Enhanced service life bolt

Abstract

A firearm having a stock and barrel attached to a receiver. Located within the receiver is an enhanced service life bolt. The enhanced service life bolt has a plurality of lugs. At least one lug has a reduced height that is shorter than the height of the other lugs. The enhanced service life bolt defines an extractor slot and the at least one reduced height lug is located adjacent to the extractor slot. The at least one reduced height lug is approximately twenty percent (20%) shorter than the other lugs. The enhanced service life bolt is constructed from a maraging stainless steel, such as 158 Carpenter Stainless Steel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising:
 a stock;   a receiver connected with the stock;   a barrel connected with the receiver; and   an enhanced service life bolt located within the receiver; the enhanced service life bolt having a plurality of lugs, at least one lug having a reduced height being less than a height of another of the lugs.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced service life bolt defines an extractor slot, the at least one lug having a reduced height being located adjacent to the extractor slot. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lug having a reduced height being approximately twenty percent (20%) shorter than the height of another of the lugs. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced service life bolt being constructed from a maraging stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 4 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being Carpenter 465 Stainless Steel. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 4 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being heat treated to improve impact resistance. 
     
     
         7 . An enhanced service life bolt comprising:
 a cylindrical portion; and   a plurality of lugs extending radially outward along a distal end of the cylindrical portion, at least one lug having a reduced height being less than a height of another of the lugs.   
     
     
         8 . The enhanced service life bolt of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one lug having a reduced height being approximately twenty percent (20%) shorter than the height of another of the lugs. 
     
     
         9 . The enhanced service life bolt of  claim 7 , wherein the enhanced service life bolt defines an extractor slot, the at least one lug having a reduced height being located adjacent to the extractor slot. 
     
     
         10 . The enhanced service life bolt of  claim 7 , wherein the enhanced service life bolt being constructed from a maraging stainless steel. 
     
     
         11 . The enhanced service life bolt of  claim 10 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being Carpenter 465 Stainless Steel. 
     
     
         12 . The enhanced service life bolt of  claim 10 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being heat treated to improve impact resistance. 
     
     
         13 . A bolt head for a enhanced service life bolt, the bolt head comprising a plurality of lugs extending radially outward about a bolt face, two of the plurality of lugs being reduced height lugs, the bolt head defining an extractor slot, the reduced height lugs being positioned adjacent to each side of the extractor slot. 
     
     
         14 . The bolt head of  claim 13 , wherein the reduced height lugs having a reduced height being approximately twenty percent (20%) shorter than a height of the other lugs. 
     
     
         15 . The bolt head of  claim 13 , wherein each of the reduced height lugs provide a reduced bending moment during firing of ammunition being less than the bending moment of the other lugs. 
     
     
         16 . The bolt head of  claim 13 , wherein the bolt head being constructed from a maraging stainless steel. 
     
     
         17 . The bolt head of  claim 16 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being Carpenter 465 Stainless Steel. 
     
     
         18 . The bolt head of  claim 16 , wherein the maraging stainless steel being heat treated to improve impact resistance.