Where's our resident Savage Axissmith?

[fgw_in_fla]

I just picked up a brand new Axis II xp for my "Beloved '06 - Take II" project. Whilst performing my usual magic on it so the Accu-trigger breaks crisp & clean at 2lbs and the bolt action is as smooth as Chinese silk, I notice the firing pin spring is in 2 pieces with a ring washer between the 2 spring sections.

I don't recall seeing a 2 piece firing pin spring in my older Axis projects. (Older = 2-3 year old Axis) When did this change and what's the benefit / shortcoming of it?

By the way, I machined a nice smooth washer to fit & take the place of the factory ring washer. The way it was positioned, the firing pin springs didn't mate up nicely the way it does with the washer.

Now, for the big question:
By removing what looks like a broken off piece of spring (ring washer) and replacing it with a nice fitting, smooth stainless washer, I'm not going to cause myself any headaches, am I?

The washer I made is the same thickness as the ring washer I removed.

What say ye, oh Savage guru?

[LoneWolf]

Hey uncle Frank you got some pictures of the new situation?

[fgw_in_fla]

Negative, Sarge but I can get a couple up as soon as I finish stuffing this pizza in my face.

[fgw_in_fla]

Here's the disassembled bolt with the ring washer on the bottom and the SS washer on top. You can see the 2 piece spring:


Here's how the spring pieces mate up with the ring washer:


And with the SS homemade, custom cut & fit washer:


At first I actually thought I had a broken spring but it's too neat and no bad spring ends are showing:

I can see where having a 2 piece spring would relieve some of the force needed to lift the bolt in fact, I think there was a guy on here several months ago that made something similar to ease lift.
Either way, the sloppy fit is gone with the washer in place of the ringy dingy piece.

[fgw_in_fla]

By the way, here's my new "Beloved '06 - Take II" project. It's a brand new Axis II XP (formerly a 7mm-08).

Currently:
24" barrel from Jim "Water Pipe" Apache
Boyd's Classic in Pepper
Vortex Viper
Bolt Handle is from mscott71 - one of our guys here. It's extended about 7/8". The extra leverage and polishing the critical areas makes it easy to operate
Muzzle Break is from that guy in Idaho. Muzzle Breaks & more, I think.
And, there's a whole bunch of tid bits I do to make user friendly for me.
Mag was made by some schmuck I found on Snyder's website
EGW rail on top

[fgw_in_fla]

One last set of pics. These are from the first time out to the range - 100yd line - nice clear windless kind of day. Perfect for testing out a new toy & ammo:


I had similar results with Nosler 180 BT's and 165 BT's as well as 168 Nos CC. All were with IMR 4350. Finding the sweet spot was easy.

[devildogandboy]

Frank, can't answer all your questions but my Edge has the same spring set-up and it's older yet! by the way, nice looking rig!

Bruce

[LoneWolf]

Mine was the same way as well. Only possible problem I could see with your replacement is if the diameter of the new washer catches/rubs inside the bolt.

Could cause possible alignment issues with the firing pin also if it catches. This is just based on my understanding of its' function.

Otherwise should function the same I would think.

[fgw_in_fla]

I thought about that Sarge. I made sure the diameters (both in & out) had plenty of clearance. That aside, it works fine. Nice & smooth.


And DD&B - Thanks .

[Hotolds442]

I have 2 WSM's sporting the same 2-spring setup from the factory.

[fgw_in_fla]

I just pulled the bolt out of my 25.06 and it's a one piece spring.

I believe we've stumbled upon a great Savage mystery. I guess as long as it goes boom when the trigger is pulled it makes little difference if the spring is 1, 2 or even 3 pieces.

[sharpshooter]

An old turd polisher like Frank ought to remember this from a few years back..
The first version of the "Edge", used the 1 pc. spring, and caused some frustration. The butt end of the spring had a sharp edge that would catch and dig into the bolt assembly screw while rotating the bolt. Because of the direction that the spring was wound, it would "un-wind" when closing the bolt, making the bolt want to come back open...by itself.
The "ring" between the springs is a bearing, and as I was told, it is actually scrap from the normal spring winding process. The first spring has a tail to retain the cocking piece pin, so it must not rotate. The ring holds the 2 springs apart and if you notice the end spring is wound the opposite way. It may look Mickey mouse, but the whole set-up works fine.

[fgw_in_fla]

An old turd polisher?

Key word in that sentence is "old"...
The 'ol grey matter just isn't as sharp as it used to be.

And now that you mention it, I do recall the situation.
Either way - with the piece of spring scrap or with the SS flat washer I put in there it works smooooooooooootthhhh. Oh, so smmmoooooooothhhh.

I think I'll leave it in there and save the scrap piece. Thanks for the refresher.

Smart alec.

[upSLIDEdown]

I have two Axis sticks. Only had the bolt apart on one, but it has the 2pc spring in it. Like was said earlier, as long as the washer doesn't rub or cause binding, I can't see it hurting anything.

On a side note, do you think polishing helped with smoothness, or just the length of the bolt handle? I made a $5 bolt knob with JB Stik Weld that works well, but I'm wondering if polishing somewhere might make things even better.

[fgw_in_fla]

Polishing definitely helps especially if its at the transition when the cocking ramp turns into the "shelf" where the cocking button rests. I round it over a little and polish it with various abrasive paper and finish with my Dremel with a cotton wheel and some jewelers rouge.

Look at the ramp with a magnifier. Sometimes they look like a washboard.

[fgw_in_fla]

Duplicate.

[upSLIDEdown]

Polishing definitely helps especially if its at the transition when the cocking ramp turns into the "shelf" where the cocking button rests. I round it over a little and polish it with various abrasive paper and finish with my Dremel with a cotton wheel and some jewelers rouge.

Look at the ramp with a magnifier. Sometimes they look like a washboard.

Got a pic of how much you actually round it over? I'm assuming you're actually altering the shape of the 'hump', or 'shelf', making it a little shorter?

[fgw_in_fla]

That's something you'll need to experiment with.
Use a fine stone in your Dremel and round over the point where the cocking piece rides over to go into it's parking space.

It can't be flattened out because it won't hold the cocking piece when it needs to. Leave enough meat there for it to ride over smoothly. Polish with some 600.
Also, look at the cocking ramp with a magnifying glass. I had one that actually looked like a washboard.
Again, with a fine stone on the dremel, a little 600 and polish it with a cotton wheel & jewelers rouge. Dremel makes a polishing wheel kit with a couple cotton wheels and a small container of rouge.
Takes a little practice and if you grind off too much you can always grind the notch a little deeper to start over.

I'll try to remember to shoot a pic of mine. Gear's packed up & ready to head out for a day of shooting.

[blink]

curious about this as well..........please post some pics.

[fgw_in_fla]

I decided to take my .308 apart since it's getting a new pipe this week (compliments of Jim "Schedule 80" Apache) - here's what I found:



It also has the one piece spring.
I think I'm going to experiment with it. Maybe a little cut & cap would help since this one always had the hardest bolt to operate.

Also, here's one I trimmed where the cocking piece locks in:



You can see where its cut down and rounded off. It makes that last flip of the bolt handle a little easier to deal with.
If anyone has any input / suggestions on revamping the bolt spring I'm all ears. I'm in uncharted waters here with Axis spring modification.
Of course, that won't stop me with this obsession known as The Savage Axis...

[upSLIDEdown]

Right on. Yeah, they are definitely easily turned into an obsession. My Creedmoor build was off of a 243 youth model I snagged on clearance for $179. She's one heck of a shooter too. Thanks for the pic. Might give that a whirl and see what kinda difference it makes.

[fgw_in_fla]

You'll notice the difference right at the end of the bolt throw. Just as it's reached the cocking point.

Depending on how well you shave that point off, of course.

Good luck with it.