Gunsmithing Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

[pyplynr]

I've built 2 Savage rifles and I've never come across this. My first 2 were both on short actions and this build is on a long action.

Going from a mag bolt face to a standard .473. Here is the problem:

This little tab that is below the bolt head assembly

Here is the inside of the bolt body. the little tab is the shiny part on the inside/bottom of the pic

The left bolt head is the one that came with the action
The right bolt head is the new .473 I bought

How would you remedy this?

 

[Luke]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

If I understand the purpose of the tab correctly it is to prevent the user from assembling the bolt head backwards? If you have a milling machine you could mill out the slot in the new bolt head, or you might be able to even file it in there. My second option would be attempting to push the tab back out, or simply removing it.

 

[m1k3]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

I've only come across it once so far. It was on an older rifle. Probably there to take some pressure off the head pin when torquing on the bolt to extract a magnum round.

You could just grind it off with a dremel. It likely won't be needed if your going to a standard round vs a magnum caliber.

Mike

 

[m1k3]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Luke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If I understand the purpose of the tab correctly it is to prevent the user from assembling the bolt head backwards? If you have a milling machine you could mill out the slot in the new bolt head, or you might be able to even file it in there. My second option would be attempting to push the tab back out, or simply removing it.</div></div>

That's possible as well. Perhaps it was to aid in quicker assembly too. Most of Savage's designs were to speed production while lowering costs. I doubt you could bend it back given the wall thickness and the hardness of the bolt body. But may with just the right angle in a sturdy vise you might be able to.

 

[Luke]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Yeah, I too doubt it would be easy to push back out. Wouldn't hurt to try though, as it would be the simplest fix.

 

[mscott]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Grind it out or cut a relief in your new bolt.

 

[geargrinder]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Grind it out.

A dremel makes quick work of it.

The next problem you might run into is your new bolt head may be for a small firing pin. If needed, drill it with a #25 drill bit to the vent.

Done both to several bolt bodies and heads.

 

[acloco]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

I notch the new boltheads.

As geargrinder said, you will need to enlarge the firing pin hole.

 

[pyplynr]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Thanks guys. Broke out the dremel and the tab is gone. I had already been down the firing pin route and ordered the right one when I ordered the bolt head.

 

[locked&loaded]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Ain't it great when things come together?

 

[Jim See]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

That was a saftey feature of the older bolt assemblies.
The larger FP makes the hole thru the bolt head retaining pin larger thus it was prone to break in half at the hole, and fall out.


The mating grooves ensured that the bolt head rotated into battery if the pin ever broke and fell out as you were closing the bolt on a live round.

since your using the new pin get the new retaining pin with the small hole.

 

[JohnnyK]

Re: Ok Savage Genius Gurus I've got a problem

Ground mine out with a dremel gtg