Questions about CF-W bolts and Lage Uppers

[H.Bowman]

My M11/9 is currently in NFA jail but I am going to purchase some uppers and bolts this weekend from the gentleman that is selling me the M11/9. My question is he has both the CF-W bolt and the CF-W 9mmA Bolt. Is one faster than the other? I'd also like to be able to use the bolt, along with the Alamo adapter, in the Lage Max-11K upper I'm buying from him. Will either tungsten bolt work in the Max-11K with the adapter? Thanks for your help!

Edit: Used the search function and know that one bolt can fit both the M11/9 as well as the A1. Just wondering if one is faster than the other.

 

[HighriseATX]

The CF-W bolt was about 30oz, as shipped I believe it was 630 rpm. The 'a' bolts are a touch over 25oz, expect about 670 rpm. YMMV based on ammo.

Yes either bolt should work in the 11K. However you might have to swap the recoil rod/spring as ejector rod from the K bolt to OEM bolt to the tungsten bolt.

Try the advanced search and look for "bolt" and "Vegas SMG" as the user name. Should be able to find all the info.

 

[H.Bowman]

I will try that, thank you for your help!

 

[donkeyslayer]

If you use the A bolt I would install the rod and compress the spring all the way to see if the bolt hits the buffer. On my max11 sk I have to use three recoil buffers or the bolt bottoms out on the compressed coils before hitting the buffer. Max11 k may be different.

 

[Gaujo]

Just ask if you can shoot both b4 buying.

 

[Mackjack]

The original cfw bolt is amazing. I would not pass that up

 

[Hey...]

I’ve owned the gen1 with the tungsten cube added to a stock bolt, the Gen 2 stock style using replaceable firing pins and the Gen 3 9mmA, which I still have. Note there is an earlier sub-Gen3 (9MMa) that I’d consider the least desirable of all, minor dimension issues.

All are keepers though. I’d wish to trade this 9mmA (that is versatile to a 380 gun as well) for a Gen2 only due to being able to replace the firing pin. I’ll probably never need to but it would be nice to know is possible.

 

[Tinman45]

.

 

[H.Bowman]

If you use the A bolt I would install the rod and compress the spring all the way to see if the bolt hits the buffer. On my max11 sk I have to use three recoil buffers or the bolt bottoms out on the compressed coils before hitting the buffer. Max11 k may be different.

I just checked on the A-bolt I bought and it bottoms out on the compressed spring too. Dosnt come any where near hitting the buffer. Same for the Grey Ghost upper. So you’re saying I need to add more buffers to make sure it hits a buffer instead of the compressed spring?

 

[donkeyslayer]

I stack three of the of the plump black type buffers to keep the spring from getting abused. The bolt hits the buffers with hotter loads barely. There is room to make the spring pocket a little deeper maybe get down to two buffers . Using the full orange spring Vegas sent with the bolt. The more bolt travel the better.

 

[Gaujo]

On an 11/9 the cfwa has a lot of travel already.

 

[Ericoak]

Anyone seen a CFW bolt sell recently? Any idea on the current market value?

 

[A&S Conversions]

Anyone seen a CFW bolt sell recently? Any idea on the current market value?

Same as retail $750.00.

Scott

 

[Ericoak]

Same as retail $750.00.

Scott

I just checked gunbroker and CFWA bolt sold in Feb for $900+. Figure an m11 boot will get at least as much.

 

[SecondAmend]

I just checked gunbroker and CFWA bolt sold in Feb for $900+. Figure an m11 bolt will get at least as much.

Ah, but the GunBroker sale was for a CF-W "A" bolt plus the full complement of recoil springs and recoil rods, back plates and ejectors; not just the bolt with one recoil assembly. So the selling price was actually not much over MSPR plus shipping from Practical Solutions; less than $100, I believe.

Also, when I looked at the Practical Solutions website a couple weeks back, the site said they almost had enough entries on the CF-W "A" bolt Wait List to do another run (at the same MSRP as the previous runs).

Further, for a recoil spring that works effectively without "coil clash" or binding, a flat wire (e.g., square, rectangular, or "keystone" - triangular wedge-shaped wire) or a stranded wire spring is often implemented. Non-standard wire profiles have been used for recoil springs in many pistols for decades. I encourage those who wish to have better performance with their tungsten bolts to pursue alternatives to the standard music (i.e., round) wire springs that have been used to date.

MHO, YMMV, etc.

 

[fishtix]

I’ve owned the gen1 with the tungsten cube added to a stock bolt, the Gen 2 stock style using replaceable firing pins and the Gen 3 9mmA, which I still have. Note there is an earlier sub-Gen3 (9MMa) that I’d consider the least desirable of all, minor dimension issues.

All are keepers though. I’d wish to trade this 9mmA (that is versatile to a 380 gun as well) for a Gen2 only due to being able to replace the firing pin. I’ll probably never need to but it would be nice to know is possible.

I have a gen 2 and the “9MMa” bolt as well. What dimensional issues were there with this bolt? I’ve ran it in both my m11-9 and m11a1 and hasn’t missed a beat. Probably around 5,000 rounds on it.

 

[Ericoak]

Good points, but I'm also talking about the full size bolt, which I don't think has been made for awhile?

 

[H.Bowman]

I have a gen 2 and the “9MMa” bolt as well. What dimensional issues were there with this bolt? I’ve ran it in both my m11-9 and m11a1 and hasn’t missed a beat. Probably around 5,000 rounds on it.

Fishtix is your 9MMa bolt able to reach the buffer when you fully compress it or does it bottom out on the recoil spring?

 

[Hey...]

I have a gen 2 and the “9MMa” bolt as well. What dimensional issues were there with this bolt? I’ve ran it in both my m11-9 and m11a1 and hasn’t missed a beat. Probably around 5,000 rounds on it.

The main one is where the cartridge sits on the bolt face. If you had an empty case with no primer installed and sit it in the pocket you’ll see the case doesn’t sit flat. The bolt face is cut too tight. That dimension was opened up on the later 9mmA.

The other is how much meat there is on the line of metal on the bottom of the bolt that slides over the top cartridge in the mag. Compared to a 9mmA bolt there’s almost double the thickness (taller line of metal) which has a minor geometry difference in the finger that strips the top round into the chamber.

Both those were revised in the later version.

 

[donkeyslayer]

Is there a list somewhere for interest in another run of the full size W bolts. My A bolt is better than nothing but I would sell it for a full size or buy a full size even if I couldn't sell it. In my opinion the perfect weight is somewhere between 30oz and 27oz for the M11/nine. But make them 30oz then I can tune to where I like. Just my opinion.