What bolts are you guys using?

[Texcl2]

I personally have built several 7.62x39 and 6.5 grendel rifles. I have two remaining, one uses an Aim nitrided bcg, the other is an Aim nickeled bcg with a Cason engineering bolt.

The Cason was one of my original x39 bolts and has had THOUSANDS of rounds through it first on a 7.62x39 Rifle then on my .264 lbc. It has been flawless, not even so much as a broken extractor. It’s supposedly a super bolt and I’m starting to buy into that. The Aim bcg is again a x39 and used on a .264 lbc , this rifle was way over gassed and I ran some pretty darn hot loads though it to boot. I broke one extractor at maybe 2000+ rounds. Aim sent out a new replacement extractor for free and was here in like 3 days. The nitrided finish is so slick, it is the easiest bcg I have ever cleaned, mostly just wipe it off, the fouling at the tail tend to just crumble off when any force is applied although some times I have to take a brush to it.

I have never broken a bolt of any caliber.

So what are y’all using any issues or crazy high round counts?

[FRB6.5]

I've been using the Monster bolts BFT has offered in the group buy section of this site. They have been great. Only thing I changed was breaking the sharp edge in the extractor channel with a small file. This is a common tweak to reduce brass shaving.

[Texcl2]

Yes it seems to be very common with 6.5 Grendel bolts and 76 2 x 39 bolts. The Cason bolt I have is built much differently than a standard extractor and doesn’t make those marks. I tried to find them to buy another but I don’t think they are around anymore.

[A5BLASTER]

Sixfivearms
Maxam
Alexander arms

Is the bolts I use.

[Old Bob]

Although I've never broken an extractor, I do have spares. The ones I got from PF for 6.5 Grendel bolts have the points & the front bevel ground down a tad & polished. My Odin bolt never made any extractor marks. The rims on fired brass look perfect. My Monster bolt is still virgin (waiting for my 6mm ARC barrel to break it in). Looking at the extractor under 10x magnification, it looks like the points might need a little polishing. They do look kinda rough & sharp. I'll get around to that eventually.

[ETEX HUNTER]

Grendel Hunter bolt installed in a Tool Craft carrier .

[1Shot]

A BCA bolt and carrier in one 6.5 Grendel and in my other one an Oden Works bolt and carrier. So far no problems.

[Rkangel]

Monster and Toolcraft. I am more recent to the 6.5 grendel game so I don't have thousands of rounds through either yet, but the have been reliable so far.

[Texcl2]

It’s good to see not so many issues now a days. I remember back when 5.45x39 surplus was dirt cheap I built an AR in that caliber, It was a bear to get it to function correctly and it broke extractors like nobody’s business but I shot cases of surplus Russian 5.45 out of it. The bolt itself never failed , it used regular 5.56 extractors. I eventually modified one and got it to work properly with not so many breakages. I spent the extra money on the Cason bolt on my next build and it was night and day better. Seems like even the low end bolts hold up now.

[Bobjones]

JP Rifles. Never a problem

[olde sarge]

PF and Monster bolts in PF carriers. Never a problem but did need to polish the extractor very lightly.