I have a few rifles with MUCH worse looking bolts.

by cas, Monday, April 25, 2016, 17:55 (3137 days ago) @ Catoosa

I'd be look at simple things first, like an over load.

Some years back my brother in law played with a TC barrel in 6.5 Jap. He gave up on it because the pressure was really squirrely. The same reason the person he got it from gave up on it. That may not be related, but I'm wondering if the load data out there might be problematic for some guns. War time variances in chamber size and throat length etc. ?

I'd try some CCI primers and throttle back the load. The war's over and you're not shoot cape buff with it, no reason to push the old girl. ;)

FWIW I have rifles with bolt faces that make that one look perfect, ones with a complete circle all the way around and they don't do that to primers.