FN Mauser '98 bolt play

[FAL]

I just noticed on my '98 that when the bolt is locked, one can grab the handle and pretty easily rotate the bolt - about 1/16" at the handle. Is that normal? Better safe than sorry...

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[Jamie6.5]

Try it again with a round in it.

 

[FAL]

I put an empty casing it. It gets tighter but the bolt still has a little rotational play..

 

[coop44]

Ok, something I shouldn't share with anybody. Old gunsmithing trick- strip the bolt down to the body, remove everything. insert spent cartridge, insert bolt body, bolt handle will close with (almost) no pressure. remove body, remove spent cartridge, apply 2 layers of masking tape to base of cartridge (voila you have just made a "no-go gauge") trim off excess. insert into chamber insert bolt body, using almost no pressure see if the bolt will close, if it does, add one more layer of tape (you have just made a "Field" gauge) repeat. if the bolt handle still flops down closed you have headspace issues. take it to a gunsmith. if you have a liking for one caliber and buy a lot of guns in it invest in a couple of gauges for it. Hope this helps