Bolt replacement thoughts

[dlc_aec]

Hello all,

im pretty sure the bolt on my 03 is an SHT. to keep myself or anyone else shooting it from getting their eye poked out i am going to replace it (the 03 is a shooter).

heres my question/thougths. can i just replace the body with a DHT body, or do i need to replace all the internals as well (assuming they are SHT era parts too).

thanks for the help,
douglas

[mhb]

you can verify whether your bolt is SHT or not - some DHT bolts had straight handles, too. If you can find and report any marks on the bolt handle or safety lug, the type of bolt can be determined.
Photos would help, also.
In any case, there would be no need to replace the other parts of the bolt assembly.

mhb - Mike

[dlc_aec]

mike,

my bolt body has an s on the saftey lug.... extra early SA from my searching.

i would love to find a straight handled DHT body, my 03 is a 1918 DHT SA.

thanks,
douglas

[Dad]

Straight handle "J5" bolt bodies popup on eBay once in awhile, but they seem to go for big $$$. Watch out for faked ones, there are some unscrupulous sellers out there.....
An alternative straight handle bolt body, if you don't mind not keeping your SA all SA, would be a nickel steel bolt body by Rock Island Arsenal.
Dupage Trading has some, but they are not cheap.
https://shop.dupagetrading.com/product_info.php/rock-island-nickel-steel-bolts-p-140?osCsid=f222abf9ad4ad9a3fc5af32c0201d465

If you replace the bolt don't forget to check the head spacing.

D.

[dlc_aec]

ive done some more research... what about a body marked with a C8?

[Kurt]

According to John Beards chart it would be a DHT bolt vintage 1-18 http://www.vishooter.net/slc3_2008.html

Kurt

[JimF]

The three "straight-handled", yet double-heat-treated bolts are J5, C8, and R10. --Jim

[Fred]

Yea, a C8 marked bolt would be fine for your use as well as a J5 and that way, your 1918 Springfield Armory rifle would have a "correct" Double Heat Treat bolt. C8 bolts aren't too difficult to find on ebay or Gunbroker. I've found mine on there quite cheap. Cheap or not, if the expense of buying a proper and safe bolt is too much for one's wallet, then maybe one should find another interest. There can't be too much one should pay for safety.