I think the results will be suprising.

Hatcher did some strength testing of Springfield rifles many years ago:

- He turned down the steel over the chamber in stages until it was 1/16" (1.5mm) thick and it withstood the standard 50,000lb (PSI, CUP?) service loads. The 75,000lb proof load blew it out though.

- In other tests the bolt lugs were ground down in stages until they were 0.1" (2.5mm) thick and they functioned fine with the standard service load. The lugs were then ground off completely and the third safety lug kept the bolt in the rifle when a standard service load was fired through it. It was crushed slightly. He then fired a proof load and it sheared the third safety lug off but the bolt only got pushed back 1/2" and got jammed in the rifle.