Front action bolt - heli-coil?!

[j_h_nimrod]

I have a 116 that was originally 300 Win Mag that I have been working over and converting to .240 Weatherby. I happened to look closely at the front action bolt hole and saw what appears to be a heli-coil! Has anyone else seen this? I am fairly certain this gun was factory when I got it and I have never observed a front action hole strip so am curious where this came from. It is very well done and 999/1000 would never have noticed it but I like to pick nits.

[Robinhood]

Are you sure the thread is no pulling out. A heli-coil would be an obvious difference in material color.

[sharpshooter]

The factory would never do that.

[j_h_nimrod]

No, the thread is solid. I need to pull out the ol magnifying lens and take a closer look. I can see what appears to be the ends of the coil and all edges are crisp. Certainly not peeling the threads.

I wouldnt figure the the factory would do that, but I have seen worse things that somehow passed inspection or were standard features.

Maybe be it was worked over but would not have thought so.

[reynoldsfamily3]

What is the correct way to repair a pulling out thread? Re-drill and tap larger or is there another acceptable method?

[j_h_nimrod]

They use heli-coils for spark plugs, I figure that if properly installed they should work fine for an action bolt.

After close examination I can say that it is certainly a heli-coil in my rifle. It is very competently installed so have in issues with it. It is just interesting that it is there.

[Robinhood]

A spark plug has a long landing for the coil. Are you sure it is not a solid threaded insert. I have some experience with helicoil and similar types of thread repair and that application would shock me. An solid insert could be installed and shaped to the radius of the id and od. Got a picture?

[bootsmcguire]

Helicoils can be used to repair many different types of threads not just spark plugs. I have seen them used in tons of different applications. However as shallow as an action bolt threading would be I don't know that I would have used a helicoil, I probably would have drilled and tapped to the next larger size. but I guess that's the machinist in me talking. A picture would definitely help. Either way I wouldn't worry it should work ok.

[j_h_nimrod]

Looks like it focused on my table but you can see the end of the coil. It is solid and should hold the stock just fine, if not I will tap it a size over and make it work.

http://www.savageshooters.com/webkit-fake-url://2b49247a-1dde-4245-8fb2-226990e6e789/imagejpeg

[j_h_nimrod]

Can't get pic to post? Might need to shrink it. http://www.savageshooters.com/webkit-fake-url://9a1cd92e-e105-4688-b8b2-a49d74f2267d/imagejpeg