Fluting a bolt accomplishes three things.  It reduces the weight of the rifle, provides foreign debris a place to go, and can add significant visual appeal.  There are varying opinions on how effective fluting accomplishes the first two, but if done well the cosmetics can be very striking. 

Setup for machining consists of fixturing the bolt between centers.  We helically flute our bolts with a 4 axis milling center and a tool that machines horizontally.  Using the side of the tool generates what’s known as surface speed. This is important as it allows the cutter to machine the part efficiently.  The part travels in the X axis and rotates on the 4th axis simultaneously, creating the helical pattern.  The cycle repeats until the completion of the program.  Flood coolant is applied to evacuate the chips and to prevent premature tool wear and part deformation.

As with all of our rifles, the final result carries a special emphasis on final presentation.