Hitting a big snag on switching out a bolt face. Pre-67 110.

[dpappen]

Wanted to resurrect my very first rifle, a pre-67 110L, among other things, re-barrel it. Gunsmith advised me I would need a new bolt as the old, pre-67 bolt face has a large rim for the half-moon extractor. Purchased a new bolt body, bolt face, retaining pin and firing pin. Assembled it all together and... cannot rotate the bolt down into battery. A closer look reveals the new bolt face has lugs measuring 1/2 inch long. The old bolt face has lugs 7/16 inch long. I'm thinking the lugs on the new bolt face are too long to rotate into the receiver. Anyone run into this before? Any solution or insights would be greatly appreciated. Dave

[Smokey262]

Does this help?

http://www.savageshooters.com/conten...Configurations

[dpappen]

It might. PM'd the poster.
Thanks,
dave

[geargrinder]

I've swapped new bolts onto old actions without the problem you are having.

Try something first, back the front action screw out, you may be binding the bolt lug into the screw.

[Robinhood]

You really need to consider checking headspace. You might need to back the barrel out 1.5 turns or so.

[GaCop]

You really need to consider checking headspace. You might need to back the barrel out 1.5 turns or so.

+1 on that.

[dpappen]

Agreed, it's looking like headspace is the issue. Anyone know who I might contact in the Dayton, OH area to turn off a vintage barrel?? Would rather see one before trying my hand... dave

[geargrinder]

The old barrel is still on?

That's the whole problem. New bolt heads are not compatible with the old style barrels.

The old style has a bolt nose that goes into a counterbore like a Remington.

You won't be able to headspace your new bolt head to that old barrel.

[Hotolds442]

Save the replacement of the bolt head until you get the new barrel ready to install. I wasn't aware that you were trying to use the old barrel when I answered your PM. Scratch everything I said in that PM and see what happens when you headspace the new barrel.