Good Grief! Savage must use 6 foot breaker bars

[JackWagon]

Model 10 action, trying to take the bolt apart (I have a bolt lift kit to install) Savage must use 6 foot breaker bars to tighten the hex bolt on the back. I relieved the firing pin spring, got out the air impact wrench and kept moving the pressure up all the way to 120psi and that SOB will NOT come lose.

Now I remember why I have only ever owned one Savage. It's just a hunting rifle but I can't stand that rough bolt.

 

[hoz53]

Model 10 action, trying to take the bolt apart (I have a bolt lift kit to install) Savage must use 6 foot breaker bars to tighten the hex bolt on the back. I relieved the firing pin spring, got out the air impact wrench and kept moving the pressure up all the way to 120psi and that SOB will NOT come lose.

Now I remember why I have only ever owned one Savage. It's just a hunting rifle but I can't stand that rough bolt.

Ya I only had one savage to, and I sold it. I had the same issue youre having among many others. I had to fasten the bolt body to a table and get a hex socket and turn it with a 2‘ breaker bar. Put some heat on it (the bolt) that may help— otherwise do like i did and send er down the road.

 

[JackWagon]

Funny, after I posted I thought of that. Went to the shop, fired up the torch and same thing. Now the hex bolt looks to be ready to strip out as I can see wear inside it.


Sadly, the darn thing is a shooter. My hand loads are printing .5 groups (3 rounds) but I guess I am spoiled with my Howa's, Rem 700's and Tikka. I can't seem to get past a bolt that feels like it is full of sand. Going to throw it on armslist and at the very least keep some poor soul from buying an Axis that seem to be breeding like rabbits.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Pulled a bbl a few days ago from a new Savage. Bbl nut wasn't much more than hand tight.

 

[JSH]

Whoa boys rein them mules in.
Make sure you have a good hex wrench first and foremost.
Now put the wrench at an angle to the bolt handle so it is about “L”. Put it on the floor on a piece of wood or carpet and step on it, one and done.

Savage haters crack me up. Put the hot wrench up to before ya burn the shop down, lol.

 

[Bill K]

All I have ever done, is lay the bolt on the bench (wood top) And using a rubber or leather face hammer strike the hex wrench a few times and it has turned the bolt nut.

 

[JackWagon]

They are Snap on wrenches. I even put the bolt in a barrel vice that uses collars rather than bend the bolt handle smacking that thing with 120psi.

 

[DLT]

I never had that trouble with the 3 or 4 I have took apart. They was pretty tight just not nowhere near what your experienced

 

[kendog]

I never had that trouble with the 3 or 4 I have took apart. They was pretty tight just not nowhere near what your experienced

Same here. Pulled down dozens. Never an issue like what is described here.

 

[Fuj]

I had one that said no. Squirted some "Free" on it and let it set
thru lunch. Used an electric impact on medium and it came right
out. There is a video out there by a person that makes lift kits.
He say's right off the bat about how hard the screws are in. He
shows using an impact.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I've taken at a minimum of 10 to clean and all I've ever done was what JSH said.
Same with barrels right tool always helps.

 

[NorCalMikie]

You don't push or pull. SMACK IT and it comes loose.

 

[std7mag]

I just put the rifle in the Tipton gun vice. Snap-On hex socket with Snap-On 3/8" rachet while the bolt is still in the rifle.
They've all come loose no problem.

Call me scared or whatever, i don't see myself taking an impact to anything to do with a rifle.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Whoa boys rein them mules in.
Make sure you have a good hex wrench first and foremost.
Now put the wrench at an angle to the bolt handle so it is about “L”. Put it on the floor on a piece of wood or carpet and step on it, one and done.

Savage haters crack me up. Put the hot wrench up to before ya burn the shop down, lol.

I've taken probably 25 or so off like this when they had never been off before. One other thing you should
decock it first.

 

[Adam in WI]

You are turning it left, right?

 

[centershot]

Put mine in a padded vice and use the 3/8 hex socket with a breaker bar.

 

[boltfluter]

While it may seem counter intuitive, try tightening the hex bolt, and then loosening it. Most times the threads just need a little "shock" to get them going.
I have done a few that came apart with quite a loud crack. Good luck!
Paul

 

[memilanuk]

Like some others here, I've taken apart more than a few. Yeah, some were tighter than others - their stainless stuff seems pretty easy to take apart, usually. The ones with coatings... I swear that stuff gets in the threads and acts like threadlocker. In fact, I'm almost certain of it, based off what I've seen in the factory in the past. I know for a fact they used to put a 'thread sealer' on the barrel tenon threads to try and avoid having the finish get under the barrel nut and in the receiver threads (it didn't work, IMO).

I think someone else already hit on the usual 'go-to' method: don't use a vise to hold the bolt body. Put the allen key in the BAS, so that the key and the bolt handle form a 30-45(ish) degree angle, going in the correct direction to loosen the BAS. Lay the bolt on the bench, so that it's supported by the bolt handle, and lean on the allen key. It should come loose. Maybe with a 'pop', but that *should* do it. If it doesn't, you can always put it on the floor, and use your foot to put your body weight on the allen key.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I'm not sure Savages are meant to be taken apart.

 

[hoosiermike]

I have never had trouble taking bolts apart but once had a barrel nut that would not budge.
Kroil, heat and a large mallet did not break it loose-ended up cutting it off.