I was installing a new X-Caliber 338 Lapua barrel on my Savage LRH action and wanted to set the headspace a bit tighter than where it was from the factory and discovered that the front edge of the bolt head hits the back of the new barrel AND the original barrel when set snugly with a "Go" gauge, making bolt closing VERY difficult. Both barrels are chambered perfectly so it wasn't a chamber depth issue.

I removed 0.003 from the front of the bolt head and now it BARELY clears the barrel when headspaced snugly against the Go. I noticed that the 338 sized bolt head is quite a bit different than my standard "Magnum" sized bolt heads besides just the opening width for case. The bolt face is significantly deeper (a bit too deep on this one apparently) and the lugs are quit a bit longer. The bolt face has machining marks on it. None of my others bolt heads show this. Original owner did not do anything to the bolt face so that must have happened at Savage. The head has a serial number on it that matches the action.

Magnum bolt head
Front edge of head to bolt face distance = 0.113 (only checked one)
Thickness front to back of bolt lugs = 0.487 to 0.502 (checked several)

338 Lapua bolt head
Front edge to bolt face distance = 0.128 before shortening / 0.125 after
Thickness front to back of bolt lugs = 0.553 (before shortening) / 0.550 after

I am assuming that 0.003" is not enough to be nervous about as far as weakening the bolt lugs are concerned. I measured a half dozen 308 sized and magnum bolt heads and the lug thickness varied from 0.502" to 0.497" ~ 0.005 is more than my 0.003" reduction.

Have any of you out there also had issues like this or others, with the 338 Lapua bolt heads? I have never had this type of problem with my other Savage bolt heads x about 20.