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8/10/2012 9:42:55 PM EDT
I picked up one of the TGI AMD 65's from Centerfire.. it's assembled on an FEG receiver. Build quality looks really good and is all numbers matching... However when I tore the weapon apart like I do with all new weapons I noticed the bolt lugs were ground slightly

Should I call TGI and pitch a fit? Shoot it and see what happens? It headspaces good... but I have no idea why the bolt is ground
8/11/2012 7:55:58 AM EDT
[#1]
Post a pic.
8/11/2012 8:53:25 AM EDT
[#2]
I'll take one tonight when I get home...

The rest of the rifle is built very nicely and there is very little mag wobble with steel mags. It's comparable to my Arsenal SLR in fit and finish.. other than the bolt
8/11/2012 11:27:46 AM EDT
[#3]
If the grinding is on the back of the lugs, it was probably done to adjust headspace. Buy/borrow a set of headspace gauges and see what happens.

EDIT: missed the last part of your post . That probably is why the lugs were modified, though.
8/11/2012 4:30:16 PM EDT
[#4]
Moving the barrel is the preferred way of adjusing headspce. This is not what I would expect from a factory build. Did you check headspace with a GO, NO Go, and Field gauge?
8/11/2012 5:27:05 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Moving the barrel is the preferred way of adjusing headspce. This is not what I would expect from a factory build. Did you check headspace with a GO, NO Go, and Field gauge?


Many factories made slight adjustments to headspace by filing the back of the bolt lugs. I have some pics somewhere inside the 386 factory in China doing it.
8/11/2012 9:00:26 PM EDT
[#6]
Pics...


The pics look like more was taken off than it was only because they rubbed some paint off the body of the bolt.

The lugs make full contact with the trunion with a go gauge..
8/11/2012 9:20:04 PM EDT
[#7]
It looks like they either ground the bolt to achieve headspace(not that uncommon). Or they ground it to try and TRUE it to the trunnion. Looking at the pics, they did it to headspace so that they didnt have to install an oversized barrel pin.
8/11/2012 9:22:23 PM EDT
[#8]
Is it acceptable and safe?

I want to SBR this.. don't want to SBR a terd
8/11/2012 9:55:33 PM EDT
[#9]
perfectly fine. as long as it head spaces fine i wouldn't worry about it.
8/11/2012 10:15:48 PM EDT
[#10]
Head space checks out with a no go and a go.. guess next step will be run a couple hundred rounds through it and see what happens. The more I look at it the more it looks like it was filed and not ground.
8/11/2012 11:00:31 PM EDT
[#11]
filing doesn't produce heat and doesn't anneal metal(make soft) like grinding can.
8/12/2012 3:04:19 AM EDT
[#12]
Personally I'd send it back. That's half ass work IMHO. To me, grinding on a bolt is never an acceptable way to set the headspace on a rifle.
8/12/2012 5:15:34 AM EDT
[#13]
^^ This^^
8/12/2012 6:04:35 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Personally I'd send it back. That's half ass work IMHO. To me, grinding on a bolt is never an acceptable way to set the headspace on a rifle.

+!   Looks like some newb DIY handiwork.

8/12/2012 6:22:28 AM EDT
[#15]
I personally wouldn't worry about it if it headspaces fine. I would toss a little Dykem on the lugs to make sure they're making contact on both sides, though.
8/12/2012 8:02:17 AM EDT
[#16]
Looks like someone screwed up the initial head spacing job and had to correct it on the bolt. Hack job? Yes. But it will be okay, I would take a file and break the sharp edges off if you are going to keep it. If it was me, I would send it back.
8/12/2012 8:02:24 AM EDT
[#17]
Would not the removal of the surface metal affect the "case hardening" (not sure if that is the proper term) of the lugs? Headspace coud be affected from wear a lot faster?
8/12/2012 8:05:18 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
Would not the removal of the surface metal affect the "case hardening" (not sure if that is the proper term) of the lugs? Headspace coud be affected from wear a lot faster?


No they are thru hardened.

8/12/2012 8:08:06 AM EDT
[#19]
Thinking it over... since I plan to SBR it, I'm going to call TGI and see if they will replace the rifle.
8/12/2012 6:22:46 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
Thinking it over... since I plan to SBR it, I'm going to call TGI and see if they will replace the rifle.

You wouldn't have posted here if it wasn't going to get under your skin. You will never be happy with it. Send it back. Be polite and give them to opportunity to make it right.

8/12/2012 10:28:58 PM EDT
[#21]
Arsenal does grind lugs of the bolts too.
Some of them are ground smoothly and some are hacked up just like OP's.

Bolt from SA M7 R



8/13/2012 4:23:47 AM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Arsenal does grind lugs of the bolts too.
Some of them are ground smoothly and some are hacked up just like OP's.

Bolt from SA M7 R

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m123/Bulldog257/ArsenalBolt-6XY.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m123/Bulldog257/DSCF0004XY.jpg


That one looks like it was fitted to the trunnion. They don't always slide right in when building from new parts. Could be the case with the OP's too. Just looks like they took a lot off of his for a simple bolt to trunnion fitting job.
8/13/2012 11:54:11 AM EDT
[#23]
Just checked my TGI 'AMD65' and it also has file marks on that lug. Gun shoots fine. These with the FEG SA2000M receiver were assembled in Hungary from military AMD65 kits. I think the people doing this were previously FEG employees who possibly bought up some parts lots. Unfortunately the FEG gun plant was destroyed so they probably have to assemble the guns without the benefit of certain jigs/fixtures that were in the plant, resulting in some handwork to get the headspace right. As far as I know, the guns can be imported because they are single-stack SA2000Ms and are made into double-stacks here and made 922 compliant. The other versions with USA-made receiver I think are made in the USA from imported kits, some of which did not come with the original barrel. Personally, I like FEG guns and think the SA2000M is the one to have. I also like the fact that the headspace was carefully set by hand on each gun. Obviously you would carefully check headspacing before using the bolt in a different gun, but I see no reason to reject it offhand.
8/16/2012 5:31:24 PM EDT
[#24]
Ran 140 rounds through it... zero issues and it runs super smooth. I was pleasantly surprised at the fact it was not over gassed like so many other cheap AK's are. Examining the spent cases showed no signs of head space issues either. Bolt looks good. I think I'll just keep it since it functions perfectly and it seems like the filing is an acceptable method of assembly. I am going to strip the nasty paint off the bolt and take some more pics as I think the paint flaking off makes the fitting look worse than it really is.
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