The AR Bolt’s Achilles’ Heel

Did you notice the huge hole in the AR-15 bolt that runs through it? The hole is sharp and needs to be carefully de-angled. The bolt will soon die if that edge is nicked. Why do we use it? Because that was the design that the government had in mind back in 1968. You stick with mil-spec if you want to keep the bolt. But should you? HM Defense did exactly that. They chose to not drill the hole all the the way through. It’s simple, I know. The HM Bolt simply has a hole for the cam pin. This will require a new campin, one that is short enough to not stop in the hole. But that’s it. How does this make a bolt more strong? Simply, by drilling through the bolt body, bolt makers (who have no choice but to do so) significantly weaken the bolt. There are only two thin webs left to support the gas rings, firing pin guidance, and hold the bolt together. I have seen bolts crack and break at the cam pin hole. Although it isn’t a subnuclear explosion, it stops the rifle from functioning. Even though the stresses may crack the bolt at the webs, the webs are supported from the far side by HM Defense. Otherwise, bolts could be assembled backwards. It was a once-off sight that I witnessed, and the stream of invectives coming from the owner (he had fired one shot on the rifle stage at a 3-gun match) were impressive. The bolts can be used as a replacement or drop-in bolt/carrier configurations. They have been given the proper heat treatment, testing, and finished to ensure many years of reliable use. This cam pin is a good length so you don’t have to grind it down on your bench grinder. Sure. We all strive to make our equipment as reliable and durable as possible. We all try to make our equipment as durable and reliable as possible. Although parts are difficult to find right now, they will become more accessible in the future. Download your Storm Tactical printable target pack62 printable MOA targets with DOT drills – Rifle range in YARDS. This impressive target pack comes from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Get Free Targets