Easy to change out the bolt in my RRA Operator?

The Scientist · January 29, 2013, 11:04 AM

I'd like to exchange out the bolts in my RRA ARs. Easy enough, and if so, what tools will I need. I have new ARs, and I have not torn them down yet. I just don't get to shoot much.... too busy running a business. Thanks for any help

Carne Frio · January 29, 2013, 11:22 AM

Don't think you need any tools. Check out this government approved tutorial:
http://www.ep.tc/problems/25/02.html

Quentin2 · January 29, 2013, 11:28 AM

Curious, why do you want to replace the bolts?

Palmetto-Pride · January 29, 2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Curious, why do you want to replace the bolts?

Me too.....if they are new and haven't been shot why the need to replace them?

UtopiaTexasG19 · January 29, 2013, 02:24 PM

You need to learn how to field strip the AR just to keep clean, lubricate and learn the name of the parts involved. It is actually a very simple process once done the first time.

alex0535 · January 29, 2013, 02:47 PM

Learn to field strip your AR. This is something you need to know how to do if you are an AR owner whether you shoot a little or a lot.

It will be described in the manual if you have one, and a thousand times over on the internet, in text and video.

This one is very informative and will take you through taking one down as far as you will need to go and putting it back together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ET1MiCm-0E

blfuller · January 29, 2013, 03:11 PM

If you are actually replacing the original bolt with a new bolt, make sure you check the headspace if you do. If you are just field stripping just follow what they said above.

Quentin2 · January 29, 2013, 03:20 PM

With the AR, headspacing is set when the barrel extension is installed on the barrel. (And that's almost always done correctly.) So with new parts headspace rarely is an issue in an AR. Still it's easy enough to check with Go/NoGo/Field gauges, and of course never a bad idea.

To me the biggest problem with buying a new bolt or especially a complete BCG - they tend to latch on credit cards, start sucking funds and finally morph into a new rifle!

The Scientist · January 30, 2013, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I'm not replacing a bolt, I'm only exchanging the bolts between 2 RRA ARs. The ATH has the stainless barrel, and I think having a chromed bolt will look great with it, that's all.

CTS · January 30, 2013, 08:41 PM

So you want to swap the entire Bolt Carrier Group right? That is even easier, takes about 2 minutes and no tools needed. Just push the rear takedown pin out, shotgun the rifle, pull the charging hand back a few inches and then slide the bolt carrier out. Take notice of how the gas key fits up into the charging handle so you will need to tip the carrier down slightly to pull completely out. Reverse procedure to reinstall. The bolt is the piece at the very front of the carrier. Make sure it is fully extended when reinstalling.

Theohazard · January 31, 2013, 01:44 AM

Quote:

So you want to swap the entire Bolt Carrier Group right? That is even easier, takes about 2 minutes and no tools needed.

Two minutes? I can only assume you're including a smoke break!

Bart Noir · January 31, 2013, 05:52 AM

Quote:

I think having a chromed bolt will look great with it, that's all

OK, now I see what you are after.

But, in reality, you really don't see much of the bolt. As noted above, it is the Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) that you see through the ejection port, unless it is locked to the rear.

Bart Noir

CTS · January 31, 2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Two minutes? I can only assume you're including a smoke break

I was figuring two minutes for someone who doesn't know the difference between a bolt and a BCG.

The Scientist · January 31, 2013, 09:40 PM

Yeah, Slappy, thanks for the help. And I can take a little ribbing.... I'm not afraid to admit I'm a novice at these things.

Although I've owned guns my entire life, they've been just .22s, deer rifles, and shotguns. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to financially 'treat' myself... finally paid off my graduate school loans and our business build-out.

Unfortunately, I am so busy with family and running my small business, I don't have a lot of time to educate myself on my new guns, or to shoot much. (Also hard to shoot when its 25 flipping below zero, stupid climate I'm in

)

Mobuck · January 31, 2013, 11:00 PM

I certainly would not advise swapping bolts between factory assembled rifles simply for cosmetic reasons. The bolts will likely fit and fire w/o any problems but it just doesn't seem prudent.
I've finished 1/2 dozen or more AR's using new BCG/bolts in new factory assembled uppers w/o any problems but there's always a chance of a headspace issue when you start mix-n-matching bolts.

January 29, 2013, 11:04 AM	#1
The Scientist Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 46	Easy to change out the bolt in my RRA Operator? I'd like to exchange out the bolts in my RRA ARs. Easy enough, and if so, what tools will I need. I have new ARs, and I have not torn them down yet. I just don't get to shoot much.... too busy running a business. Thanks for any help

January 29, 2013, 11:22 AM	#2
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 829	Don't think you need any tools. Check out this government approved tutorial: http://www.ep.tc/problems/25/02.html

January 29, 2013, 11:28 AM	#3
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Curious, why do you want to replace the bolts?

January 29, 2013, 02:24 PM	#5
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	You need to learn how to field strip the AR just to keep clean, lubricate and learn the name of the parts involved. It is actually a very simple process once done the first time.

January 29, 2013, 02:47 PM	#6
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	Learn to field strip your AR. This is something you need to know how to do if you are an AR owner whether you shoot a little or a lot. It will be described in the manual if you have one, and a thousand times over on the internet, in text and video. This one is very informative and will take you through taking one down as far as you will need to go and putting it back together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ET1MiCm-0E

January 29, 2013, 03:11 PM	#7
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	If you are actually replacing the original bolt with a new bolt, make sure you check the headspace if you do. If you are just field stripping just follow what they said above.

January 29, 2013, 03:20 PM	#8
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	With the AR, headspacing is set when the barrel extension is installed on the barrel. (And that's almost always done correctly.) So with new parts headspace rarely is an issue in an AR. Still it's easy enough to check with Go/NoGo/Field gauges, and of course never a bad idea. To me the biggest problem with buying a new bolt or especially a complete BCG - they tend to latch on credit cards, start sucking funds and finally morph into a new rifle!

January 30, 2013, 02:02 PM	#9
The Scientist Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 46	Thanks for the help guys. I'm not replacing a bolt, I'm only exchanging the bolts between 2 RRA ARs. The ATH has the stainless barrel, and I think having a chromed bolt will look great with it, that's all.

January 30, 2013, 08:41 PM	#10
CTS Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: NE Georgia Posts: 1,070	So you want to swap the entire Bolt Carrier Group right? That is even easier, takes about 2 minutes and no tools needed. Just push the rear takedown pin out, shotgun the rifle, pull the charging hand back a few inches and then slide the bolt carrier out. Take notice of how the gas key fits up into the charging handle so you will need to tip the carrier down slightly to pull completely out. Reverse procedure to reinstall. The bolt is the piece at the very front of the carrier. Make sure it is fully extended when reinstalling.

January 31, 2013, 09:40 PM	#14
The Scientist Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 46	Yeah, Slappy, thanks for the help. And I can take a little ribbing.... I'm not afraid to admit I'm a novice at these things. Although I've owned guns my entire life, they've been just .22s, deer rifles, and shotguns. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to financially 'treat' myself... finally paid off my graduate school loans and our business build-out. Unfortunately, I am so busy with family and running my small business, I don't have a lot of time to educate myself on my new guns, or to shoot much. (Also hard to shoot when its 25 flipping below zero, stupid climate I'm in )

January 31, 2013, 11:00 PM	#15
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I certainly would not advise swapping bolts between factory assembled rifles simply for cosmetic reasons. The bolts will likely fit and fire w/o any problems but it just doesn't seem prudent. I've finished 1/2 dozen or more AR's using new BCG/bolts in new factory assembled uppers w/o any problems but there's always a chance of a headspace issue when you start mix-n-matching bolts.