[twobyfour]

It's a post 1964 push feed short action. I recently took the bolt assembly apart to investigate a rust problem on the rear section, particularly near the rear part of the firing pin and breech bolt sleeve, where the cocking block portion of the firing pin extrudes through the rear section of the bolt. I cleaned the rust out with a dremel on slow speed and little wire wheel and did notice very minor pitting. I cleaned it up real good and the parts appeared to be completely fine and serviceable. I cold blued them and it came out looking good, but after sitting a little while I noticed a little discoloration again and maybe some rust appearing. I'm thinking about stripping everything back down and taking those two parts (firing pin and breech bolt sleeve) to get professionally redone. I know a place down the road that does cerakoting but I'm not sure how well it would hold up considering these parts are always sliding against each other in a rifle bolt. Does anyone know if nitride would hold up? Should I just send them off to be hot blued?

 

[Doc]

If you want to have them professionally redone - either method will be OK as they will wear shiny where they contact and slide.
I would rather suspect that the discoloration you are seeing is the "cold rust bluing" continuing work. I would use some 0000 steel wool (or 1000 grit wet-dry paper) and a little oil and polish it, clean it, lube it and shoot it.....

 

[Pvt. Joker]

I'd clean it up and have all of it parked, barrel included.


Joker OLIVEHELME

 

[11e40]

when you cold blue parts your supposed to rinse with water to stop the salts rusting ,dry & oil. I would clean & oil again.

 

[High Voltage]

I'd clean it up and have all of it parked, barrel included.

I would do this if it wasn't too bad aready, Otherwise, I would probably replace those parts. Pitting really bugs me.

 

[twobyfour]

I would do this if it wasn't too bad aready, Otherwise, I would probably replace those parts. Pitting really bugs me.

Can't replace them unfortunately. No one sells the parts. Midwest gunworks sells the entire bolt asembly but I don't want to fork out $465 for only $50 worth of parts I need. Numrich has been sold out for a while now for the particular parts I need. The pitting is very minor, I don't feel like the integrity of the assemblies have been compromised at all. Maybe parkerizing will be a good option after all.

 

[tn hp]

Parkerizing is a good idea. You may also want to consider "Black" or "Green" Tea as well. It is very nice finish and wears very well.