Will a 7.62x39 bolt work if....?

[Hobster]

I am having my barrel built right now at Proof Research. They called me today and said that they don't have any bolts for a 6.5 Grendel. They said that it would be optimal if I could bring a bolt to them before the barrel is finished so that the headspacing can be set correctly.

Would any 7.62x39 AR bolt work in this instance? Or should i try and get a true grendel bolt?

[Overwatcher]

You will be good to go and really how all Grendel/.264 LBC's should be, match headspaced/chambered due to the extra pressures.
For instance, BHW chambers barrels in a Type 1(.124 Depth Boltface) or type 2(.136 Depth boltface).
There was a reason why Bill designed the .136 Depth bolt however...But arguments about the subject arise.
Hope this helps.
OW

[Hobster]

Thanks!

Now to find one....

[Overwatcher]

Guess you can go with whatever comes to the surface first but...
If your still at that point with trying to find one,just order an AA and let the wait begin.Might as well get bolt designed specifically for the Grendel,and not just something that will suffice.

[LRRPF52]

The first 7.62x39 bolt design was made by Colt, with their 7.62x39 Sporter, a well-researched and developed project with funding. Bill A. looked at the existing R&D from Colt, and used their bolt design as a foundation for the .50 Beowulf, which has a rebated rim the same size as a 7.62x39.

When all the other companies decided to make 7.62x39 AR's, they went with a bolt face depth the same as a 5.56/.223 Rem, which limits the amount of mass you can use for the lip of the firing pin. This was huge in driving Colt to setting the bolt face depth back further, since the 7.62x39 has a thicker rim.

What happened in the 1990's-2000's is that a lot of customers and companies never knew about the Colt 7.62 Sporter, or simply didn't care, as they started cranking out 7.62x39 rifles, parts, and kits. People soon began to think that this was the standard, myself included, even though I was around when the original Colt was introduced, I just didn't know the bolt face depth difference.

The end result is that reliable extractors are hard to come by in the non-Colt guns with the .124" bolt face depth. Some makers have even encouraged customers to just use a 5.56 extractor.

When having a custom barrel made, send a bolt off to the barrel maker to set your headspace with.

[BigBluePup]

What length did you get? I just ordered a 20" and also had to send them a bolt. I found one at a favorite spot of mine "curt's discount shooters supply" in Portland OR. Called him paid for it over the phone and he shipped it the next day.
I'm hoping I get mine next week. (as long as they have the muzzle break I want in by then)

Curt's number.
503-819-5881
He said he had one left but who knows he might have some more laying around.