How to finish a replacement bolt handle on a rifle
Weapons • Guns
There is more to welding a new bolt handle on to a rifle than just welding it on. In this video, Larry Potterfield, CEO and Founder of MidwayUSA, explains the rest of the story when welding on a new bolt handle. He starts by heating the shank of the handle with an oxy-acetylene torch until is turns red and the steel is soft enough to bend. Using a box end wrench the bolt handle is lifted slightly and swept back. Once the steel cools the weld can be dressed down suing a variety of files. Once the bolt handle has been shaped, a notch is cut in the receiver to allow clearance for the new handle. This is done with a hand grinder. Just enough material is removed to allow the bolt to fully close. All that's left is a final polish on the bolt.
