Pacific Tool and Gauge replacement Bolt-Face installation - what needs to be done?

S

ShootingNewbie

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 97.7%
43   1   0
Location
Vancouver Island
Hi - I was hoping to get some advice from someone who has been there/done that already...

I just received a PTG replacement bolt-face for a Savage Short Action in .223, and it came with a note which reads as follows.

-----start of text from note-----
Warning - Gunsmithing Required!
These parts are NOT "drop-ins" and WILL require gunsmith attention! If you use all your original Remington parts it will be necessary for a competent gunsmith to fit the bolt's locking lugs, which requires the removal of a small amount of material from the back side of the locking lugs, and also to set head-space to ensure safe operation.
-----end of text from note-----

I'm surprised that the note references Remington on what should be a Savage-specific part.

So, two questions:
- is this machining necessary for installation on a Savage (given that the Savage bolt-head is floating, and the Remington isn't), and
- what exactly do I ask the gunsmith to do - would the above text be enough instruction for the gunsmith to proceed with, or ?

Thanks in advance,
Adam
 
My guess is if you were using the original barrel and action set up and head spaced correctly... and only using these PTG parts to replace the factory parts - they may need to be fitted...

I would ask PTG...
 
re: asking P.T.G.: we're on the same page. I've already sent off an e-mail to PTG; looking forward to hearing what they say as well.

I did a test fit with the new bolt-face on the existing bolt and tried it in the action: it appears that only one of the bolt lugs is engaging the action lugs (put some soft pencil on the forward face of the action lugs, and the pencil marks on the top action lug are untouched), so it looks like some truing work will be required regardless to get full engagement.

Note: it's a brand new action and barrel, and I've got the correct go/no-go head-space gauges for it, but I don't want to head-space it until I'm sure the bolt/action are good to go.

I'm also wondering a bit about the extractor spring hole on the PTG head - the hole on the new bolt-face for the ball and spring is quite a bit smaller than the original bolt-face, making the movement of the ball a lot less smooth. I would think that this could be remedied by either installing a smaller-diameter spring or by enlarging the hole that the spring sits in; has anyone else encountered this?

Thanks,
Adam
 
Last edited:
ShootingNewbie said:
I'm also wondering a bit about the extractor spring hole on the PTG head - the hole on the new bolt-face for the ball and spring is quite a bit smaller than the original bolt-face, making the movement of the ball a lot less smooth. I would think that this could be remedied by either installing a smaller-diameter spring or by enlarging the hole that the spring sits in; has anyone else encountered this?
Click to expand...

I recall a while ago that a fix for some extraction problems on the Savage was to replace the extractor detent ball from the stock 0.125" to a 0.140" ball to eliminate slop in the extractor I think ..... I'm guessing the smaller hole in the PTG bolt head is doing the same thing, eliminating slop, but still retaining the stock 0.125" detent ball diameter.

I'd leave it alone till you try it out and see how it works.

As for the locking lug engagement, I thought Savage's floating bolt head design was supposed to eliminate any real need for lug trueing .... did you try your engagement test using a dummy cartridge ?

Hope you get it figured out !

:cheers:
 
The floating head isn't a magic head, it needs to feel resistance to align.
Install the barrel lightly against a closed bolt with the barrel touching the bolt head.
Try the go gauge, the bolt should not close, not even close.
Unthread the barrel about 1/2 turn [.025"] and try again, it should close.
You should be able to turn it in about 1/4 turn.
If relatively close, install the barrel and try it.

As said, try the extractor their way first.
 
It appears that the extractor for a .223 boltface is a bit different size (larger, surprisingly) than the one for the .308 bolt face. Tried one from an old Savage .223 I had and the extractor is working nice and smoothly now. I suspect the difference is due to a smaller detent for the ball on the bottom of the .223 extractor - have now ordered a .223 extractor kit for the new build.

I'll try the barrel/boltface fit again in a few days, and if all looks good, may get it to the range this weekend. Weather/work/SigOth permitting...

Thanks to all for their feedback.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom