Savage BR12 sticking bolt

[mark belitz]

I have a Savage BR12 . Was originally a .308 , but had re-barreled to a .284 . Problem is when raising the bolt after firing a round , I have to give it a little "bump up" at the top of stroke for lugs to completely clear and unlock . It does it with new or used brass . Brass has no marks on it and is not loaded "hot" . Case is not swelling up . Unfired rounds are smooth going in and out , no problem , just after been fired . I use Peterson brass , 180gr Berger Hybrid with 50.8 gr of H4350 , 2850FPS . I have been told that this is a characteristic symptom of a Savage bolt . Any info would be appreciated . Thanks

 

[Richard Coody]

Two issues with bolt cycling effort in a savage. Cooking effort which starts with the begining of the bolt cycle and primary extraction at the end of the cycle.

Yours sounds like primary extraction to me. Lots of utube fixes out there for you to review. Bolt lift kits, ways to adjust primary extraction and others.

Best solution is to have a gunsmith that is familiar with savages time the action.

 

[HillBillyPirate]

Two issues with bolt cycling effort in a savage. Cooking effort which starts with the begining of the bolt cycle and primary extraction at the end of the cycle.

Yours sounds like primary extraction to me. Lots of utube fixes out there for you to review. Bolt lift kits, ways to adjust primary extraction and others.

Best solution is to have a gunsmith that is familiar with savages time the action.

Perfect response and good advice here. I have owned many savage rifles that this was a problem. None as severe as what you seem to be experiencing. The cocking issue can be fixed easily with the bolt kits Richard mentioned. Most times this will provide a suitable fix.

I have a 284 on a 40X action. Great round! Relatively unknown outside the competition world it seems. I have had several people say”I have never heard of that caliber.”

Good luck with the savage. Great rifles. I have a model 12 Target action with a 6.5X47 Lapua barrel on it.

 

[rsbhunter]

PTG , http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/1998-nat-lambeth-inspired-savage-bolt-accessory-kit-w-o-handle.html is what I use. Have tried the 38 shell head , steel ball bearing one, but you need to mill the bolt handle assembly bolt down by the same amount the assembly increases the length of the bolt/bearing assy. Plus, a custom longer bolt handle makes cocking, closing the bolt easier. Other than that, just opening the bolt rapidly might help....I have Savages in 6mm Norma Dasher, 6XC, and 6.5x284, and no problems yet....(fingers crossed)..rsbhunter

 

[gman47564]

a combination of excessive pressure and case expansion just above the base is what i have found to cause this in my savage rifles... i bet if you paint a round with a sharpie down to the base and fire it the area just above the web. (200 datum line) will be wiped clean upon extraction... my 6.5 prc was doing the same thing... my rounds had several firings on them ... and even though they chambered fine loaded the top quarter of bolt lift was hard... new brass solved my problem...

 

[6MMsteve]

A good barrel with nice smooth chamber job works every time...ask me how I know...all my savages work flawlessly..setting your headspace tight helps alot too..I set my go HS to be snug with feel 3/4 bolt close but still close the bolt..if that makes sense...now I don't shoot alot maybe 4 to 500 shots a yr on a barrel sometimes less

 

[Fuj]

Just try bumping the shoulder back .001 at a time.
My latest build was using Hornady brass to test.
When satisfied, I switched to Norma. Even running
the new Norma brass thru the same dies, I was
finding way too many I had to bump the bolt, and
never with the Hornady. .003 ground off my shell
holder solved the problem with the Norma brass in
the Savage 12 action.