PT&G replacement Savage bolt head

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Well fellas, I finally got to the point in my build where it was time to install my new PT&G replacement Savage bolt head. I headspaced the barrel without the firing pin, ejector, etc. in the bolt head and when finished with that I proceeded to put the bolt back together. Obviously I left the ejector out but, when I went to put the firing pin in, it wouldn't go through the firing pin hole in bolt head?? I then removed the bolt head and attempted to insert the firing pin without the bolt head on the bolt and still no luck?? At this point I'm getting a little discouraged because I paid good money for this bolt head and under the assumption it is pretty much a "drop in" deal! I don't have the time to send it back to PT&G so I was like "what do I do now?" I didn't want to attempt to drill the firing pin hole bigger because this bolt is truly a work of art so I got to thinking. Then it dawned on me to polish the firing pin down with emery cloth till it fit through the firing pin hole, so that's what I did. It took some time but, I finally got it and it left the tip of the firing pin a little sharp so I polished it down a little too. All said and done it works great and I still have .0515" of firing pin protrusion from the bolt head, which is fine!

Long story short, has anyone else had to polish down their firing pin to fit through the firing pin hole on a PT&G replacement Savage bolt head? I'm curious to hear others' experiences!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[bigwoodsman]

Hello Mike, i just went thru what you just experience with the PTG head, my pin wouldn,t go thru the new head for my Savage .223 i guess that PTG forgot to machine the pin hole,so i got on the phone and talked to a young lady and she told me they were going to ship another head out and i should ship back the other one for credit,when i received the other head in the mail a few weeks back guess what?it was made the same,so i got on the net and found out this.

Savage Tech - Rifle Technical Information

Savage Tech:

Scope Bases

The Accutrigger models came on the market in 2003.The rear of the reciever on the Accrutrigger models is now rounded and requires a different rear mount than the earlier models.The Farrel Bases are nice for the Accutrigger models. They are a one piece mount, and are very well made.

Firing Pins

Savage rifles have two different diameter firing pins.The standard caliber firing pins are .145", the Magnum calibers are .095". These measurements are taken on the part of the firing pin that goes thru the cross pin.All rifles made since 2001 have .095" diameter firing pins. The bolt heads are different for each of the pin diameters.

UltraMag and WSM Rifles

Savage changed the bolt heads on these calibers to a controlled feed system.The bolt heads have been modified to allow the cartridge to slide under the extractor. The ejector in these models is in the reciever instead of the bolt face.These changes allow reliable feeding of these larger cartridges.

Barrel Shank Sizes

The shank diameter on Savage's standard calibers is 1.055"The Savage rifles chambered in Remington Ultra Mag and Winchester Short Magnum have a larger shank diameter. These measure 1.120"The outside of the barrel nut is the same diameter on both the standard calibers and the Ultra Mag - WSM calibers.All barrels are threaded 20 threads per inch.Note: Some of the first Ultra Mag and WSM rifles were made with the smaller diameter shank. The larger diameter shank barrels will have a step in front of the barrel nut.

Other Specs

Short action is 8.750" long with a bolt travel of 4"

Long action is 9.25" long with a bolt travel of 4.5"

Bolt head diameters are .475" for the standard calibers and .535" for the magnum calibers.Bolt face recess .135"

Guard hole spacing: Short action 4.525"

Long action 5.025"

Magazine length: Short action 2.85"

Long Action 3.40"

R


i feel PTG should put this article on there web page with the head so folks don,t do what we did.


Jeff

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Sorry to hear you had to go through the same ordeal that I did Jeff! I figured that PT&G wouldn't be of much help to me because, just as you experienced, they are all machined the same. I didn't think much harm would come of my polishing the firing pin down. My only regret is that I didn't measure the diameter of the firing pin before and after so I knew how much material I removed!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[bigwoodsman]

Sorry to hear you had to go through the same ordeal that I did Jeff! I figured that PT&G wouldn't be of much help to me because, just as you experienced, they are all machined the same. I didn't think much harm would come of my polishing the firing pin down. My only regret is that I didn't measure the diameter of the firing pin before and after so I knew how much material I removed!

Thanks,
Mike


Mike, i think it would be a good idea to get a hold of Kevin Rayhill for the right parts,when you made the firing pin smaller you just got rid of the case hardening that the pin had in it,ask Kevin to ship you a Magnum firing pin and cross pin and you will be good to go.


Jeff

 

[dorothydaily]

why not send the info to dave kiff ? he might appreciate it. i have been considering one of their bolt heads and am glad to know this going in. thanks. hj

 

[jonbearman]

It boils down to a small firing pin and a new cross pin.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I don't think you folks are understanding where I had the difficulties. I didn't have any problems going throught the cross pin with the firing pin, it was with the smallest portion of the firing pin that comes out of the face of the bolt head! The firing pin hole in the bolt face was too small for the firing pin as it existed. The .095" and .145" measurements where the pins pass through hole in the cross pin is insignificant if I don't know A) what the diameter of the firing pin hole is in the PT&G bolt head and B) the diameter of the replacement firing pin where it passes through the firing pin hole in the bolt face. Until I know these parameters ordering firing pins and cross pins is a futile effort!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Just got off the phone with Kevin Rayhill and we discussed this firing pin issue! First, Kevin asked me how old this particular gun was and I told him I purchased it in 2012 so he told me that I had the smallest firing pin already and couldn't do anything smaller. Second, I told him what I did and asked about the hardening of the pin and he told me there is no way I polished away all the hardening and that I should be fine! The rest of the conversation we'll keep to ourselves !

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Rustystud]

PT&G makes both small pin hole and standard sized pin hole bolt heads.
It pays to pay attention to details and order what you want or need
The blame in ordering the wrong size goes both ways. 1. You should know and order what you need. 2. PT&G should ask and verify your order. Ian has done a good job with the Savage bolt parts.
Nat Lambeth

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

That's understandable Nat but, when ordering this part off of their website there were no designations as to what size pin hole was required! It asked what size bolt face, right or left hand action, right or left hand eject, long or short action if I'm not mistaken, and that was it! Perhaps the designer of their web store needs to pay attention to detail?

Mike

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

http://shop.pacifictoolandgauge.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=129_193&products_id=1291

Here's the link to purchase their bolt heads on line! Show me where there is a parameter for the size of the pin hole in a .308 bolt face?

Mike

 

[bigwoodsman]

I Agee with you mike not enought info. When ordering.


Jeff

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I Agee with you mike not enought info. When ordering.


Jeff

Thank you Jeff!

Mike