Spring tension maintenance

[gherx]

Hi guys,

I'll need to clean my bolt for the first time soon and have looked up a bunch of how-to's, no worries for most stuff.

No one mentions the bolt spring though if anything I've seen. Other than just greasing it.

Is there anything to be done for maintaining spring at all? Checking compression or tension or stretching or... Anything?

Cheers.

[VICHunter]

A suitable grease and you've no doubt already read, then leave it alone.

Definitely do not start pulling/compressing the spring.

[Seconds]

Definitely do not start pulling/compressing the spring.

Sure fire way to muck up your rifle.

[Warrigul]

Hi guys,

I'll need to clean my bolt for the first time soon and have looked up a bunch of how-to's, no worries for most stuff.

No one mentions the bolt spring though if anything I've seen. Other than just greasing it.

Is there anything to be done for maintaining spring at all? Checking compression or tension or stretching or... Anything?

Cheers.

I only oil my bolt springs and firing pins, you don't want extra friction or grit attracted. I always grease the cam surfaces and the locking lugs but that is all. Perhaps the best thing you can do for a bolt is de-cock it when storing.

Pretty much the only time you need to worry about spring tension etc is target shooting, I replace firing pin springs every 2000 shots. Only because that is what I was told to do, and yes you can see a difference in free spring length between a new one, one that has been fired 1000 times and one that has 2000 shots under its belt.

Is it critical? I don't think so, not unless you are getting pierced primers, mis fires or other issues.

All that said and done I have a 1917 WW1 mauser that was left cocked as a display piece on a wall in 1920 until I bought it last year for $80 and after cleaning all the grease and junk out of it still functions well.

[Lorgar]

I only oil my bolt springs and firing pins, you don't want extra friction or grit attracted. I always grease the cam surfaces and the locking lugs but that is all. Perhaps the best thing you can do for a bolt is de-cock it when storing.

Ditto. Just a strip down, clean, grease, then back in it goes. I do mine when the bolt raise starts to stiffen up which is maybe around 350 rounds or so in my centrefires?

Dry fire to release firing pin then back in the safe they go.

[gherx]

Thanks guys.

I was over thinking it obviously.

I'll just give it a clean every few months, no worries

[creet]

Just a strip down, clean, grease, then back in it goes.

Is this still shooting we're talking about?