Savage firing pin stop nut washer broke

[LRPV]

This is the piece at the back of the firing pin assembly that the sleeve fits into. I'm not sure how it happened and if it's something I inadvertently did, I'd like to know how to keep from doing it in the future.

I did disassemble it today and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Put it back together, dry fired a few times and then the bolt got a little harder and grittier to lift. Took it back apart and the piece was broke.

This wasn't my first time taking a savage bolt apart but it is the first time I've broke anything in one. Firing pin assemblies are out of stock where I know to look and so is the single piece I broke at Brownells. If someone happens to have an extra washer around I'd buy it from you.

 

[LRPV]

Is this a part that breaks often? I can't think that it would break in normal operation.

 

[primer popper]

Have you blanked a primer ? Blanked primer in a Savage can damage the washer.

 

[LRPV]

Nope. No primer popping.

 

[KRP]

Firing pin stop is at the front of the pin, cocking pin/sleeve is at the rear...similar but different lock washers. In 20+ rifles I've never broken one.

 

[Ggmac]

Did you adjust your firing pin spring For less tension ? Was your sear button bottoming out on the bolt cocking cam ? Is your sear button on an angle when viewed from its side . The sear button should not bottom out on the cam ( bolt body ) if it is it is a dangerous situation and can be your problem ?

 

[LRPV]

I haven't knowingly moved any of it. I bought the rifle used quite a few years ago. It has what I'm guessing Rayhill's bolt lift kit and bolt handle, but it was in there when I bought it. I've put two different barrels on it and I've had this and many other Savage bolts apart many times and this is the first issue I've seen. The button isn't bottoming out. I'm not sure what you mean by the button being at an angle but it looks right. I wonder if the guy before me took anything off to make up the extra thickness of that "lift kit" or not and maybe it's putting extra stress on it that finally just broke it. I've shot this quite a bit since I've had it without issue until now.

 

[Ggmac]

It seems you covered your bases . I personally have installed the PTG bolt lift kit many times and have mixed feelings and results about it . I WAS helping a newby rifle manufacture , who used stock savage actions , untrued , added a prefit barrel , released the firing pin tension , so it would lift easier , and sold these as CUSTOMS for big money . Every time a guy shows up at the range with one , the collective group knows he's a sucker and new to the sport . The running joke is if he wants to buy a bridge ? Anyway if you continue to have issues , remove the bolt lift kit and see if it stops breaking the piece . Good luck

 

[Ggmac]

Sorry for the off topic , I was trying to get to the angled sear , button . If it's allowed to bottom out , as this "friend " did , it will be at other than 90 deg to bore centerline and be angled or bent from repeated hitting of the bottom of the cocking cam .