When I was taking down my Savage Model 10, I noticed that there's a hair-line fracture in the front bolt baffle.
In the piece there's bit that fits around the bolt, and then a bit of an arm that extends back toward the rear of the rifle. The fracture runs across this 'arm' right where it connects to the main portion of the baffle (the best way I can explain it). It appears to run almost entirely through the piece, but is very, very fine, and could easily be missed if you weren't looking closely.
Essentially I have two questions.
1) Is this a safety issue? If I shoot the rifle again before replacing the piece am I putting my life on the line? I feel pretty sure that the answer is no, but could doing so potentially damage the rifle in some other manner?
2) How easily is this piece replaced? Does it require special tools or equipment to do? Or is it something I should pay for? I see the piece is only four bucks, so I'll order it right away, but I'd rather do it myself if it's possible.
On the matter of replacing the barrel. This rifle has the standard barrel, but I want to put something more suitable for long range shooting. A heavier barrel will necessarily be larger. I'm afraid the barrel will no longer be floating, though. I don't like the idea of cutting wood away on the stock, but I could handle doing so. Has anyone done this before?
In the piece there's bit that fits around the bolt, and then a bit of an arm that extends back toward the rear of the rifle. The fracture runs across this 'arm' right where it connects to the main portion of the baffle (the best way I can explain it). It appears to run almost entirely through the piece, but is very, very fine, and could easily be missed if you weren't looking closely.
Essentially I have two questions.
1) Is this a safety issue? If I shoot the rifle again before replacing the piece am I putting my life on the line? I feel pretty sure that the answer is no, but could doing so potentially damage the rifle in some other manner?
2) How easily is this piece replaced? Does it require special tools or equipment to do? Or is it something I should pay for? I see the piece is only four bucks, so I'll order it right away, but I'd rather do it myself if it's possible.
On the matter of replacing the barrel. This rifle has the standard barrel, but I want to put something more suitable for long range shooting. A heavier barrel will necessarily be larger. I'm afraid the barrel will no longer be floating, though. I don't like the idea of cutting wood away on the stock, but I could handle doing so. Has anyone done this before?
