Relia-Bolt (top) with standard phosphate and FailZero Nibo Bolts for comparison. FailZero Barrel Extension shown for reference.
By Max Archer
Sharps Rifle Company – SRC
https://www.SRCarms.com
When I heard about the Relia-Bolt, I was skeptical. “Uhh, you angled the bolt lugs and are using different steel to improve reliability? OK, I am going to have to see this thing, because I am not getting it.” In the back of my head I started asking the question: is this a solution looking for a problem or a solution to a real issue? The answer is that is depends on you, your rifle and the environment in which you work. It’s an upgrade that can only improve reliability with the NP3 coating, decrease maintenance and in a worst-case situation still deliver functionality. The bolt is coated with NP3, which for all practical purposes is hardened Teflon. It is essentially self-cleaning and extends the life of the bolt. In addition, the use of S7 steel could prevent bolt breakage and the Relia-Bolt design could prevent the kind of jam an extremely neglected AR could develop, so I term the Relia-Bolt as an “extreme performance/environment upgrade”.
About Sharps Rifle Company
Sharps Rifles are a household name in the gun industry with manufacturing that dates back to 1840 and accuracy that delivered some of the first truly accurate 1,000-yard firearms. On the consumer side, Sharps is well known for Tom Selleck’s use of a Sharps rifle in the movie Quigley Down Under. Today Sharps is part of the Broadsword sporting group, which includes Sharps Rifle Company, A-Square, SRC Arms, H.H. Heiser and Merwin Hulbert. Most of those other divisions are more famous for their engineering and manufacturing than firearms/related parts. The combined resources deliver a lot of capabilities and engineering, ranging from production to custom. In this case, the company collaboration delivered a new way of thinking about a 100%-compatible AR15 Bolt design.
Why an AR15 part from a set of companies most famous for an old-time long range rifle? Simple. SRC Arms is in the process of launching a line of AR15 hunting/sporting rifles chambered in their newly developed 25-45 Sharps round, based on the .223 with a heavier, larger round flatter shooting than the 300 Blackout. In the course of the development of their rifle line, they began to ask why not also develop a better AR15 bolt. The Relia-Bolt is intended for all AR15s. The bolt is compatible with the 25-45 Sharps or any .223 case-based round, such as 300 Blackout and 5.56 Nato/.223 Remington.
Fit, Finish, Feel, Features and Functions
Many things about the AR15 format have evolved and improved since its first introduction. Free float forends, adjustable gas blocks, coating and material technology improvements, new stock and buffer tube lengths, spring rate and buffer weight changes, triggers, sights, optics, new carrier designs and lightweight option… and the list goes on of things Mr. Stoner never predicted. What has not changed since introduction is the bolt design. There are a few people out there like Barnes Precision, JP, and YM who are making design and steel enhancements, however fundamentally the Bolt design has remained unchanged.After I receiver the Sharps Relia-Bolt, I had an ah-ha moment when I understood the features. The NP3 coating (hardened Teflon) adds lubricity, self-cleaning, and longer part life and the upgrade to S7 steel improves tensile strength by 75% and yield strength by 60% over the industry standard premium Carpenter 158 steel. You need the added strength if you are going to fiddle around with the bolt lug profiles which took a bit of hands-on simulation to understand.
Why the Sharps Relia-Bolt?
The standard $65 AR15 bolt available anywhere is essentially a non-optimal squares-on-squares engagement that requires near-perfect alignment to work. Luckily, the original Stoner design assures that in most cases the bolt will turn clockwise to unlock from the barrel extension lugs and the top of the cam will be held in unlocked position throughout the cycle by a groove in the upper receiver. The BCG cycles, picks up another round and relocks with a counter-clockwise twist after clearing the barrel extension lugs about the same time the top of the cam pin can move over in the can pin rotation recess in the upper receiver. Ultimately this is what is supposed to happen. However, in extreme situations, grit, grime and wear to the cam pin, receiver, and piston rings can throw everything off and cause problems.
Sharps obviously advocates proper gun maintenance and inspection to avoid and prevent the issues causing operational failure. Nevertheless, there are situations where high-rate sustained fire, environmental issues, excessive receiver or cam pin wear/damage, and maintenance are not possible, and that is where the Relia-Bolt will continue to operate.
Grit and grime can build up at the bolt and barrel extension union to the point where the bolt is not locking or engaging fully. With either extreme cleaning neglect or very hard use conditions, the bolt may not be able to fully lock due to the crap stuck in the chamber or bolt/extension lugs. Sharps Relia-Bolt’s answer to this problem is to deliver a self-lubricating and, for the most part, self-cleaning design. The bolt is coated with NP3, which for all practical purposes is hardened Teflon and is essentially self-cleaning. It can literally be cleaned by wiping with a soft cloth. The tapered leading edges of the bolt lugs in theory also help to plow through buildup around the barrel extension lugs that could occur during extreme neglectful maintenance or situation where a high amount of debris may have found its way into the chamber area.
In a normal working state, the bolt is held in an un-locked position for the length of the cycle by the upper receiver capturing the cam pin so the bolt cannot accidentally lock mid-cycle or as it picks up another round. There is a notch in the upper receiver which is “timed” to allow the cam pin to rotate to a locked position after the bolt lugs have passed and entered the barrel extension lugs. However, a severely worn upper or cam pin can create a situation where the bolt can partially start its counter-clockwise locking cycle just from the pressure of picking up a round or a sticky round in the magazine. When this happens the clocking/timing is off on the bolt, and the lugs on the bolt and barrel extension collide versus interlocking, thus preventing lockup. The Sharps solution is to taper both the front leading edges and the left counter-clockwise facing edges of the lugs. This directional wedge effect drives through chamber buildup and will drive the bolt face back clockwise slightly, back to an unlocked position, to engage the barrel extensions without jamming.
Sharps decided to stay with a standard Carpenter 158 steel extractor simply because the benefits of the S7 steel are minimized to that of the standard Carpenter steel during extractor final heat treatment. Additionally there was a perception that a NP3 coated extractor would be too slick and actually decrease reliability. According to testing that was not the case, however the perception was there so inevitably Sharps decided on a standard premium extractor.
Conclusion
The Sharps Relia-Bolt is an extreme performance/environment upgrade. In tens of thousands of rounds in over thirty tested AR15s, I have never had a chamber area get so dirty or had cam/receiver wear so severe as to create the jam situation resolved by the Relia-Bolt’s angled lug face. I do believe the lubricity, durability and cleaning of finishes such as Nickel Boron and this NP3 (hardened Teflon) treated surface have improved functioning on rifles I have tested. Bolts with these coatings have been shown to run longer, smoother, cleaner, more reliably, and some claim lubrication-free.
I believe the NP3 coating is the most attractive feature of the Sharps Relia-Bolt. However, bolt breakage does occur, and the stronger overall bolt design through the use of S7 steel could prevent bolt breakage. Bolt breakage is far more likely a failure than an out-of-time bolt jam.
I did simulate the jam the patented Relia-Bolt design could prevent. To do this, I pulled the cam pin out of a carrier and simulated the overclocking issue, and the Relia-Bolt clocked back into position where the standard bolt jammed. In short, things would have to be going horribly wrong with a severe amount of wear on the receiver cam pin channel and/or the cam pin itself for the lug tapers of the Sharps Relia-Bolt to be used. However, I can see where in an extreme environment, a long-term fielded AR15/M4 and/or extremely neglected ARs could develop enough slop, so I term the Relia-Bolt as an “extreme performance/environment upgrade”.
It may sound like I am saying the Relia-Bolt is a solution looking for a problem, but I look at it a bit differently. It’s an upgrade that can only improve reliability with the NP3 coating, decrease maintenance and in a worst-case situation still deliver functionality.
Upgrading your AR15 bolt to the Sharps Relia-Bolt delivers another layer of reliability, just as we all now swear by chrome, nitriding, nickel boron and NP3 to deliver longer running, smoother, cleaner, more reliable, corrosion resistant bolts with lower lubrication requirements compared to standard Mil-Spec phosphated bolts. In addition, the S7 steel is stronger. It is doubtful I will ever drive an AR hard enough and with such a high level of neglect to utilize the Relia-Bolt’s leading edge lug tapers. However, the Sharps Relia-Bolt still offers the top end of slick, cleaner, longer running, more reliable, corrosion resistant, and lower-lubrication bolt design that is still at least 60% stronger than a standard AR15 Bolt. With a lifetime warranty and those specs, it is the most sophisticated AR15 bolt available. For those looking for the ultimate in bolt design, the Relia-Bolt could deliver the extra bit of reliability when you need it most.
Specs
Relia Bolt is drop-in compatible with all existing .223/5.56 variant parts groups and bolt carriers. No modification or tools are required for installation. Also works with all .223 cased variants – 300 Blackout, 25-45 Sharps, …etc.
The Relia-Bolt is machined from S7 tool steel, which significantly increases its strength. When compared to mil spec Carpenter 158, the S7 steel provides a 75% increase in tensile strength, and 60% improvement in yield strength.
Every Relia-Bolt is coated with NP3, an electrodes nickels-based finish that co-deposits sub-micron particles of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known as Teflon. Even after thousands of rounds without cleaning, carbon residue can be wiped away with a soft cloth.
Lifetime Warranty – The LW for the SRC Relia-Bolt covers defects in materials and workmanship, all parts and labor to repair or replace defective products and return shipment within the continental United States.
MSRP $149
Sharps Rifle Company – SRC – https://www.SRCarms.com
I have a Professional Ordnance bolt group. Which is a proprietary ar 15 bolt. Will this bolt work on my AR-15? If not can I send the gun or bolt to you for a custom bolt.
I have to wonder if this bolt, with its angled front faces, would be MORE likely to have a bolt-over-base type malfunction, than the standard configuration bolt? It looks like the angles might wedge the round in there even tighter, making a jam harder to clear. I never had to “mortar” any of my AR15’s to clear a jam, yet anyway, so maybe someone more experience can chime in here.
This looks like an excellent product. I went to their site, and it appears they only sell the bolt, not the whole carrier group. I’ve been thinking of doing a build, and so the question becomes, can I buy a carrier without a bolt, or do I have to buy a whole group and dump the bolt in favor of this one?
Well written analysis Yeah, i never thought a torque cracked in two bolt would ever be in my future until i did one during full auto fire. Could have been a cheap aftermarket or maybe hung up on the recycle somehow or some other problem, but after that it was only the best bolts and carrier money could buy. The way I look at it, any improvement over an already pretty outstanding and reliable platform should always be a matter of course, not an an option, in any professional’s equipment maintenance. I’m not talking about accessory gadgetry, but genuine functional action improvements like this should be a ‘no brainer’. How bad would it be for the family survivors to learn that but for a couple hundred bucks, the failure that got their loved one killed, could have been prevented?
In my experience extractors are often overlooked and can be a secondary problem to a primary flaw. Shorter than 14 inch barrel ARs with less than optimal gas systems, very tight chambers, and other contributors making the case a harder extraction should have a superior extractor and heavier spring.
Sounds good. Can’t help but think that AR15 bolts milled to accept larger cartridges would benefit from this new material/construction.
Remember Next Generation Arms. They were the original pioneers of improving the AR platform with coatings. Wish they were still around.
Very good write up, Thank you.
I would more strongly than you be in favor of this upgrade for all AR platform rifles.
Having served in the Army Infantry in the 1980’s with the M16A1 which jammed incessantly, in actual field conditions, plus with foul blanks, to this day I am no fan of the AR platform, and only own one because of how ubiquitous both the AR and 5.56 is, and because it manageable to be fired by my small statured wife, but I bought her a piston driven model, since I blame direct gas impingement on many of my woes for 13 years as an 11B soldier and eventual 11X Infantry officer.
To not dispute your extensive experience with no AR failures, I only just recently learned that the M16A2, which I received brand new in 1989 as a 1st LT at Ft Benning, was designed as an improvement over the M16A1(better sights, better barrel, 3 round burst) was designed to function for 600 rounds between stoppages.
And that was an improvement!(so you can imagine how often M16A1 jammed in the field)
However since the M-4 was introduced, I learned recently, there have been 62 engineering specification improvements dictated by the military to the rifle and the requirement is now 3,700 rounds between stoppages.
Wow that’s impressive! Especially to me having lived the M16A1 blues!
So, no doubt, all your test rifles have seen much improvement since my 1983 entrance to the M16.
But here is my reason to still strongly recommend the Sharps Relia-Bolt.
If I were to purchase a new COLT brand M-4 AR rifle, I would have high confidence that I would be buying a rifle with nearly all the mil spec 62 engineering improvements since the M-16A2, However there are so many various makers of AR rifles, it would be impossible to know if any other brand have kept up with all of this.
Sure, the Noveske and other customs probably are top notch, but Wall-mart has an AR-15 for sale locally for $661, and I have never heard of the brand. For all of these rifles, if a person is gradually upgrading with cool do-dads from Magpul and such, this bolt is a great item to include to ensure reliable function in the muck.
This is the crux of the matter, if your AR is a range only item, or even used in 3 Gun, or one is an Urban environment peace officer, the rifle no doubt gets pretty good maintenance, and this part may be a luxury. However, if your AR is your “Truck Gun” behind the seat at the ready with the crumpled maps and Taco Bell wrappers, or you carry the weapon in backwoods conditions, or need the weapon in the tactical environs our troops are deployed today, AND you depend upon you life that the weapon never jamb, this is a MUST HAVE item.
If I had a son or friend being deployed to the combat zone this would no doubt be my parting gift.
In the infantry I was only allowed an issue weapon, no second personal weapon. So anything I could do to make sure mine worked all the time was heavy in my mind. Many of us carried “Break Free CLP” bottles in our helmet band, always ready to lube them up for this reason.
So Even for a piston driven AR, I will buy this item, because not just carbon fouling jambs the rotating lugs, but also sand and muck, and Georgia clay . The infantry is a very dirty job, you dig holes and live in them, you cover miles in all sorts of weather with the rifle.
Also if I pass away, I don’t expect my wife, (or most other civilians) to keep up the vigilant pipe cleaner and tooth brush cleaning protocol to the chamber and bolt lugs like I did as a grunt.
If it didn’t need a dust cover, it would not be there.
But that’s just part of why my own rifle is an M1A. also because of 7.62×51.
The Relia -Bolt by Shaprs in my opinion is a lifesaver to anyone issued an M-4 and heading to combat, or owning an AR to depend their life upon.
Great info. 🙂 Well said.
I’m definitely going to, – especially with large caliber bolt faces (read large hunting caliber cartridges) in mind. I have a friend (local to Apex, NC) that trues up the ‘barrel to barrel nut to receiver’ fitment and I think between these two enhancements ( What “Sharp’s” is doing above and what “Templar Consulting” does ) I may have the “AR – Gas Impingement Style Rifle” I’ve been wanting (for a very long time) in my dreams.
Not a comment but a question. Can I use the gas bolt in a piston rifle and do the gas rings have to be removed? Because my piston bolt looked just like an empingement bolt minus the gas rings.
In a piston system, reliabolt or sopmod bolt you need to remove the gas rings.
Nice write up! I may have to…..