Life Usage of Bolts and Extractors?

[Old Bob]

That's not how the manual states to test, if I recall correctly you do not set the bcg down on a table to see if it holds, but rather just turn the bcg facing down to see if the bolt slides out by the weight of the bolt itself. I have it saved somewhere on this laptop, I'll try to find it.

I've been using the Marine Corp TM: TM 05538C-23&P/2 for assembly/disassembly, inspection criteria & torque specs. Under PM Checks & Services it says pretty much the same thing as the Army/AF/CG manual in regards to worn bolt rings but the wording is a slightly different. This manual never leaves my work bench & I refer to it often.