Changing Savage PTA from 308 to 223

[s1rk1118]

What is required to do this? I shoot both calibers in F class. I use the 223 @ 600yds and the 308 @ 1000. The 223 has a 7.7 tw barrel with an older savage action(mod 12) and shoots the 80.5 berger very well, but won't shoot the 90 VLD. I really like my setup with the 308(stock, PTA, scope), but the 223 is more fun to shoot. I'd like to change the 308 to a 223 with a new barrel (7 twist) and have one gun for both distances.

 

[MNFinn]

Different bolt head or bolt assembly. That's it.

If I'm wrong, someone will straighten it out

 

[gotcha]

You only need to change out the bolt head. Midway has the parts.

 

[s1rk1118]

OK, I can find the bolt head. Is it a big pain to change out the extractor and extractor pin?

 

[DennisH]

This may help you,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ekW7Onibg

There may be several other video's.

Dennis

 

[Dgd6mm]

The Gun Shack in Texas sells boltheads and whole bolts minus the ejector. The price on the bolt is 109.00 and I believe the boltheads can be had for 25.00 - 29.00.

 

[MNFinn]

OK, I can find the bolt head. Is it a big pain to change out the extractor and extractor pin?

its not a pain, but.....when I switched, I just bought new parts, so I had another complete bolt head, so I could have spare parts if Murphy really decided to play a trick on me

 

[s1rk1118]

Thanks to all. Project is proceeding!

 

[gotcha]

LOL, DennisH's video was a hoot ............. s1rk1118 if you put the bolt head into a zip-lock bag prior to disassembly you won't lose those tiny parts. Use a 3/32" punch, if you can, and push the ejector pin completely through. This way you won't mangle the pin with the pliers & can probably re-use it. (the pin is hardened steel) The video didn't show that the ejector has a detent cut in the side to allow it to be trapped by the ejector pin. It must line up perfectly when re-installing the pin. If you have questions drop me a PM w/ Ph. # I can probably help you avoid the mistakes I made when doing my 1st bolt head swap Incidentally, Savage has two different ejector springs one for smallish cases, one for .308 & larger. You'll want the spring for the .223 cases or you'll be ejecting brass into the next county.

 

[chevytruck_83]

Beware that not all savage bolt faces are the same thickness. I just ran into this when trying to install a ptg bolt face. My firing pin isnt long enough to strike the primer through the new bolt face. I got lucky with the first one i swapped but the second not so much.

 

[Dgd6mm]

chevytruck_83, is your firing pin still not long enough when you adjust the protrusion ?