I am changing a Savage model 12 in 204 Ruger to 22 BR. Can anyone tell me if the parts for the 204 bolt head will fit the bolt head for the 22 BR. Can I buy the $25 bolt head from Midway and just change the parts. Or, do I have to buy the $55 bolt head from Sharp Shooters Supply. I confused and can't seem to find the answer. Thanks
Changing a Savage Bolt Head
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Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
The ejector will be the same and I'd guess they both use the same extractor. From Brownells it's probably just the bolthead where SSS has the whole thing assembled. Taking the bolt apart to change heads isn't a huge job, but it's still kind of a PITA. To me it's been worth the extra to get a bolt head with that stuff installed and ready to go.
The bolt head is no big deal of a swap. A 204 uses a 223 rem size bolt head i believe the size is .378 bolt head, and the br uses a .473 bolt head, like a 308 or 22/250.
The bolt head from midway is a striped part, and from what I have been told they are not made by Savage.
The bolt head from SSS is a factory savage part, and has all the parts in it, so it is compleate.
Most of the parts will interchange, but the extractors are diferent. your 204 uses a 223 style extractor and it is longer than a standard extractor. If you get a new extractor get a steel one, the older brass ones dont work well. Savage just started making the extractors from steel in the last few years.
The bolt head from midway is a striped part, and from what I have been told they are not made by Savage.
The bolt head from SSS is a factory savage part, and has all the parts in it, so it is compleate.
Most of the parts will interchange, but the extractors are diferent. your 204 uses a 223 style extractor and it is longer than a standard extractor. If you get a new extractor get a steel one, the older brass ones dont work well. Savage just started making the extractors from steel in the last few years.
What is your definition of old style? The first savages had a step in the chamber of the barrel and the bolt head was made for this. and look like this.
http://savageshooters.baker-media.com/SavageForum/index.php?topic=8474.0
I wish I could find a picture of the old barrel chamber design.
They can be converted to the new style bolt head, but would also need to use the new style barrel.
Savage has been a company on the change, and they have also changed parts from year to year, Such as firring pin diameter, trigger design, slotted screws to button allen head, sear design, and so on. For the most part the receivers are the same as from the beginning, and the parts will adapt, except for the accu-trigger they have a bit more machine work involved in them. Remember savage like most gun makes has been close to bankruptcy,and has had new CEO's and other changes as well, and this effects the design change.
Savage has changed a few things in receiver design such as the rear of the action where the scope base site they use to hand ground them, and they never was true, now the eliminated that step and left it round and made the receiver more true,
In the last few years savage has been making lots of changes to there product. and the new 2008 line will really show this, this upcoming year will have a few bigger changes.
http://savageshooters.baker-media.com/SavageForum/index.php?topic=8474.0
I wish I could find a picture of the old barrel chamber design.
They can be converted to the new style bolt head, but would also need to use the new style barrel.
Savage has been a company on the change, and they have also changed parts from year to year, Such as firring pin diameter, trigger design, slotted screws to button allen head, sear design, and so on. For the most part the receivers are the same as from the beginning, and the parts will adapt, except for the accu-trigger they have a bit more machine work involved in them. Remember savage like most gun makes has been close to bankruptcy,and has had new CEO's and other changes as well, and this effects the design change.
Savage has changed a few things in receiver design such as the rear of the action where the scope base site they use to hand ground them, and they never was true, now the eliminated that step and left it round and made the receiver more true,
In the last few years savage has been making lots of changes to there product. and the new 2008 line will really show this, this upcoming year will have a few bigger changes.
A pre-accu trigger gun is not much different from a accu-trigger gun. About the only difference is possible the firing pin diameter, but that should not effect the bolt head. Sometime durring the pre-accu-trigger guns just befor the accu-trigger guns Savage changed the firring pin diameter, they whent from a large diamiter to a small. But if i remember they never changed over the hole for the bolt head, so they still fit the larger diameter pin. all the rest of the parts are the same.
The only time you get into trouble is when you try to convert a long action like a 110 to a 223 rem family of cases. Savage when they use to put a 223 on a long action used a special bolt head, and since they started making the short action they stop making the 223 bolt head for a long action. So luckly Sharp shooters supply makes a change over if someone would want to place a 223 on a long action.
But for the most part savage has not gotten to frar away from the original design, and the changes they have made will work with the older guns.
The only time you get into trouble is when you try to convert a long action like a 110 to a 223 rem family of cases. Savage when they use to put a 223 on a long action used a special bolt head, and since they started making the short action they stop making the 223 bolt head for a long action. So luckly Sharp shooters supply makes a change over if someone would want to place a 223 on a long action.
But for the most part savage has not gotten to frar away from the original design, and the changes they have made will work with the older guns.
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