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12/14/2011 5:37:49 PM EDT
How do you "fit" a bolt to the barrel?  Won't they "fit" themselves when you shoot the gun?  Sorry if this is a dumb question.
12/14/2011 5:49:57 PM EDT
[#1]
Insert bolt into carrier.  Insert carrier into upper.  Charge rifle and fire.

Who told you to "fit" the bolt?
12/14/2011 5:53:22 PM EDT
[#2]
Are you talking about head spacing, sometimes its not a good idea just to throw a barrel and bolt in an upper and add live ammo with out checking the HS.. Could be deadly..
12/14/2011 6:31:01 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Insert bolt into carrier.  Insert carrier into upper.  Charge rifle and fire.

Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Iv'e noticed some vendors advertise; add fitted bolt for an extra $65
12/14/2011 6:32:34 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Are you talking about head spacing, sometimes its not a good idea just to throw a barrel and bolt in an upper and add live ammo with out checking the HS.. Could be deadly..


I don't think they are referring to head spacing.  The barrel needs to be mated to the intended receiver to measure that.

12/14/2011 6:36:54 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Some Brl makers and parts usppliers claim to include a "fitted" bolt with certain Brls. Its marketing BS. Either it headspaces correctly or it does not. Nobody is lapping the lugs like on a bolt action rifle. I would avoid any vendor that even suggest the concept of "fitted" bolts in the AR15 platform.
12/14/2011 6:43:16 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Some Brl makers and parts usppliers claim to include a "fitted" bolt with certain Brls. Its marketing BS. Either it headspaces correctly or it does not. Nobody is lapping the lugs like on a bolt action rifle. I would avoid any vendor that even suggest the concept of "fitted" bolts in the AR15 platform.


Actually, certain vendors have somebody sit there with headspace gauges and find a bolt that fits the minimum headspace spec for a given barrel.  I'm not convinced it does anything but some people are.
12/14/2011 6:46:30 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Some Brl makers and parts usppliers claim to include a "fitted" bolt with certain Brls. Its marketing BS. Either it headspaces correctly or it does not. Nobody is lapping the lugs like on a bolt action rifle. I would avoid any vendor that even suggest the concept of "fitted" bolts in the AR15 platform.


Actually, certain vendors have somebody sit there with headspace gauges and find a bolt that fits the minimum headspace spec for a given barrel.  I'm not convinced it does anything but some people are.


Thats a headspaced to minimum bolt, not a "fitted" bolt.
12/14/2011 7:21:14 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Some Brl makers and parts usppliers claim to include a "fitted" bolt with certain Brls. Its marketing BS. Either it headspaces correctly or it does not. Nobody is lapping the lugs like on a bolt action rifle. I would avoid any vendor that even suggest the concept of "fitted" bolts in the AR15 platform.


Actually, certain vendors have somebody sit there with headspace gauges and find a bolt that fits the minimum headspace spec for a given barrel.  I'm not convinced it does anything but some people are.


Thats a headspaced to minimum bolt, not a "fitted" bolt.


So what is the difference?  I never checked head space on an upper Iv'e assembled.  I put together quite a few using Noveske barrels and bolt carrier groups from them.  They told me head spacing would not be necessary and that it was GTG.  

12/15/2011 7:19:14 PM EDT
[#9]
I have seen a new barrel and bolt fail a SAAMI NoGo gage.
It would have been safe to shoot, but that sure is not where I would want my new rifle starting out.
Especially if I wanted to shoot 223 Rem in it also.
12/15/2011 7:45:02 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Who told you to "fit" the bolt?


Some Brl makers and parts usppliers claim to include a "fitted" bolt with certain Brls. Its marketing BS. Either it headspaces correctly or it does not. Nobody is lapping the lugs like on a bolt action rifle. I would avoid any vendor that even suggest the concept of "fitted" bolts in the AR15 platform.


Actually, certain vendors have somebody sit there with headspace gauges and find a bolt that fits the minimum headspace spec for a given barrel.  I'm not convinced it does anything but some people are.


Thats a headspaced to minimum bolt, not a "fitted" bolt.


Just repeating the word of a vendor who divulged his secret.
12/15/2011 8:12:43 PM EDT
[#11]
So what is the best type of head space gauge to use and where can I buy it?
12/16/2011 7:25:39 AM EDT
[#12]
I got mine from Brownells, link below. Approximately $50

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=5.56+headspace/t=P/ksubmit=y/psize=24/Products/All/search=5.56_headspace
12/16/2011 7:30:37 AM EDT
[#13]
Barrels sold with matched bolts are not done so with standard go/no-go gages.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/549020/forster-complete-match-headspace-gage-set-223-remington

This doesn't need to be done in a receiver. All an upper receiver does is hold the barrel and bolt in alignment.

Different manufacturers spec a different fit. Mine was matched by MSTN at 1.4646.

If you are going to spend the extra money for a stainless barrel, and you are going to buy a bolt anyway, why wouldn't you want the peice of mind.

It isn't a fitting per se, but a matching. You try different bolts until you get the match you want. Its not like a hand fitting that you would do with a 1911.

There was a video tour of the Noveske factory somewhere and you could see someone doing this.
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