Bolt Action Rifle Bolt Lubrication

[JenniferG]

I use Rem Oil. If you think you sprayed too much take the bolt out and lay it on your bench with shop towels underneath and let the excess run into the towels. Let it sit for a while, wipe down and reinstall. All good.

[GeneCC]

I missed out on a doe one year because the temps dropped dramatically. I pulled the trigger and......nothing. The firing pin was frozen. I ended up soaking the bolt in solvent and went light on oil ever since.

You only need so much lubrication. I like to use lithium grease, a very light coating of it, on interior parts of bolts.

I agree with most here, if you over due the grease you will be sorry sooner or later.

[Hawk]

Lubing the bolt body does not do anything but prevent rust (which is good) but it is not going to make the action slicker. Most of the bolt doesn't touch anything when cycled.

I put a small amount of grease (any will do) behind each locking lug on the bolt. And I do mean a small amount, just a dab on your finger and you shouldn't see it after you rub it on. Grease is superior to oil for parts under pressure.

+1
I use a dab of Weapon Shield lithium grease on the lugs. If you ever look at a surplus bolt action rifle, you'll see exactly where the "friction" (and lack of lube) occurs on the bolt.

[Xringshooter]

...
By the way, uncocked on accident when cleaning. Learning point as that was a bitch to fix but googled and saw all I had to do was use edge of my workbench and pull down on it and then rotate back. Tried by hand but that did not work. What’s inside of there some sort of spring?

Yes, that is the firing pin spring and they are stiff. There are many different ways to pull on the cocking portion of the bolt. I happen to use a loop of nylon cord hung around the handle of my bench vise, then put the underlug of the cocking piece on the cord and pull down then rotate the cocking piece back into position.

[Gunowner99]

Thank you all, just to make sure I have my parts correct the bolt head where the firing pin comes out, and that there are two lugs, people are talking about lubricating the back of that lug which basically would be facing the shooter when placed in the rifle?

And what about the cocking notch ? I just sprayed Remoil in that area and wiped off

[cdi]

Yes, back of the lugs- facing the shooter.
They lock into the receiver when the bolt is turned down.

[Gunowner99]

I get you. I shot it today, noticed the bolt had like gold on the sides in a line. Looks like from scraping the brass case in the mag when stripping a round off of the top. That normal I assume?

[cdi]

that's normal.
The brass is soft and transfers onto the bolt, feed ramp, etc.

[Gunowner99]

Yeah, seems to wipe off but over time will it damage bolt?

[cdi]

No. The brass is to soft to do damage.