Savage Axis 243

[Jm36548]

I have a new Axis 243. When loaded and chambered with a live round, the bolt will only close to the 2 o’clock position. Empty, the bolt functions correctly. I sent it to Savage for warranty repair. When I received the rifle back, it still would not function properly when a live round is chambered.
Savage told me that I need to use Federal Nosler ballistic ammo instead of my Winchester ammo. Or, send the rifle back so they could adjust the bolt action to match my Winchester ammo.
Just looking for feedback as this makes no sense at all

 

[DGP4]

Sounds like a lot of nonsense. Get a wrench and go no go gauges and reset the barrel yourself.

 

[Jareds]

I’m sure savage would’ve checked for headspace or at least I hope so. So maybe the seating depth / oal of the cartridge you want to use is longer than the ammo they want you to use. You could check headspace yourself and see if that’s the problem if it’s not then it’s just the bullet pressing against the lands holding the bolt up. Grease the lugs and force it to close and shoot if it’s not a headspace issue. Or load your own ammo and seat back a few thousandths off the lands. The only other thing I can think of is a slightly narrow chamber and the brass is too fat if that’s the issue if you reload you might have to buy a small base sizing die and that should take care of that problem.

 

[DGP4]

The bullet profile alone should not prevent closing the bolt to that extent AFAIK! You may be right that it is not the headspace. I would do a cast of the chamber and see exactly what it looks like. It makes no sense Savage would send back a gun that cannot chamber Winchester factory ammo. Something does not compute!

 

[Jm36548]

I have a new Axis 243. When loaded and chambered with a live round, the bolt will only close to the 2 o’clock position. Empty, the bolt functions correctly. I sent it to Savage for warranty repair. When I received the rifle back, it still would not function properly when a live round is chambered.
Savage told me that I need to use Federal Nosler ballistic ammo instead of my Winchester ammo. Or, send the rifle back so they could adjust the bolt action to match my Winchester ammo.
Just looking for feedback as this makes no sense at all

Thanks

I’m sure savage would’ve checked for headspace or at least I hope so. So the only thing I can think of is the seating depth of the cartridge you want to use is longer than the ammo they want you to use. You could check headspace yourself and see if that’s the problem if it’s not then it’s just the bullet pressing against the lands holding the bolt up. Grease the lugs and force it to close and shoot if it’s not a headspace issue. Or load your own ammo and seat back a few thousandths off the lands. The only other thing I can think of is a slightly narrow chamber and the brass is too fat if that’s the issue if you reload you might have to buy a small base sizing die and that should take care of that problem.

thanks for the info. I will view the procedures online and give the adjustments a try.

 

[Jm36548]

The bullet profile alone should not prevent closing the bolt to that extent AFAIK! You may be right that it is not the headspace. I would do a cast of the chamber and see exactly what it looks like. It makes no sense Savage would send back a gun that cannot chamber Winchester factory ammo. Something does not compute!

I completely agree, the gal in warranty offered to send another shipping label if I would include a couple of the Winchester rounds. Said “ they” could adjust the bolt to that ammo. But as well, that just does not make sense. Any ammo should properly load, chamber and fire .

 

[DGP4]

I guess I would take them up on their offer. I know it is frustrating to do it a second time but let them do whatever they need to in order to allow the chambering of the ammo of your choice.

 

[Jm36548]

Absolutely

 

[M-61]

Just a quick diag
Take the federal brass that chambers properly
Put a piece of 3m (scotch tape… you can check it’s thickness… or any piece of tape) on the case head. If the tapes is one or two thousandth thick and the bolt won’t close that’ll give you an idea that the head space is really on the tight side. That lets you know where your problem may be, and cost nothing in money or time. Can't imagine what they mean by adjusting the bolt.
Was the (gal) Effie Sullivan?

 

[Fuj]

Let's talk "SAMMI". If your shooting factory ammo in a factory
rifle. All factory ammo will fit your chamber after proper use of
"SAMMI" head space go/no-go gages. For Savage to tell you
about using different ammo is ridiculous. It is quite possible
Savage screwed up on the head spacing. It is also quite possible
that Winchester's ammo is out of spec. To have your rifle worked
over to fit that ammo is a bad idea since any other brand will
probably have a sloppy head space, and unsafe conditions.
243 is common, so a local gun smith should be able to gage the
head space.

 

[Rat Rifle]

Some years back, Savage was putting out rifles with short throats. The head space was fine, but SAMMI 308 ammo, that measured 2.800” COAL would not chamber. Could be a repeat.

 

[Jm36548]

Just a quick diag
Take the federal brass that chambers properly
Put a piece of 3m (scotch tape… you can check it’s thickness… or any piece of tape) on the case head. If the tapes is one or two thousandth thick and the bolt won’t close that’ll give you an idea that the head space is really on the tight side. That lets you know where your problem may be, and cost nothing in money or time. Can't imagine what they mean by adjusting the bolt.
Was the (gal) Effie Sullivan?

Great! Thanks for that advice. Not sure if the gals name.

 

[Tesoro]

Sounds like a huge hassle over something simple. It would be rare that the rifle headspace is out of saami spec. Take a round or two of the win and put it in a case gauge to check length and headspace. Maybe a local gunshop might have one you could use to check. And look at your case necks to make sure they dont look squashed at the end after trying to chamber. As mentioned you might have a batch of too long cases or short throat.

 

[Jm36548]

Sounds like a huge hassle over something simple. It would be rare that the rifle headspace is out of saami spec. Take a round or two of the win and put it in a case gauge to check length and headspace. Maybe a local gunshop might have one you could use to check. And look at your case necks to make sure they dont look squashed at the end after trying to chamber. As mentioned you might have a batch of too long cases or short throat.

Thanks! I did load one of my Winchester rounds and forced the bolt closed. The back of the case afterwards was smashed / indented.

 

[Tesoro]

what to you mean by back? the base where the primer is? or the body? if the body is crumpled then there is not enuf head space. You need to check that ammo. Winchester will refund it if it not good. Buy another box of diff brand and try it.

 

[M-61]

Do you mean you dented the case head?
Be nice just to see a pic of that.
The ‘back’ of the case is where the head stamp is.
Odd

 

[M-61]

It is by far the strongest thickest hardest to distort part of the case.
Then again a while back a poster said he broke’ his RCBS A-4 while operating it

 

[243winxb]

Seating the bullet deeper into tne case, may solve the factory ammo problem.
A Savage in 6.5 Credmoor would not chamber Hornady factory ammo, till COL was made shorter. Savage fixed it.

 

[Rick300]

I would absolutely NOT modify factory ammo to see if that will "fix" it! Something is out of spec, either the rifle or the ammo. Take Savage up on their offer to send it back and get it fixed properly.
Also good advice above to check the ammo and see if in spec.

 

[Jm36548]

what to you mean by back? the base where the primer is? or the body? if the body is crumpled then there is not enuf head space. You need to check that ammo. Winchester will refund it if it not good. Buy another box of diff brand and try it.

The rim at the base where the primer is located