Blonde Moment

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Well guys, I almost screwed up severely tonight! I was working on my Savage, getting ready for the new barrel and such, and I was going to remove the bolt head from the bolt body, getting a new one from PTG. Mind you, I have never done this before :! I made up a jig out of an old scope ring to press the pin out then I attached it to the bolt accordingly and attempted press the pin out. No such luck ???! I repositioned it and again, no such luck :-\! That's about the time it dawned on me that firing pin has a passage though the pin that holds the bolt head on ! At that moment I got fearful that may have screwed up the firing pin?? I then removed the screw from the back of the bolt body and disassemble the bolt the right way ! Luckily I didn't bend the firing pin ;D and was pleasantly surprised at how easy the pin that holds the bolt head on comes out without the firing pin passing through it!

I hope that I'm not the only one that this has happened to because I will then feel like a bigger dumbass than what I already do :! Hope you all found this entertaining!!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[BigDMT]

That's funny ;D Yeah a Savage goes together and comes apart like legos. No jigs or special tools needed unless changing a barrel out.

Those firing pins are heat treated steel that is very hard. You'd have to beat the heck out lf that bolt head pin to mess it up. At least you figured it out with no damage done

 

[BoydAllen]

Glad to hear that your mistake was not expensive. Congratulations on being secure enough to share the story. I think that it is a pretty safe bet that you are not the first to do that.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Thanks guys I appreciate the reassurance that I didn't mess anything up. I have always had the ability to laugh at myself or not be too proud to admit I made a mistake! I just couldn't beleive that I overlooked the fact that the firing pin passed through there but, I did !

MIke

 

[MrMajestic]

I fortunately started on the other end on my first Savage bolt disassembly. Are you aware of the procedure to adjust the firing pin length since you are replacing the bolt head? Several good reads on the Savage Forum. Basically the firing pin end determines exposed pin length in fired position(I run .035") and other end sets cam pin travel when in relaxed/fired position. I don't measure, just eyeball, and don't know how you would but recommended clearance on bottom of cam is .010". After your experience I feel compelled to warn you that the washers between the spring and nuts are keyed, ID and OD, so they must clear the nuts prior to turning! :

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

MrMajestic I did see that the nuts and the washers are keyed but, I wasn't aware that I would have to adjust the firing pin distance after replacing the bolt head? A guy could measure that with a dial indicator or perhaps the opposite end of some calipers? As far as setting the clearance on the bottom cam? I couldnt tell ya how to measure that?

Mike

 

[bozo699]

Nope,...not entertainment just good info, glad it all worked out and thank you for sharing.
Wayne.

 

[MrMajestic]

You got it, calipers work fine. Balancing act on the firing pin tip!

I had to adjust both I have replaced so far with the PTG units. At least you are going to want to check it.

 

[BigDMT]

MrMajestic I did see that the nuts and the washers are keyed but, I wasn't aware that I would have to adjust the firing pin distance after replacing the bolt head? A guy could measure that with a dial indicator or perhaps the opposite end of some calipers? As far as setting the clearance on the bottom cam? I couldnt tell ya how to measure that?

Mike

Might not have to adjust it. It will probably be fine. I would only adjust if you get misfires or pierced primers. Just eyeball what it looks like through the boltface when discharged in the old bolt head, then see if it looks the same in the new PTG head. If it looks close it should work. Ideal measurement firing pin is .060" protrusion through the face

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Thanks for the information guys! I would never have imagined I would have to do anything with the firing pin but, now that I look at from a different perspective it may be needed. I never looked at it like that Wayne. Maybe my mistake someone else can learn from? Good call !

Thanks,
Mike

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I had an epiphany last night as far as the firing pin adjustment. If any adjustments are needed, before I make them I will measure the length of the firing pin assembly and any adjustments made to the firing pin end I will make the opposite adjustment to the other end to keep the length the same! I'm sure if I'm within a few thousandths of what the length is initially I will be fine?

Mike

 

[MrMajestic]

I'm not thinking you can do it that way. You are reading too much into the cam pin adjustment. If it it not set correctly it will be either to low, in which the pin would bottom out on the cam, or ride to high on the cam. Hold the pin against its stop and try to insert the cam pin. If you can't press it in, or see that it won't, you adjust. When its in and its riding high on the cam it needs shortened. All can be done with it disassembled. Hope this helps.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I think I see where you're going here? I'm still waiting on the replacement bolt head to get here so I can't do anything until I recieve that! Basically, install new bolt head then insert the firing pin into the bolt body and see how much difficulty I have installing the cam pin? If it goes in easily but, isn't close enough to the stop shorten up on the firing pin end? Conversely, if it won't go in lengthen on the firing pin end till it will go into the stop? Basically you don't do anything to the end the cam pin goes into? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions!!

Mike

 

[MrMajestic]

Firing pin end controls the pin protrusion and other end controls were the cam stop pin ends up when in the fired position. Both are adjusted separately and independently. Hope this helps. May be pictures on the Savage Forum.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I'm picking up what you're laying down now ! I'm confident I can get these adjusted fairly competently and have a safe functioning firearm. It just took me a minute to wrap my head around is all! Thanks for the help!

Mike

 

[BillPa]

A quick simple way. "
"After setting the FP protrusion, install the spring and the lock washer, then compress the spring and thread the cocking piece on. Adjust the cocking piece until the spring is compressed to a length of 1.900" for a short action, 2.600" for a long action."

I set them up a bit differently, but the above will work just fine.

Bill