Stripping bolt/stuck bolt, brass sizing

Ztm91

FNG
Joined
Jan 27, 2024
Messages
60
I am a new hunter and shooter. Just purchased my first rifle last July. I am a tinkerer and hobby person so pursuing reloading. After reading and watching some videos where people talk about striping your bolt so it freely falls (could not find any videos showing how to do this somehow) I removed the firing pin assembly and ejector assembly easily enough. Bolt would still not fall freely, eventually I diagnosed the rear baffle as the issue and removed that and was now in business.

That is until the bolt head retaining pin slid out a bit and now the bolt is stuck in the rifle…. It at least slid to the magazine port side and I think I should be able to tap it in enough with a punch to remove the bolt.

For future reference how is this process traditionally handled? Do you put just the firing pin itself back in to hold the bolt head retaining pin in place? Can I just wrap a piece of masking tape over that portion of the bolt body to keep it from slipping out again?
 
Just as a quick update, this morning I was able to push the retaining pin back in place and remove the bolt. There is not enough clearance for tape on the bolt. I just put the firing pin back in with one of the springs to keep the retaining pin from sliding out.

Still curious on the proper bolt prep for measuring headspace and sizing brass.
 
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