Savage 111 Bolt issue.

[rci2950]

So i lucked into a malfunctioning rifle from the local surplus store. I was in the right place at the right time. It was intended to go back to the manufacturer 9 years ago. It still had the tags hanging from the trigger guard (i ripped them off last night) The shop changed hands since then and the paperwork was lost for the rifle yadda yadda. I got it for a song to repair myself. The rifle is new unfired in the box. It is chambered in 7mm Rem Magnum. The problem pen written on the box was broken bolt. The issue it is having seems to be because of the bolt handle. It seems too thick. the bottom part of the bolt handle was catching on the receiver when closing. So i took the handle off and put the bolt in and it closes and opens properly using my finger tips to rotate it into battery. I took a file and removed a bit of material on the bottom of the bolt handle where it was catching. So then it would go in all the way but not turn down. So i discovered it was catching just forward of the handle on the edge of the receiver. So i filed a bit from there. bam. Bolt closes and opens nicely. so i pop the rear baffle back on and it wont close again. Almost like the baffle is too thick. But I am thinking the entire bolt handle is either the wrong one or it is defective. HAs anyone run into this before? I checked pictures online and it looks 100% like the correct bolt handle. Nothing i have looks like incorrect parts. Should i continue to shape this bolt handle until it works? AM i doing something unsafe? As far as i can tell the handle itself has nothing to do with the safe operation of the rifle.... Correct me if i am wrong.

I included a video of the problem and some pics with measurements. If anyone could confirm these are the correct bolt pieces for this rifle i would GREATLY appreciate it.









Here are pics of the disassembled bolt.





This is the length of the bolt body





I measured inside the two points from here





Here is the thickness of the bolt handle. I have removed a bit of material so this is thinner then original.





Measured from this spot





If anyone could confirm these measurements for me. It would help rule out having the wrong bolt.


Thanks a lot


Adam

[sharpshooter]

Your bolt body is short. It should be in the area of 5.990-5.995". Someone has changed that out, because it couldn't have left the factory that way.

[rci2950]

Your bolt body is short. It should be in the area of 5.990-5.995". Someone has changed that out, because it couldn't have left the factory that way.

So i need to find a bolt body. Shouldn't be too hard with all the people around that upgrade theirs to fancy ones. Got to be an unwanted standard one kicking around somewhere.

[Robinhood]

Yep, new bolt body. Most of that filing on the bolt handle was not required since your new bolt body will push it back .060

[RustyShackle]

This post got me thinking, with those who have had PE issues wouldn't removing material from rear of the body accomplish this? Of course you don't want rearward movement until lugs are out of battery. Hmmm something for me to research!

You might be be able to tig weld on the rear of that bolt body and then machine a new surface, effectively lengthening it.

[rjtfroggy]

If that rifle is truly BRAND NEW even though it is 9 years old I would call Savage and explain the problem and I'm guessing they would recall it and fix the problem.
If not while on the phone just order the right bolt body.

[Robinhood]

This might work but what if a smith tried to regain Primary Extraction by taking .060" of the back end. No fault of savage. The bolt body is the best idea. I dont know what to think of the bolt handle. Might need replacing.

[RustyShackle]

Bummer is that savage quit making the gloss finish =( so getting your hands on a gloss bolt handle will be difficult. There are a handful of options for replacing the bolt body.

[Robinhood]

I think I have a gloss bolt handle or two.
If you put a want to buy in the classifieds I might respond