Quote Originally Posted by zedsdead
I bought a used Savage a while back chambered in 223AI. It is a blued long action single shot (solid bottom) action. I do not see any numbers stamped on it but was told it was a 116 by a guy at the range.

Problem #1: The original bolt head (223) is longer, although the length difference between the bolt heads does not seem to be a hindering factor as the distance from the back of the lugs to the center of the retaining pin is the same on both bolt heads. It also has a notch cut into the part that inserts into the bolt body. There is a small indention on the outside of the bolt body that looks like it was done with a mechanical punch. This caused an protrusion on the inside of the bolt body. The notch in the 223 bolt head allows it to get past the protrusion on the inside of the bolt body. The 308 bolt head does not have a notch cut into it so it will not fit into the bolt body.

Problem #2: The firing pin will not fit into the new (308) bolt head. The part that strikes the firing pin fits but the step-up section is not even close. The measurements on my firing pin are .067 on the small end and .140 on the step-up section.

Anyone know off the top of their head what I've got here? I want to have the option of switching barrels back and forth in the future. What do I need to be able to do so? Sorry for the long post, I just want to make sure I don't end up with something I don't need or with something I don't. Thanks in advance for any help.

Jason

OK,lets take one thing at a time.

"I bought a used Savage a while back chambered in 223AI."

The bolthead in that case would have a .378" bolt face.

"was told it was a 116 by a guy at the range"

A 116 would be a stainless long action with a 5.062" screw spacing.

"It also has a notch cut into the part that inserts into the bolt body. There is a small indention on the outside of the bolt body that looks like it was done with a mechanical punch."

At one time the bolt head shafts were "keyed" to prevent installing it 180 out. The indentation is the "key" that corresponds to the slot in the bolt head shaft. The newer bolt heads - bolt bodies are not keyed.


"Problem #2: The firing pin will not fit into the new (308) bolt head. "

The newer firing pins are .095" in diameter , the old pins were .140", the portion of the forward the adjustment nut to the point its stepped down to .068" on both diameter pins. In addition to the smaller pin diameter the pass through hole in bolthead retaining pin was also reduced. The the smaller diameters are used to add some "meat" and increase the strength of the retaining pin.


Now what confuses me somewhat, I'm not aware of any model 116s having a .140" pin and the keyed bolthead.

Just a guess, but I'm thinking you have is whats refereed to as a "J" action with the 4.522" screw spacing. It a single shot (solid bottom, no mag cutout.), keyed bolthead, .140" pin and a 11x action with a .378" bolthead.

If you could take some measurements( bolt body length and action screw spacing) and take a few picture and post them. I would help us identify what you have.

Bill