When swapping Savage barrels...

[Hammer]

When swapping Savage barrels using the factory barrel nut...

Have been inserting the go gauge and tightening the barrel against it. Work the bolt handle up and down to make sure that still have good movement but some feel to it. Lock the barrel nut in place. Remove go gauge, reinsert it, test bolt a couple more times.

The go gauge is not really being used as a measurement tool but as a set tool.

Anyone see problems ?

 

[Rustystud]

Hammer:

Go and No Go gauges take the measuring out of the equation. They do exactly what you said they do. The give one a solid reference to use in seting head spacing. It is designed this way to make SAAMI a happy camper. A monkey can be trained to set the headspace on a Savage Rifle. In fact I have been quoted as saying they must employee some gorillias to instal some of their barrels.
Rustystud

 

[rhino]

1. I take a full lengthened case that was run throught a die.
2. Insert in chamber and tighten barrel until it stops.
3. Back off a skotch.
4. Tighten nut and then double check with guages.

You can do this very quickly!

RHINOUT!

 

[Rustystud]

Rhino:

What you said works, but it will not fly with SAAMI and any professional liability insurance coverage. You as an individual can get away with this but the professional gunsmith, and manufacture can not. Hypothetical, you do as you stated and sell the gun to someone else. Lets say your bumped case is on the long side of SAAMI specs. The new buyer puts in a case that is on the short side of SAAMI specs and has a case rupture. He looses an eye. Your pockets are shallow, so his slick lawyer decides to go after Savage because they make a firearm that is relatively easy to rebarrel. The jury decides this is a product defect. In Massachesetts where Savages are made the courts are quite liberal. They may find a product liability claim against Savage. The next thing we will see is Savage tack welding their barrel nuts to prevent easy removal. I feel it is the responsible thing to always use SAAMI spec gauges. This protects you, the second buyer and the industry.

It is not my intent to flame you. There are far to many post indicating the quick fix to firearm problems that can create a much larger problem down the road. We as shooters need to police ourselves to prevent problems that are unnessary. Paul the Moderator here is a lawyer. He may chime in on this with his expert advice.

The reason I made this post is that I have had numerous Savages brought into my shop with improper headspacing. I have had a few come in with case head seperations. If it were not for the front and rear baffles these folks may have been seriously injured. Savages are well designed and well made.

Enough said

Rustystud
a/k/a Nathaniel G. Lambeth, Sr.

 

[chino1969]

Rhino:

What you said works, but it will not fly with SAAMI and any professional liability insurance coverage. You as an individual can get away with this but the professional gunsmith, and manufacture can not. Hypothetical, you do as you stated and sell the gun to someone else. The reason I made this post is that I have had numerous Savages brought into my shop with improper headspacing. I have had a few come in with case head seperations. If it were not for the front and rear baffles these folks may have been seriously injured. Savages are well designed and well made.

Enough said

Rustystud
a/k/a Nathaniel G. Lambeth, Sr.

Rustystud,
You bring up excellent points. Everyone who owns a Savage should read closely and understand what you are saying. I own a Savage single shot rifle with several different barrels of the same caliber with different rates of twist. These barrels were chambered with my tight neck minimum spec. reamer. When I change a barrel, I use a fireformed piece of brass to set my headspace. This allows me to keep my headspace to a minimum. This rifle is only used by me. If this rifle were to be ever sold, I would install a factory barrel and set the headspace using headspace gauges as previously described. People that own switch barrel Savages need to be aware of the liability one has if one goes to sell any rifle that is a wildcat or a non standard caliber, tight neck, etc. When McDonalds' can be sued by some bimbo because hot coffee spilled between her thighs, an altered firearm would be easy pickens for a legal shyster.
Thank you Rustystud,
Chino69