Bolt face

[ArtinNC]

After shooting to day , I was looking at my Savage bolt and I see what looks to me like it is tuching the end of the barrel. The gun shoots pretty good but I'll bet it would shoot better if it didn't tuch . What do you think ? I would fix it but I give my kids my lathe and they are 500 miles away . And on this gun I did away with the barrel nut and I think I need about .003 removed from the barrel. Target #5 sighter botton left is 8 shots .

[Nor Cal Mikie]

"The gun shoots pretty good but".....
Like I already said (next door) Don't fix it if it ain't broke!! ;)

[Dave Hoback]

Did you chamber the barrel? The case should stick out about .125”-.130” (‘bout 1/8”) from chamber breech. If not, it’s been like that from the start, as the chamber doesn’t Grow longer over time.

I agree with Mikie. Don’t try to fix what ain’t broken. If you were still running the barrel nut, I’d say pull it & just hand file a few Thous off. But that dog won’t Hunt! Smellin’ what I’m steppin’ in partner?

[J.Baker]

Try some plasti-gauge on the bolt face. It's cheap and can be had at most any auto parts store.

[ArtinNC]

Yes I chambered the Barrel . My Kids have my lathe now and they are 500 moles away , the thing is I only test fired the barrel before they took the lathe . I really now think the marks on the bolt face is from closing the bolt on a empty chamber , because I had black on the bolt face when I test fired it and no marks .

[jimreed1948]

Is the bolt hard to close on an empty chamber?

Clean the bolt face and matching area where it meets the bolt. Then put Dykem Steel Blue (https://www.amazon.com/Layout-Machinist-Perfect-Marking-Metalworking/dp/B002SLGAIA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2F87BN2F2JTC7&keywords=machinist+blue+dye&qid=1696337512&sprefix=machinist+blue+die%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-2) on the bolt face. If the bolt is touching the barrel, you will be able to easily see scratches on the bolt face where you applied the die.

[PhilC]

Is the bolt hard to close on an empty chamber?

Clean the bolt face and matching area where it meets the bolt. Then put Dykem Steel Blue (https://www.amazon.com/Layout-Machinist-Perfect-Marking-Metalworking/dp/B002SLGAIA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2F87BN2F2JTC7&keywords=machinist+blue+dye&qid=1696337512&sprefix=machinist+blue+die%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-2) on the bolt face. If the bolt is touching the barrel, you will be able to easily see scratches on the bolt face where you applied the die.
Good advice.

[CFJunkie]

Looking at the target, I think the rifle shoots great, even if the target were at 25 yards. Your shots are very consistent, so something is working just fine.
Unless you find out that the bolt is hard to close, and the face is being scratched, I wouldn't touch anything and screw up a good shooting rifle.

[Rocketvapor]

Not a Savage expert but if your bolt head is "headspacing" on the bolt face/barrel and not the cartridge,
how do you know headspace is correct?

[ArtinNC]

A Go and no go gauge , but I believe the bolt could tuch the barrel . My bolt is NOT hard to close . So it must be getting scratched when I close the bolt on a empty chamber. There is a little end play in the bolt .

[sharpshooter]

Mark up the bolt end with a sharpie, and chamber a round. If it wipes the ink, yes you are too long. If it don't, that just means that the bolthead touches the barrel with no round in the chamber.

[ArtinNC]

Didn't wipe the ink with a round in the chamber. But does with a empty chamber , must be pretty close . But I think I'm good .

FIXED IT .

[Dave Hoback]

Wait, wait, wait… You said it “didnt wipe the ink with a round in the chamber. But does with a round in the chamber, must be pretty close.”

Do we have something missing??:confused: Lol!

[ArtinNC]

My bad ,, didnt wipe the ink with a empty chamber .

[Dave Hoback]

Yeah, that’s fine. It can touch while empty. All that matters is what it’s doing while chambered. ;)

[ArtinNC]

DAM I give up !

[Dave Hoback]

DAM I give up !

Why you say that? It’s fine how it is.

[ArtinNC]

I'm talking about getting my post right . I'm thinking faster than I can type .

[Dave Hoback]

Ahhh, LOL. I understood after your first clarity. Makes perfect sense now. Wipes ink on empty chamber. No wiping when chambered. Sounds like it should be.

[Robinhood]

Ahhh, LOL. I understood after your first clarity. Makes perfect sense now. Wipes ink on empty chamber. No wiping when chambered. Sounds like it should be.

Trying to understand this. Cocking piece pin via FP spring pulls the bolt rearward and keeps pressure against lugs and abutments. Cartridge does not control the bolt face axially.