aftermarket BAS?

**memilanuk** · 08-27-2012, 11:45 AM

Never seen nor heard of such a critter, but I'm starting to develop a hankerin' for such.

Specifically, I'm interested in something that looks like the knurled cap (rough equivalent of the BAS) on the back of a Barnard bolt. I think it might look kinda classy on a Savage...

Here are some pics from the Barnard site that should illustrate what I'm talking about:

I'm kind of planning ahead for a custom Palma rifle build that I have in mind... and I'd really like to see if I can get a custom BAS like this. Not sure if there is anything special, in metallurgical terms, about the hardness or material of the BAS...?

Monte

Opus Dei · 08-27-2012, 02:10 PM

Man, that looks sweet! I would be in for two!

chakup · 08-27-2012, 03:28 PM

Ya mean something like this kinda:

**memilanuk** · 08-27-2012, 07:23 PM

Mmmm... not really. Looking at changing out the little round head on the stock BAS for a larger diameter knurled body, closer to the diameter of the rear baffle. Not just a little spacer under the BAS.

nsaqam · 08-27-2012, 09:45 PM

Not like the one you want at all but here's what I did with my BAS.

82boy · 08-28-2012, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by memilanuk

Never seen nor heard of such a critter, but I'm starting to develop a hankerin' for such.
Specifically, I'm interested in something that looks like the knurled cap (rough equivalent of the BAS) on the back of a Barnard bolt. I think it might look kinda classy on a Savage...
Here are some pics from the Barnard site that should illustrate what I'm talking about:

I'm kind of planning ahead for a custom Palma rifle build that I have in mind... and I'd really like to see if I can get a custom BAS like this. Not sure if there is anything special, in metallurgical terms, about the hardness or material of the BAS...?
Monte

I can see on problem with doing this, and that is getting things tight, and keeping them tight. If you ever had an old 110 with the big slot screw BAS, you would know what I mean. They are a PIA to get tight, and keep tight.

**memilanuk** · 08-28-2012, 10:57 AM

Look closely... I think you'll see there is still a hole for an allen wrench in the examples shown.

chakup · 08-28-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by memilanuk

Look closely... I think you'll see there is still a hole for an allen wrench in the examples shown.

I'd be tempted to have flats cut rather than risk allen hole egging out.

82boy · 08-28-2012, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by memilanuk

Look closely... I think you'll see there is still a hole for an allen wrench in the examples shown.

I dont think it is an allen hole, I think it is just a hole, it would be too small to get the required torque to keep things tight.

**memilanuk** · 08-29-2012, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by 82boy

I dont think it is an allen hole, I think it is just a hole, it would be too small to get the required torque to keep things tight.

I emailed a friend who has a couple Barnards...

the hole is for an allen wrench (dont remember what size). The end cap covers a ball detent that engages the cap that contains the firing pin / cocking piece and spring.

Sounds like the cap with the allen wrench hole doesn't directly tighten down to contain the firing pin assembly, etc. quite like on a Savage.

**memilanuk** · 08-28-2012, 04:40 PM

That... might be a different look, although not a bad one, at least not from what I can picture in my head

Still... no problems with the current allen hole egging out that I've encountered.

It does bring up an interesting question of 'how'... if someone were to have a machinist make such a part, would they make a suitably sized allen wrench hole? Would the part need to be hardened to some specific level?

Clint KY · 08-28-2012, 05:53 PM

OK - I've googled it and still can't find an answer - What is a BAS?

nsaqam · 08-28-2012, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Clint KY

OK - I've googled it and still can't find an answer - What is a BAS?

Bolt Assembly Screw.

The big bolt in the end of your Savage bolt assembly.

Nandy · 08-30-2012, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Clint KY

OK - I've googled it and still can't find an answer - What is a BAS?

OR, some of us call it Big Arse Screw...

stangfish · 08-30-2012, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Nandy

OR, some of us call it Big Arse Screw...

...and I always thought it was Bolt Assembly Screw.

Nandy · 08-30-2012, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by stangfish

...and I always thought it was Bolt Assembly Screw.

Ahem, I hope you saw the comedy side of post...

Opus Dei · 08-28-2012, 07:16 PM

I know I'd get a couple if they were available. They'd look right at home with a Stockade handle.

**devildogandboy** · 08-30-2012, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Opus Dei

I know I'd get a couple if they were available. They'd look right at home with a Stockade handle.

i'm with you, i would buy a few myself!!

Grott · 08-28-2012, 07:42 PM

It would be cool if you could handles and BAS in matched sets....any machinist out there???

**memilanuk** · 08-29-2012, 12:21 AM

It would be cool if you could handles and BAS in matched sets....any machinist out there???

Actually... I think it'd almost beg for a rear baffle assembly made to match as well - without the slight taper contour they have now.

Making a hexagonal hole in the end requires a rotary broach

Ah. A while back I got some *very* nice action screws from a local BR gunsmith who did some barrel work for me. I remember he mentioned they were broach cut... maybe from BAT? Still, it does complicate things a bit.

**sharpshooter** · 08-28-2012, 11:45 PM

Making a hexagonal hole in the end requires a rotary broach, not something you find at the hardware store or in the average machinist tool box.
Of course there are ways to cheat....

M.O.A. · 08-29-2012, 12:32 AM

you can EDM the allen head in but i think thats a dieing trade

**memilanuk** · 08-29-2012, 06:22 PM

Of course there are ways to cheat...

Fred,

Maybe not what you were getting at... but something that kind of popped into my head today as I was borrowing parts (scope rail) from one gun to stick on another (stealing from Peter to pay Paul...) and looked down and saw the knurled thread protector that came on my Sav 10PC-SR barrel (currently wearing a PWS FSC-30 brake). I thought "Hmmm... that looks about the right size... lets see what that looks like mocked up."

I was thinking if making a whole new BAS might be too much of a PITA due to the problem of getting a decently made and sized allen wrench hole broach-cut in the middle... what about just turning down the 'flange' on an existing BAS, threading it, and making a collar that would be screwed on and either permanently expoxied in place, or alternately have a small discrete set screw locking it in place.

Looks like it'd need to be a bit shorter than the piece I have sitting on there now to not obscure the safety, and maybe it could be just a fuzz larger diameter and still clear the tang of the receiver.

The project I have in mind would call for the bolt parts (body, front and rear baffle, BAS), receiver, recoil lug, barrel nut and barrel to be black nitrided / melonited, as thats the 'look' I want to go for. But I think a stainless knurled BAS collar to replace the existing 'flange' look might be appealing to some... Pretty much just an aesthetic 'change', not necessarily an 'improvement', depending on one's point of view.

What do you guys think? I'm not in a position to do or even source the work in any quantity on my end, just curious what y'all feel about it.

**sharpshooter** · 08-29-2012, 06:53 PM

Winner winner, chicken dinner! There are several ways to do it like you have described. My first thought was to make a cup shaped sleeve that the BAS went through. Then I thought of the method you described, then I thought of making a new BAS and threading it for a short 5/16" socket head cap screw and burying it flush with the end. That would give a 1/4" hex socket.