Bolt Face & Action Database

by Admin | 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 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.

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, 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.

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