STEN speed bolt
- Thread starter navgunner
- Start date
I made one for my Sten but didn't really care for it and it seemed hard on the brass because it was going back too quickly and the cases were ballooning a bit. I was more concerned about reloading back then.
I'd think that a stiffer spring might be better than a lighter bolt. But that's just me. Maybe make one bolt and try it out for yourself.
I'd think that a stiffer spring might be better than a lighter bolt. But that's just me. Maybe make one bolt and try it out for yourself.
Interesting as I’m the opposite, I only use my speed bolt with my reloads and have had NO issues.
I think for a ported can, the speed bolt would likely be needed. Obviously, that’s depending on how effective the porting is.
Here is my 'waisted' bolt which weighs 17.0 ounces and a standard bolt that weighs 21.1 ounces. The lighter bolt is 19.4% lighter than the stock. Or you could say that it's 80.6 % the weight of a stock bolt.
Sorry about the picture, I'm not sure why it's so blurry.
Sorry about the picture, I'm not sure why it's so blurry.
I have found that a faster less choppy/bouncy rate of fire in subguns allows one to control muzzle rise and maintain a more stable sight picture better than a slower rate of fire.
I’ve got an old Lage MAC 10 45 acp upper with both speed bolt and a slow fire bolt.
The speed bolt is much easier to control and is used way more often than the slow fire bolt.
I agree that a faster ROF, in the 7-900 RPM range gives a better feel and better controllability. For some reason I just didn't like it on my Sten. Maybe it was because I was using hot SMG grade reloads at the time.
The lighter Sten bolt was originally for the suppressed guns where a lot of power was bled off into the base of the suppressor to reduce bullet velocity of supersonic cartridges to subsonic. Others picked it up for speed on a regular Sten later on.
It looks like the OP, Navgunner, is offering a slick package with the lighter weight bolt. That's a nice.
The lighter Sten bolt was originally for the suppressed guns where a lot of power was bled off into the base of the suppressor to reduce bullet velocity of supersonic cartridges to subsonic. Others picked it up for speed on a regular Sten later on.
It looks like the OP, Navgunner, is offering a slick package with the lighter weight bolt. That's a nice.
navgunner
UZI Talk Life Member
I strongly believe that the most important part of the suppressor with ported barrel system is the speed bolt as it increases reliability significantly. Here’s a link to an article explaining the why and the history (thank you @ferndog1). https://smallarmsreview.com/sten-speed-bolt/. My fear is that with the standard bolt there’s an increased risk of short cycling (suppressed w/ ported barrel), which could cause a runaway gun.
My speed bolt is a good middle ground with a 15% reduction weight.
The first batch sold out immediately, but there’s one single bolt currently available for sale on my website.
My speed bolt is a good middle ground with a 15% reduction weight.
The first batch sold out immediately, but there’s one single bolt currently available for sale on my website.
MontanaRenegade86
UZI Talk Supporter
My STEN speed bolt arrived this morning.
Once again, NavGunner delivers another excellent product to the NFA brotherhood.
Once again, NavGunner delivers another excellent product to the NFA brotherhood.
Here’s a link to them:
STEN MKII "Speed Bolt"
These STEN MKII "Speed Bolts" were made from original surplus bolts and come complete with a new extractor and spring. We've removed ~3oz of material (15% of the original mass) from the center of the bolt bearing surfaces. This bolt is designed to increase reliability when shooting suppressed...
navgunner.com
Looking at his website, I THINK he has them in stock. I could be wrong and we all know surplus parts have dried up years ago.
Maybe, he’ll chime in and confirm if he has any. I’ve got a lightened bolt and I really enjoy it. The rate of fire is really nice (with or without a can, imo).
Jack007
UZI Talk Life Member
Absolutely! I haven't had a chance to shoot my MK2 since my range is outdoors and a distance. My integral can uses a ported bbl. I'll run it normally and suppressed. Hopefully the bolt will fit. I got a spare surplus bolt and had to turn it down in the lathe quite a bit it was dragging. Either it was warped or my Wilson tube is. 😬
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