Which way on bolt catch?

[High Plains Wiking]

This is prob. stupid question! My manual and bolt sticky here show the bolt catch with pointed end going towards the buttstock. MG disassembly video and other book shows other way, pointed end towards firing pin and barrel! I can assemble my bolt either way but which way is right?

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

The pointy end goes toward the buttstock. That way, there is not spring force on the roller locking wedge. Despite the fact that there is a spring in the bolt catch, it's the mass of the bolt catch itself that lends the force on the back of the locking wedge that insures that the rollers do not bounce out of locking postion as the bolt head slams into the barrel locking piece to lock into it. if the bolt catch were just a simple weight, instead of a free floating "shock absorber", it may bounce off the locking wedge as the bolt head flies into the barrel locking piece. The shock absorber effect of the bolt catch maintains pressure on the locking wedge in a more consistent fashion to insure that the bolt head stays locked prior to the firing flying forward and igniting the primer.

I HAVE operated the MG-42 with the bolt catch in the opposite orientation. In this position, there is strong spring force on the locking wedge that forces the rollers outward. I believe this may place undue force on the camming pieces as they push the rollers inward to unlock the bolt. It's probable better to use the bolt catch on in the first position described above.

[High Plains Wiking]

TY very much!!!!