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6/26/2009 10:35:04 AM EDT
I pulled my bolt off of the bolt assembly last night, and there's some very hard carbon buildup on the back curved part ("tail") of the bolt. Is this normal? I can't get if off. The gun runs fine with it on there- I just want to make sure it's not hurting the gun any having it on there.

I only use noncorrosive ammo, and it's been ~3K rounds since I last had it off.
6/26/2009 11:27:38 AM EDT
[#1]
Read Quib's bolt cleaning procedure at the top of this forum...
6/27/2009 1:33:05 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Read Quib's bolt cleaning procedure at the top of this forum...



Yep read up on QUIBS bolt cleaning stuff. The carbon is normal and other than using Quibs CLP/Mineral spirits mix I do not even worry about the build up.

J-
6/27/2009 4:54:52 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I pulled my bolt off of the bolt assembly last night, and there's some very hard carbon buildup on the back curved part ("tail") of the bolt. Is this normal? I can't get if off. The gun runs fine with it on there- I just want to make sure it's not hurting the gun any having it on there.

I only use noncorrosive ammo, and it's been ~3K rounds since I last had it off.


so you went 3000 rds without cleaning the bolt?

The carbon on the back of the bolt won't hurt a thing, but if it bothers you, I have found that a spent .45 brass casing serves as an excellent tool to scrape the carbon off the tail.
6/28/2009 8:58:34 AM EDT
[#4]
I scrap the carbon off my bolt with an old exacto knife blade.
6/28/2009 11:40:18 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I pulled my bolt off of the bolt assembly last night, and there's some very hard carbon buildup on the back curved part ("tail") of the bolt. Is this normal? I can't get if off. The gun runs fine with it on there- I just want to make sure it's not hurting the gun any having it on there.

I only use noncorrosive ammo, and it's been ~3K rounds since I last had it off.


so you went 3000 rds without cleaning the bolt?

The carbon on the back of the bolt won't hurt a thing, but if it bothers you, I have found that a spent .45 brass casing serves as an excellent tool to scrape the carbon off the tail.


I am not the OP, but if it's wet, runs, and no sergeant coming by to inspect it, why should it be a problem?
6/28/2009 1:59:50 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I pulled my bolt off of the bolt assembly last night, and there's some very hard carbon buildup on the back curved part ("tail") of the bolt. Is this normal? I can't get if off. The gun runs fine with it on there- I just want to make sure it's not hurting the gun any having it on there.

I only use noncorrosive ammo, and it's been ~3K rounds since I last had it off.


so you went 3000 rds without cleaning the bolt?

The carbon on the back of the bolt won't hurt a thing, but if it bothers you, I have found that a spent .45 brass casing serves as an excellent tool to scrape the carbon off the tail.


I am not the OP, but if it's wet, runs, and no sergeant coming by to inspect it, why should it be a problem?


are you asking why should not cleaning the bolt ni general be a problem, or not cleaning the bolt tail?  As already stated, the bolt tail doesn't require that much attention, the bolt in general is another matter.  The sergeants come by to inspect for a reason.

Now if we are talking about a range/hobby gun, who cares, but for a defensive weapon, 3000 rds is too many to go without cleaning.
6/28/2009 11:33:28 PM EDT
[#7]
If you have a 4oz. jar of Hoppe's No.9,just drop the bolt in the jar tail first and let it soak a few hours.Any hard spots can be removed with a sharpened chop-stick.Otherwise keep the inside of the carrier,bolt and gas rings wet with CLP/lube....that helps keep the carbon soft and prevent corrosion.
Doing a light PM after each firing seems to help keep carbon deposits at a minimum by the way.
Otherwise the carbon build up seems to be self limiting,so I dont worry too much about it.
6/30/2009 5:39:12 PM EDT
[#8]
Slip 2000. And no, to the paranoid out there, I am not a Slip products shill. Try it and you will never go back.
7/1/2009 8:36:30 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I pulled my bolt off of the bolt assembly last night, and there's some very hard carbon buildup on the back curved part ("tail") of the bolt. Is this normal? I can't get if off. The gun runs fine with it on there- I just want to make sure it's not hurting the gun any having it on there.

I only use noncorrosive ammo, and it's been ~3K rounds since I last had it off.


so you went 3000 rds without cleaning the bolt?

The carbon on the back of the bolt won't hurt a thing, but if it bothers you, I have found that a spent .45 brass casing serves as an excellent tool to scrape the carbon off the tail.


I am not the OP, but if it's wet, runs, and no sergeant coming by to inspect it, why should it be a problem?


Cleaning is a good opportunity for maintenance and inspection.  Check the gas rings, the extractor, the bolt lugs, the cam pin, etc.  Maintaining your bolt is good as it enhances service life and increases reliability.  It don't want my rifle to go TU because it won't extract due to a fouled or worn extractor.  For some people, that could mean a ruined day at the range.  For others, it could mean their lives.

Do you change your oil regularly, or do you wait for your engine to seize?

(That said, I don't sweat some minor carbon deposits on the bolt tail.)
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