 11:01:06 AM EDT

[#31]

Unfortunately that is one of the highest stress point of the rifle aside from the throat/chamber area. The job of that piece is to contain the cam pin and rotate to unlock the bolt. The cam pin happens to be the highest stress point of the bolt carrier group because it needs to violently unlock and rotate to begin the rear ward motion then when it slams back home, it has to lock the bolt back into place. That's a lot of stress to a small part area.

With that said, if you shown anything else having a small chip in it, I'd say maybe it is okay. But anything with the cam pin needs to be replaced ASAP. I also recommend in the future put more heavy lubrication into that area and also spend a bit more time cleaning that area. I always spend a bit of extra time focusing on the cam pin by putting extra amount of grease to cover the entire camp pin before putting it back into place.

Posted: 6/21/2020 11:03:49 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
I've got what looks to be a chip in the bolt of my AR right along the cam pin hole. Actually looks like it's chipped on both sides, but one is way worse. I would think it's still OK to shoot, eventually the bolt will just crack and it will fail to go in to battery. But should I consider it unsafe to shoot and go get another one? This thing probably doesn't even have 1000 rounds yet.

https://i.imgur.com/MsvWBI4.jpg

View Quote

hell no, replace that.

Doesn't appear to be a 5.56 bolt either. Maybe a Grendel or x39.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Chipped bolt, is it OK?

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