Savage bolt head

[Skunce]

Have any of you had a problem with the bolt head not being flat? I can take a fired case, set it upright on a flat surface and give it a nudge and it will rock for several seconds. Looking at the bolt head with naked eye it's apparent that it's concave. Can it be machined or should it be replaced. It's a LPRB LRPV am I correct it would use a left hand action bolt head?

 

[FALPhil]

First, I am not sure it is a problem, and second, if the ejector is installed, that may be causing the phenomenon. I have never tested either of mine, because they shoot just fine.

I know that SSS faces the ones they sell on a lathe. Bolt heads are not all that expensive; you might want to pick one up from SSS.

 

[pdog06]

yes, it would be a LH bolthead

 

[BillPa]

Most of the Savage bolt faces are "dished" to some extent from the polishing process, the larger mags being the worst. When I face them I only remove what amounts to dust, maybe a .001". At times there may be a very small amount of chamfer at the edge of the firing pin hole, also from polishing, so I start there and work out. I'd have to check, but IIRC they start out at .118 deep on the center and finish about .119-.1195", just don't recall exactly what they measure at the moment.

Bill

 

[treeman]

skunce, are you sure that it is not the primer crater causing this? punch out a primer and see if your cartridge still rocks. I'd bet that is what it is. regards, treeman

 

[fayettefatts]

I had the same problem with the bolt head in a precision target action. As close as I could measure with dial calipers there was at least .010" difference between the rim of the bolt face and the edge of the firing pin hole. Savage Arms replaced the bolt head. The new one is also concave, but only by .001" or less. I would contact Savage Customer Service. If you replace the bolt head be sure and check head space and firing pin protrusion.

 

[Skunce]

I faced the bolt head and it took about .008 to get it cleaned up and readjusted the head space. How much is the firing pin supposed to protrude?

 

[tiny68]

0.025-0.030" if I remember right. That is what SSS told me. Works great. tiny

 

[Skunce]

After facing the bolt face, checking for barrel to bolt clearance, adjusting the firing pin protrusion, and resetting the head space. I now have fired brass that is flat across the head with no rocking on a flat surface. Thanks for the input.

 

[Travelor]

Same observation. Seems that Savage uses ceramic pieces to polish these and the polishing results in the dishing and the firing pin holes to also have a slight dishing.

Sad but Savage sees no problem as I sent a gun back for a bad barrel and this problem with a bolt head that Savage stated the bolt head was within manufacturing tolerances. They did change the barrel though and it shoots were well now. I had to go to a harder primer to deal with the dished firing pin hole as the fired primers were flowing into the bolt firing pin hole - not a pressure problem.

George

 

[BillPa]

as the fired primers were flowing into the bolt firing pin hole - not a pressure problem.

George

Thats more due to the tip being tapered. Remember, regardless what the pin protrusion is, the primer is going to stop the forward travel about .020",+ /-)past the bolt face, the amount equal to the primer indentation. The taper being about .030" or so long allows a gap between the pin and pin hole. Reshaping the tip with about .020" radius allow the full diameter of the pin behind the tip to stay in pin hole.

Bill