110 Ultralite Camo in 6.5 PRC - receiver screw holes not 8 40

[1kulsol]

I just picked up the rifle today and started to install the picatinny rail I bought from Murphy Precision it comes with 8 40 screws .. welll they wouldn't fit in the holes drilled in the receiver (too big) ... so I got out my trusty caliper and measured the diameter of the holes in the receiver .. the best I could come up with was .1345 - .1350 ... the screws supplied by Murphy Precision measured .16 and that is the diameter for 8 40 screws ... it appears to me that Savage drilled the receiver for 6 48 screws instead of the advertised 8 40 .. has anyone else run into this problem ... I'm going to pick up some 6 48 screws tomorrow to verify my belief and then we'll proceed from there.

[want2ride]

all 3 of mine are #8

[1kulsol]

OK ... I was wrong .. Savage did drill and tap for 8 40 screws but the coating applied to the receiver evidently coated the threads enough where the 8 40 screws would not start ... I brought it to a gunsmith and he said the supplied screws from Murphy Precision were the correct 8 40 screws .. he then chased the threads on all 4 holes and the screws fit perfectly ... I seem to remember a number of years back whenever a receiver was D&T'd flush mounted cap screws were inserted in the holes to protect the threads ... this might be something Savage (and other) firearms companies should consider .. that gunsmith will get my business from now on.

[Dave Hoback]

I hope he didn't charge..., at least MUCH for that, did he?

[1kulsol]

No charge!!