"problem" with a savage 10fp?

[jr81452]

i just bought a savage 10fp in .308 from a guy on this forum. i took it out to the range yesterday and it shoots really good (one ragged hole at 100 yards no problem). i take it out of the case to clean it and while i am looking at the bolt i see this:





it looks like about .001" of brass fouling has atached itself to the bolt face. i had to stop shooting it at about 45 rounds because the bolt was getting hard to close. inspection of the cases at the range showed a good deal of soot around the case neck so i just thought the chamber was getting to dirty. but looking at this i checked the cases again and found that all of the headstamps are worn a good deal more than they ought to be (this was factory fedGM and hornady ammo) and its still hard to close the bolt after cleaning the chamber with the bolt as shown. so any thoughts as to why this is happening? headspace? chamber walls to smooth? i've got nothing. i've never seen this before. this is alot of brass fouling, as in i can scrape some off with my fingernail

 

[chris allen]

savage

Without knowing to much about your gun and ammo ,I would suggest that the headspacing is alittle tight.Does the bolt s/n match the rifles s/n.
Should have headspace checked.

Chris

 

[jr81452]

thanks for the advice chris. you are quit right the headspace is a bit tight. i just put about 30 factory rounds through the chaber without firing and sure enough the brass has built up on the bolt face again. the bolt numbers match the rifle so i guess i will need to lap the bolt face a few .001" or have my smith adjust the headspace. which do you suggest? laping the face would be cheaper but is it the right solution?

 

[chris allen]

headspace

My suggestion is to have a gunsmith adjust the headspace ,by undoeing the barrel nut and resetting the headspace by turning the barrel the required amount.It will not take much.

If you feel you want to lap the bolt you do not lap the bolt face you lap the rear of the locking lugs of the bolt.From experience I feel you will need more than .001"

Good luck
Chris

 

[Davo]

Just checked mine, and there is a little brass on the bolt head, but not that much, and thats after maybe 200 rounds.
You could swap bolt heads-probably cheaper than a smith. Call Savage and they will take care of it.

 

[jr81452]

got it solved. it was a combo of to little head space and very soft brass. thanks for the help.