Savage bolt "spring washer" benefit to changing locations?

[Lefty Trigger]

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?

 

[std7mag]

It goes between the bolt body, and bolt head.
Not sure where else you think it might go?
Since Savage has the floating bolt head, you need the tension from the spring washer, else the head retaining pin would move enough to possibly hang up on the firing pin.

 

[Frans]

I also have a Savage Mod12 LRP, I have disassembled it more times than I can count.
Also saw that washer fits on both sides. But got confused were it was located the first time.
So what's the verdict position 1 or 2 (see image)

 

[Lefty Trigger]

It goes between the bolt body, and bolt head.
Not sure where else you think it might go?
Since Savage has the floating bolt head, you need the tension from the spring washer, else the head retaining pin would move enough to possibly hang up on the firing pin.

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?

 

[6MMsteve]

I don't even use the washer

 

[olddav]

One could argue that with the spring in the factory location the baffle will supply a very small amount of grease to the lugs with each cycle of the bolt.
As always I could be wrong.

 

[marazzi59]

Lefty triggers picture shows the top bolt as the correct way. Your right that grease is left there and its needed.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Lefty has got it going on!

 

[teele1]

I run mine like the top bolt.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Lefty has got it going on!

I cant take credit because an old-timer from the club told me about it. I guess it's been a thing for quite a long time but neat info like this is getting left in the dark because the younger people dont stop and listen to the older shooters.

 

[46and2]

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

Is bolt lift easier??

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Is bolt lift easier??

I would say "maybe, yes"? I have a Savage 12 22-250 that has always been tight/stiff so I need to try it on that rifle and see. I was looking for info to make sure moving the washer would do no harm and so far on my 6 BR it has caused no issues.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Do all savages have that second set of lugs? Or what I guess you call the baffle. I only seem to remember one set on the savage I had. It’s been a few years since I had it though and the memory is fading

All the ones I have do. The small bolt face like the .223 have one that has a long ear on one side that limits the bolt throw for the shorter case like the .223.

 

[BoydAllen]

I am lucky enough to have had a number of long phone conversations with Bob Greenleaf, who was an engineer for Savage for 25 years. He told me about putting the spring washer between the gas baffle and the bolt head to keep the baffle from wiping the grease off of the back of the lugs. It works fine.

 

[memilanuk]

I'll say that I've ran into a few instances where the baffle *couldn't* be placed directly behind the bolt head/lugs, due to the way the fillet between the shank of the bolt head met the base of the lugs. The fillet OD was larger than the wave washer ID, and that made it pert near impossible to get the toggle / cross pin thru the hole to hold the head to the body. Flip the washer around to the other side of the baffle, and everything worked just fine.

Now that I think of it, I can't recall it was factory heads, or PTG ones, that had the issue. Either way, something to be aware of.

 

[Will Henry]

The washer's only purpose is to keep the baffle from rattling around. It can do that from either side. WH

 

[slobhunter2]

I believe savagedasher posted this bolt mod some time back.