It was pretty dirty. I’ll post a cleaner pic. There don’t seem to be any pits but it looks like there is a small scratch by the firing pin hole.The bolt looks severily damaged to me. Are the black areas carbon or pits? Has to be hot loads.
I’m thinking that is the answer. I had loaded that round for another rifle. That particular rifle had shot those loads just fine. As I said before I’m gonna put some factory loads through it before I load any more handloads. I just hope I didn’t damage anything.Looks and sounds too me, that that load, that you had for other rifles, was too hot for this one and the way it is set up.
Do they work fine in the rifle they were originally loaded for ?
If so, then you may have your answer. Don't use them in the new rifle.
I’m thinking the culprit is definitely the ammo.To generate that pressure you are not having a simple headspace problem. As noted above in other posts start looking elsewhere.
Your neck is possibly long for the chamber or (probably the actual culprit) you had an overcharged load or possibly the wrong powder or bullet weight.
I recently put a Savage pre fit barrel on a Axis receiver. I also replaced the stock with a Boyd’s Pro Varmint. When I installed the barrel I checked the headspace with certified gauges. I got the stock fitted well and the barrel floated. I measured the OAL at 2.853 with a Hornady gauge. I didn’t have any factory ammo but had some handloads at 2.8 OAL. I had fired these loads through another rifle. I also measured the case headspace with a Hornady comparator at 1.625. When I fired the first round everything felt ok but when I went to open the bolt, the bolt slid out about an inch and hung up. The case was still in the chamber and the extractor was riding the rim of the receiver opening and binding up. I took it to a gunsmith and he got the extractor loose and the case was not stuck. He looked it over and put a bore scope in it, checked the headspace and said it looked fine. I know I should have put factory loads through it but I’m stumped why the primer blew out so severely. It blew the case head out so much it won’t fit in a shell holder. It also looks like there is a small mark on the bolt face. I can put up pics later. My thought is maybe the case had too much headspace and slammed into the throat of the chamber causing over pressure. Does 1.625 seem short on headspace? Anybody that loads .243 mind giving input? Thanks
I should have probably clarified a little better about the bolt. The handle lifted fine and when I pulled the bolt back, the extractor slid out of the side of the bolt and hung on the receiver. What happened was the force of the primer blowing out expanded the case head so much it dislodged the extractor and the detent ball came out. The extractor couldn’t catch the brass so it stayed in the chamber. The case didn’t stick at all. All the pressure went into the primer.The weird part of this the bolt coming back and inch then hanging up. Cases are tapered and even if a hot load freezes the bolt, once the case starts moving out it usually comes out.
Something I have seen frequently is if a case has been fired in a larger diameter chamber a couple of times, sized, then fired in a smaller diameter chamber, there will likely be resistance when lifting the bolt, especially at the top of bolt lift as the extraction cam is engaged. That isn't due to a hot load, it's just that the brass seems to "remember" it's larger diameter and tries to go back.
Regardless, the right answer in this situation is to start over with new brass and a mild load. If this chamber is tighter in diameter then you won't likely be able to use brass fired in another chamber for it.
I should have probably clarified a little better about the bolt. The handle lifted fine and when I pulled the bolt back, the extractor slid out of the side of the bolt and hung on the receiver. What happened was the force of the primer blowing out expanded the case head so much it dislodged the extractor and the detent ball came out. The extractor couldn’t catch the brass so it stayed in the chamber. The case didn’t stick at all. All the pressure went into the primer.
I just ran a factory load through it and it was fine so I’m convinced it isn’t a headspace issue. What threw me off is the bullet that the bad round was loaded with measured OAL 2.85 in the new barrel. I believe the barrel I originally loaded them for measured about the same. The OAL of the round that was fired was 2.8 which should have been fine. I haven’t measured the COAL which could potentially be different in each barrel. I’m usually very thorough in checking the charges in my loads but I could have made a mistake. I’m fairly new to gunsmithing so could you explain the Savage design flaw? I’m not being sarcastic but I’m genuinely curious.Sounds like a load issue rather than a headspace issue to me.
One of the reasons I don't like the savage design. The OP is chasing headspace, even after he and a gunsmith have confirmed it is OK.
I just ran a factory load through it and it was fine so I’m convinced it isn’t a headspace issue. What threw me off is the bullet that the bad round was loaded with measured OAL 2.85 in the new barrel. I believe the barrel I originally loaded them for measured about the same. The OAL of the round that was fired was 2.8 which should have been fine. I haven’t measured the COAL which could potentially be different in each barrel. I’m usually very thorough in checking the charges in my loads but I could have made a mistake. I’m fairly new to gunsmithing so could you explain the Savage design flaw? I’m not being sarcastic but I’m genuinely curious.
My go gauge has a very slight resistance and the no-go gauge won’t go at all. I’m thinking this isn’t a headspace problem.Anyone who can safely reload can safely check headspace. In simple terms the bolt--minus firing pin and perhaps the ejector, needs to just close on a go gauge. It should also NOT close on a go gauge with a piece of cellophane tape fixed to it. If you don't like the cellophane tape on the go gauge then use a no-go gauge.
If headspace is a little tight that isn't terrible, but too loose is very bad. IIRC, a typical no-go gauge allows .004" headspace and a typical field gauge allows .006" of headspace. The cellophane tape on the go gauge allows .002".
My go gauge has a very slight resistance and the no-go gauge won’t go at all. I’m thinking this isn’t a headspace problem.
If the case is to long the bolt is going to be very hard closing.That makes me think the neck was jammed in and caused the over pressure.