What happened to my bolt? 111 .308

[bottlerocket]

Went to the range today, loaded some Remington factory ammo up and noticed the bolt traveled forward fine, but it was very difficult to lock and unlock. Tried some Hornady and some reloads and had the same issue on most. Finally after about 10 rounds an entire round wouldnt go all the way into the breach, so when I pulled back on the bolt it just came off the extractor and sat there. I tilted the rifle up to get the round out and it fell out along with another piece of metal. I took the weapon apart and found this is where it goes... what do I do now?

http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/ad20/Bottlerocket91/2011-08-07_17-44-10_192.jpg

[kkeene]

Order a replacement pin, I am pretty sure the one you have is broken into two pieces.

Savage will most likley replace the pin for free, I'd call tem.

Keith

[airaddict]

yeah thats the pin that keeps the bolt head in the bolt body and keeps the firing pin centered. it is metal and all metal parts can break. Send the bolt back to savage and make them fix it. or call SSS and see if they have a replacement part. im pretty sure they do, they have EVERYTHING!! lol

Brian

[bottlerocket]

yeah thats the pin that keeps the bolt head in the bolt body and keeps the firing pin centered. it is metal and all metal parts can break. Send the bolt back to savage and make them fix it. or call SSS and see if they have a replacement part. im pretty sure they do, they have EVERYTHING!! lol

Brian


Called Savage and sorry to say they were anything but helpful. I felt more like I was talking to an appliance manufacturer tech support. All they did was refer me to a "local" shop 7 hours away.

What is SSS?

[airaddict]

sharp shooter supply.

they have their own website. they r very knowledgable which makes them very busy!! if u call be patient. i think email is easier cuz they can call u back when they have a sec if u provide a phone number. ive done tha several times and it works out. they will get u up and running again! the owner is on here as "sharpshooter".

brian

[hotbrass]

Brownells.

[wbm]

http://www.midwayusa.com/Find?userSearchQuery=savage+bolt+retaining+pin

[Eric in NC]

So two things - you might have the front action screw tightened too much causing the problems opening and closing the bolt (which led to the pin breaking). This is a common issue with Savages.

Second - when there is a problem chambering a round, you should stop right there and figure it out instead of firing more rounds - that is a good way to get hurt and/or damage your rifle.

[bottlerocket]

http://www.midwayusa.com/Find?userSearchQuery=savage+bolt+retaining+pin


Perfect, thanks!

[bottlerocket]

So two things - you might have the front action screw tightened too much causing the problems opening and closing the bolt (which led to the pin breaking). This is a common issue with Savages.

I'll check that out. Haven't had a problem through 60 or so rounds until this trip to the range. Is this something that could tighten on its own?



Second - when there is a problem chambering a round, you should stop right there and figure it out instead of firing more rounds - that is a good way to get hurt and/or damage your rifle.


Well the reason I kept going in that case was I was shooting reloads that were only neck-sized, not full length resized. Figured that was the cause of the firm lock.

[geargrinder]

I'd switch to the small diameter retaining pin and firing pin so that would be less likely to happen again.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=630992

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=761587

[bottlerocket]

I'd switch to the small diameter retaining pin and firing pin so that would be less likely to happen again.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=630992

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=761587


308 isnt listed on that first one. It will still work?

[geargrinder]

It will if it is a long action.

[bottlerocket]

It will if it is a long action.


sweet, ordered. cant wait to get back to the range :)

[jinx-)]

your chamber could be off-center, I had one it was very hard to cycle bolt, my wife could close or open it...

[bottlerocket]

So are there instructions anywhere on the dis-assembly of the bolt? Thought it would be pretty straight foward :\




your chamber could be off-center, I had one it was very hard to cycle bolt, my wife could close or open it...


Is that something that can just happen on its own? This rifle is babied. And it hasnt been taken apart since it was last shot so no idea how the chamber could be off-center.

[JW]

http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/index.php/topic,43867.0.html

This post might help with the bolt disassembly
Jack

[bottlerocket]

http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/index.php/topic,43867.0.html

This post might help with the bolt disassembly
Jack


Awesome! Actually figured it out on my own, but thank you for the post! Now I can use these pics to remember the orientation of that one piece right before the bolt face. I have a flat-head screwdriver bolt instead of the allen-headed one but the same otherwise. Not too bad to get apart

[jinx-)]

off center chamber happen, when chamber rimmed from the barrel blank, just few thousands of an inch can make big difference, off center chamber doesn't just happen its a birth mark or machinist mark who reamed it....

[sharpshooter]

Off center chambers will not cause a cross pin to fail. Cross pin fractures are not that common, but I've seen a few. They were always the large hole type, leaving less meat in the pin, hence the reason for the small style. The hardest thing on a cross pin is dry firing.