New Product: High-Quality PT&G Bolt Heads for Savage Bolts
Pacific Tool & Gauge, has an outstanding new product, a precision-machined replacement bolt head for Savages. This product, available in a variety of bolt face sizes for $49.99 per unit, can benefit nearly everyone who shoots Savage bolt guns.
When visiting German Salazar’s excellent Rifleman’s Journal website, we were pleased to see a recent, in-depth review of the PT&G Replacement Bolt Head for Savage Bolts. Written by Norm Darnell, this detailed review explains the benefits of the PT&G replacements, compared to the standard Savage bolt heads. After polishing, the factory bolt head can become slightly dished. According to Darnell: “The area around the firing pin hole sometimes has an indentation deep enough to allow the primer to flow into this void. This makes an unsightly blemish on a fired primer and can lead to hard extraction or worse. One [Savage] rifle I inspected had a continuing problem with pierced primers despite reasonably mild loads[.]” Even after machining the factory bolt face to make it flat, Darnell encountered problems: “The firing pin hole seemed to wear excessively which was of some concern. Material strength of the investment-cast bolt head* appears to be the source of these recurring problems.”
After testing out PT&G replacement bolt heads, Darnell found that his problems were solved. With the PT&G replacement bolt head, “the cartridge case heads and primers indicated no case-head rounding or primer damage”. Darnell was convinced, so he proceeded to fit PT&B bolt heads “on all three of my 308 bolts and one 223 with one spare bolt of each.” It appears that PT&G has a winner here — a smart, affordable new product that remedies a commonly-observed problem with factory Savage bolt heads.
* In the article, author Darnell writes that Savage factory bolt heads are investment cast. Fred Moreo of Sharp Shooter Supply says this is not correct: “Savage bolt heads were NEVER investment cast. From the get-go they were machined from solid stock. In 1988 they went to special profiled 41L40 bar stock to save machining operations and heat treated to 35-42 RC.”
Similar Posts:
- PT&G Replacement Bolt Heads for Savage Bolts
- Rem 700 Replacement Bolts from PT&G
- Primer Cratering Problem? Give Greg Tannel a Call…
- Cure Cratering Issues with a GreTan Firing Pin Hole Bushing Job
- TECH TIP: Beat Primer Craters by Bushing Firing Pin Holes
Share the post "New Product: High-Quality PT&G Bolt Heads for Savage Bolts"
Tags: Bolt Face, Bolt Head, Dave Kiff, Norm Darnell, Primer, PT&G, Savage
Is there a set price yet?
If you are a right handed shooter, like me, and have a Savage LPRB rifle, be sure to order the left side bolt head, that is where the ejector is located. This advice comes from my (in)experience.
Just got off the phone with them…. basically $50 each.
like to try one, question is will the head space need to be reset after the change. thanks al
Savage bolt head at midway… $25
Firing Pin bushing by Tannel…. $82
PTG bolt head with .060 firing pin hole…. $50
Looks like an easy choice!
Of course – just like any time you change *any* component involved with headspace. In theory you could probably get away with not bothering… but its so stinkin’ easy on a Savage, why take the chance?
I agree Monte…..
Also, when I was on the phone with PT&G they told me that they should be fully stocked within the next 5 weeks. Midway has also placed and order with them. I’ve ordered my 6…….
Norm Darnell really needs to check his facts better before writing a sales pitch. Savage bolt heads were NEVER investment cast.From the get go they were machined from solid stock. In 1988 they went to special profiled 41L40 bar stock to save machining operations and heat treated to 35-42 Rc.
Just checked Midway and they do not have any of the PT&G replacement Savage bolt heads as of yet! They have PT&G straight and spiral flute bolt bodies but, no bolt heads yet.