11-21-2011, 01:08 AM
The original Beowulf bolts were made from drawings of samples of the Colt bolts. We actually found latter that we did indeed make a slight error in the measurements (difficult to pull dimensions from worn and broken samples) and our bolt is a few thousands out from the old Colt prints but the original Colt was close enough that you would not see a difference. (three depths) Latter Colt rifles reverted to essentially a 5.56 bolt opened out. Interestingly the project for the 7.62x39 was rumored to be a funded work but time, politics and the feed problems canned the work and it was eventually released to general sale as the Sporter. We have some superb reference material in the Colt history. Inconsistencies with accuracy that led to bedding the Grendel rifles were following similarities seen in the Colt rifles. They went as far as to pot the whole barrel extension, barrel nut and receiver threads in high strength epoxy. 5 round mags were common but 10s did exist. I have only ever seen 1 example.
Strangely Colt went as far as to incorporate the dirt groove on the exterior circumference of the bolt recess even when they changed to the 5.56 modified bolt, This feature has origins only in Soviet designs and not a natural inclusion in the AR bolt as it degraded life of the part.
The engineering effort and background to this weapon is astounding. I have upper prints that show redrafting errors that even now are still in the finished item.
Strangely Colt went as far as to incorporate the dirt groove on the exterior circumference of the bolt recess even when they changed to the 5.56 modified bolt, This feature has origins only in Soviet designs and not a natural inclusion in the AR bolt as it degraded life of the part.
The engineering effort and background to this weapon is astounding. I have upper prints that show redrafting errors that even now are still in the finished item.