Savage model 16 bolt replacement/build

[Agriffin77]

Question what are my options for changing the bolt face for a 300 wsm to like a 308? Just get new bolt or can I just change parts on the bolt?

 

[Dgd6mm]

The .308 is a .473 boltface. I forget what the wsm boltface is, something like .532.I believe your wsm barrel will be a large shank, so if you go .308 based cartridge you will need to get another large shank barrel. If you wanted to buy a new bolt The Gun Shack out of Texas may have them.

 

[dwm]

Do you have the Savage 300WSM controlled round feed or push feed bolt head? The controlled round bolt head will have a standing ejector in the action. You will have to remove it if you are converting from controlled round feed to push feed bolt head.

You can go to this link, put in the Savage serial number, and it will give you the part numbers of all the parts on your rifle.

http://https://store.savagearms.com/partfinder

MidwayUSA.com and Numrich sell Savage parts (http://https://www.gunpartscorp.com/), or you can buy the entire bolt directly from Savage if you want. Savage will ask you to sign a release form and send it back though before they will sell you bolt parts.

If you buy an entire bolt or bolt head make sure you buy an extractor, extractor ball,and extractor spring and an ejector and ejector spring. New Savage bolt heads generally do not come with these parts. You will have to install them.

Gun Shack sells a nice kit (http://http://www.gunshack.com/savage-parts/savage-bolt-head/savage-bolt-head-parts) with all the small parts for your bolt head and bolt heads.

I needed to replace one of my model 16 WSM bolt heads and firing pin assembly. Firing pin was piercing primers and the blow back damaged the firing pin and enlarged firing pin hole in the bolt head. I bought the parts from Savage as they were out of stock everywhere else.

 

[Agriffin77]

thanks for all the great info! learning new stuff every day.

 

[geargrinder]

All the advice given is good stuff.

You'll also need to address the firing pin assembly. The pin length are different between the short magnums and all the others.

A complete assembly is pretty cheap and is the way to go if you are also ordering a bolt head.

 

[dwm]

FYI,

PTG makes Savage bolt heads and bolt bodies. They looks like good parts, but I have never tried one.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/929909/ptg-bolt-head-savage-10-series-308-bolt-face-right-hand

If you are going to mess around with a Savage bolt you may want to consider a bolt handle upgrade, these are cheap and very easy to install. Sure beats the factory bolt handle. This is the factory Savage large bolt handle.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1778193602/savage-arms-1-piece-bolt-handle-assembly-savage-10-110-large-knob-steel

There are several Savage bolt handles available, you can search the web and find most of them. (Brownells, MidwayUSA, Sharpshooter Supply, etc)

If you like the longer tactical bolt handles southernordnancesales makes some really nice ones. So far the only place I can find them is on EBAY though. My favorite:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-Tactical-bolt-handle-RH-CNC-Machined-Oversized-tactical-knob-/252142599169?hash=item3ab4debc01&_sid=2048038

http://xtremehardcoregear.com/SAVAGE_BOLT_HANDLES.html

 

[dwm]

My links are messed up in my first reply, so here goes ...

Do you have the Savage 300WSM controlled round feed or push feed bolt head? The controlled round bolt head will have a standing ejector in the action. You will have to remove it if you are converting from controlled round feed to push feed bolt head.

You can go to this link, put in the Savage serial number, and it will give you the part numbers of all the parts on your rifle.

https://store.savagearms.com/partfinder

MidwayUSA.com and Numrich sell Savage parts (https://www.gunpartscorp.com/), or you can buy the entire bolt directly from Savage if you want. Savage will ask you to sign a release form and send it back though before they will sell you bolt parts.

If you buy an entire bolt or bolt head make sure you buy an extractor, extractor ball,and extractor spring and an ejector and ejector spring. New Savage bolt heads generally do not come with these parts. You will have to install them.

Gun Shack sells a nice kit (http://www.gunshack.com/savage-parts/savage-bolt-head/savage-bolt-head-parts]) with all the small parts for your bolt head and bolt heads.

I needed to replace one of my model 16 WSM bolt heads and firing pin assembly. Firing pin was piercing primers and the blow back damaged the firing pin and enlarged firing pin hole in the bolt head. I bought the parts from Savage as they were out of stock everywhere else.

 

[Rustystud]

When replacing any bolt parts, one should check the headspace with both a Go and No Go Gauge.

When replacing bolt bodies and bolt handles the primary extraction needs to be checked and adjusted. Most aftermarket parts are made long. Easier to shorten them than lengthen them.

Savage bolts should be timed so the cocking piece pin does not bottom out on the bolt body. The firing pin should strike the primer and the firing pin stop should strike the bolt head.

Nat Lambeth