How do I get my new bolt to run smooth and slick?

[bassnailer]

LOL! Like the above says, polish ‘er up! What exactly is it you feel? Beginning/end of travel? The entire actuation? Are you by any chance confusing stiff bolt lift?

If it’s just general grittiness you feel, I would do like WMD recommends. Perhaps has some flashing on edges.

Yes, just general grittiness. It's the interface between the bolt head and action on the tang end. It smooths up about an inch or so before going into battery and locks up tight and smooth when closing the bolt. I don't believe it affects function or accuracy in a negative way, I am just particular about things and want it to run smooth like my older one. So, to polish, would a Dremel with a cloth buffing wheel and Mothers wheel polish (the same way I do all my trigger contact surfaces on a new gun) be the appropriate tool?

[Robinhood]

If you have a way to break the bolt rear entry port angles it can make a improvement. Low angle is good. Jewlers files help are what I use.

Also a MDT Diamond Whetstone in Red or green slid back and forth on the bolt raceway will knock down rough machining ridges if there are any.

https://www.dmtonlinestore.com/4-Dia...ne-P41C11.aspx

That combination is the best you can do without buying a larger diameter bolt body. Fluted bolt bodies will make it significantly worse unless it is the type of fluting Fred Moreo does/did on the ones he sold.

The toothpaste may buy you something but I don't have any experience with that. I know it works wonders on a Ruger American.

[Orezona]

MDT Diamond Whetstone in Red or green slid back and forth on the bolt raceway will knock down rough machining ridges if there are any.

^^ I did this to my 116 WW. It cleaned up pretty good.

My Model 10 223, I took a buffer wheel on a Dremel to to the bolt body. I won't post pics or pretend to be an expert but it worked. It is possible the surface on the bolt body is nasty where the cocking pin rides. I used my imagination and buffed it.

[bassnailer]

^^ I did this to my 116 WW. It cleaned up pretty good.

My Model 10 223, I took a buffer wheel on a Dremel to to the bolt body. I won't post pics or pretend to be an expert but it worked. It is possible the surface on the bolt body is nasty where the cocking pin rides. I used my imagination and buffed it.

I pulled the bolt out of the receiver to see about polishing the rails, and saw that the machining on the inside of the receiver is horrible. The scratches are deep enough that they will snag your fingernail and they have transferred to the bolt head (which also now has scratches deep enough to snag your fingernail). This rifle has never been fired, bought new at Cabela's a week ago. I am emailing savage with this photo; surely this is a defect. The inside of my other Model 12 is smooth as glass.

[mikeinco]

or you could by a stiller action and bypass fixing the rifle you bought.
ouch
just saying

[ninner]

I pulled the bolt out of the receiver to see about polishing the rails, and saw that the machining on the inside of the receiver is horrible. The scratches are deep enough that they will snag your fingernail and they have transferred to the bolt head (which also now has scratches deep enough to snag your fingernail). This rifle has never been fired, bought new at Cabela's a week ago. I am emailing savage with this photo; surely this is a defect. The inside of my other Model 12 is smooth as glass.

It shouldn’t be like that but you didn’t inspect it?


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[Bill2905]

I pulled the bolt out of the receiver to see about polishing the rails, and saw that the machining on the inside of the receiver is horrible. The scratches are deep enough that they will snag your fingernail and they have transferred to the bolt head (which also now has scratches deep enough to snag your fingernail). This rifle has never been fired, bought new at Cabela's a week ago. I am emailing savage with this photo; surely this is a defect. The inside of my other Model 12 is smooth as glass.

When I bought my 12FV, they brought one from the the store room in back and I asked to see it before they started the paperwork. The bolt was rough and nasty so I asked them to bring me another one. The second one was just as bad so I ended up buying the display model which was pretty smooth. I'm a Savage fan but, their fit and finish sometimes leaves something to be desired.

[celltech]

I pulled the bolt out of the receiver to see about polishing the rails, and saw that the machining on the inside of the receiver is horrible. The scratches are deep enough that they will snag your fingernail and they have transferred to the bolt head (which also now has scratches deep enough to snag your fingernail). This rifle has never been fired, bought new at Cabela's a week ago. I am emailing savage with this photo; surely this is a defect. The inside of my other Model 12 is smooth as glass.

One of the last 12FVs I got looked like yours and was the least smooth of the many I have bought. I just lived with it and polished the rail with a whetstone and ran a JB paste coated bolt through it a zillion times. It continues to get smoother as I shoot. Don't know why I never complained to Savage...but it was only $220 after the rebate and discounts.