I am attaching three photos to help visualize it. You can use dial or digital calipers, using the inside measuring tips, and measure across the center of the bolt face.
With a push feed bolt, the bolt face is completely circled by a rim, so that one is the easiest. Measure from rim to rim across the middle. See photo.
With a controlled round feeding bolt, such as your Mauser, the rim slides up the bolt face and under the extractor, so the face only has a rim around the sides and upper edge. You would get the extractor out of the way and measure across the bolt face the best that you can. See “Swedish Mauser” photo and notice the circle from the cartridge left on a dirty bolt face… that is the the bolt face measurement you are trying to get.
There are three common sizes and all three are easily recognized just by looking at them. .223 bolt faces are small. Most common is the “.308″ bolt face and then there is the large Magnum bolt face. See photo (3 Bolt Faces). It’s a little harder to tell a controlled feed bolt but not extremely hard.
Then you have bolt faces like a British Enfield that fire a rimmed cartridge and has no rim at all… which means there is nothing to measure!! đŸ™‚
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