Savage bolt "spring washer" benefit to changing locations?

[Dgd6mm]

All my factory rifles have the spring washer between the bolt body and the baffle/bolt head. I was told that the "best" location is between the baffle and the bolt head for keeping the lube on the lugs. Truth or hog wash?

Truth

 

[ArtinNC]

Heres why,... bottom bolt is factory location, top bolt spring washer is "between" baffle and bolt head. The relocated washer is supposed to help keep the lube on the bolt head lugs. The factory way the baffle wipes the lube off. This is what I have been told so I tried a bolt to see if it's possible and it does work and fit and yes the bolt closes fine and the gun shoots with no change. So my original question remains, its this a thing or not?

View attachment 1198792

The top bolt is what I did years ago and it works. And have no trouble with dirt or the
it can rock back and forth when operating the bolt. just clean it once in a while.

 

[BoydAllen]

If Savage would have placed/wanted the "washer" in a "different place", it would have been there from the factory. Why mess with a good thing.

Did you miss the part where I said that I got the tip from a fellow who was the top engineer at Savage for 25 years?

 

[ShaunBrady]

Not sure why the top engineer didn't change it himself if it was that big of an advantage?

I run mine where they came from Savage. Not so much in deference to their ideas, it's the only place it actually fits properly.



The bolt head has a fillet radius on the back side the ID of the washer isn't sized to clear. The front bolt baffle is chamfered to clear that radius. Moving the washer forward converts it from a wave washer to a combined wave / Belleville washer.

Do the lugs need any more lube? Does this change really provide that? I've gone with no to both for decades and haven't seen a problem.