Savage 110 experts please...

[stephen492]

Help!

I have an old (like 1980's or earlier old) Savage 110 in .270 that I spun the barrel off and ordered a new barrel and bolt head for. Brand new magnum bolt head from Brownells and a shilen select match barrel in .300WM (prefit).

My problems:

1) The old bolt head has a notch in it (on the shaft) to ensure that one does not install the bolt head backwards. The new bolt head isn't notched. Pretty sure I could just dremel the little dimple inside the bolt body out without issue????

2) The firing pin hole in the new bolt head is too small for the original firing pin. I am wondering if I could simply open up the hole on a drill press and not cause any issues?

If any of you out there have any thoughts or tips, they would be sincerely appreciated. This is my first Savage and the only reason I am doing a project on it is because I have read many times that they are so easy to work on/upgrade. Maybe I should have stuck to the old Remmy 700's.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Jeremy Stephen
Mill Bay, BC

 

[elkhuntr]

Do not dremel the notch. The bolt could be 90degrees off set from todays bolts. Check twice before you mod in any way. I did find an earlier notched bolt for which savage drilled to todays standards. They used up all the built parts in the day until they got into newer versions. I would suggest you look for a long action bolt body on the EE. I thought I saw one for sale on the EE a day or so ago. You can still use all the other bolt parts in the new body. Have a look.

The Firing pin hole can be managed by drilling out the bolt head. Not a big deal and can be done readily using home tools. But do not enter the drill ahead of the gas port. This is a critical point. Set the pin protrusion to 35 thou. And the Bolt spring to 2.600 from castle nut to castle nut. They built them well in the day. In the early days they used ball bearings in the cocking sleeve. My older 110s are much nicer on the lift than todays versions.

If you have already found a stock, good on ya. If not look no farther than a boyds. If you still have the side mag release make sure to not loose the plunger and parts. A good oil finish and you will be golden. And a timney trigger to top off the build will make it a fine tool for your hunting forays. But if you are lucky to have a very early version the trigger is fully adjustable and can be made to break clean with about 3-4lb pull.

Elky...