Bolt Face & Action Database

by AJ | Last Updated: August 29, 2020

With new calibers and cartridges popping up almost weekly, as so many gunsmiths and precision rifle builders want to improve on designs, re-barreling and chamber change of rifles is becoming much more common. The main question for shooters that want to re-barrel and re chamber their rifles to a new caliber or cartridge, is firstly if the new cartridge base will fit in and extract with the current bolt face, secondly if the new cartridge will fit in the action and cycle out of the magazine, and lastly what other if any custom work needs to be done either to the bolt or the action.

We have found quite a few smaller fragmented resources showing pieces of the information needed in various forums and chat groups on the internet and social networks, but decided to compile a larger database or type of bolt face diameter database in one spot, for all to see and learn from, and will periodically update the database as we learn of new calibers and cartridges becoming available and popular. One resource showing all the bolt face diameter sizes for the different calibers and cartridges.

If you disagree with anything listed in this database, or want to add anything new to it, please do go ahead and contact us with your recommendations for changes or additions as we are also still in the ongoing learning process and appreciate any feedback and information we can find.

The first database or bolt face diameter chart, is of the Various cartridges that can work with the same bolt faces and action lengths. There are basically four main bolt face diameters and two action lengths that cover most cartridges, with just a few falling outside of those. Generally short-action would be suitable for cartridges with a COAL of 2.3 – 2.8 inches, long-action would be suitable for cartridges with a COAL of 2.8 – 3.34 inches and magnum-action would be suitable for cartridges with a COAL of 3.34 inches and longer.

Bolt Face Database

Next up is a database showing the more precise diameters of the case heads of the difference cartridges, and the COAL (cartridge overall length) most common on those cartridges.

Case Head & COAL Database

FAQ for Bolt Face Diameters

What Calibers Use a .308 Bolt Face?

As the .308 Winchester cartridge uses the .470 +/- bolt face, all of the other calibers and cartridges listed on the bolt face chart above, with the .470 +/- bolt face diameter, use the same bolt face as the .308 Winchester.

What Bolt Face is a 6.5 Creedmoor?

As can be seen on the bolt face database chart at the top op this page. The 6.5mm Creedmoor uses the same .470 +/- bolt face as the .308 Winchester cartridge.

What is the Bolt Face?

The bolt face is the surface of the rifle bolt, that makes contact with the cartridge case head. It also usually hold the cartridge in position inside a rifle action, and usually has a ejector pin that ejects the empty fired cartridge case, after the shot has been fired. In center fire rifles, the firing pin comes through a hole in the bolt face, to strike the primer in the cartridge case which sets of the propellant to fire the bullet.

Will a 308 Action Work for 6.5 Creedmoor?

As both the .308 Winchester and the 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges work in short actions, and use the same .470 +/- bolt face, a .308 Winchester action or rifle will work with a barrel chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges.

What Bolt Face is .22-250?

.22-250 Remington cartridge uses a .470 +/- bolt face.

What Bolt Face is 6.5 PRC?

The 6.5 PRC cartridge has a .532″ case head and uses the .540 +/- standard magnum bolt face.

What calibers can a 30-06 be converted to?

As the .30-06 Springfield has a .473″ case head and uses the .470 +/- bolt face, any cartridges list on the above two bolt face diameter and action length database charts above, that also use the .470 +/- bolt face, and have a COAL of 3.34″ or shorter, will work with .30-06 actions. However, it is a waste of space to use short action cartridges in long actions.

What calibers use a 308 case?

The .308 Winchester is the parent case to familiar cartridges like the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, .338 Federal, ..358 Winchester and all their associate wildcat cartridges and calibers developed from them.

Please do contact us if you have any new calibers or cartridges you think we should add to the bolt face diameter chart above, we love learning about and teaching others about bolt face sizes and which are compatible. There are many changes that are quite easily compatible, like changing from a 308 Winchester action and chamber, over to a 6.5mm Creedmoor, or 6mm Creedmoor or even .22 Creedmoor. You can even change a .22-250 over to a .22-250 Ackley Improved, or a 22XC or a 22GT and even the same .22 Creedmoor mentioned above. When studying the bolt face charts above, you will see the the possibilities are endless.

It makes sense when you are quite heavily into precision rifle shooting, and going to change your barrel to a custom or competition barrel in any case, to just buy the rifle or action you want in any compatible bolt face action, and then fit the new barrel and cartridge chamber onto it, instead of having to wait for the action or rifle manufacturers to first have to produce the caliber rifle you want.