Can someone explain the barrel nut on Savage bolt action

JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Can someone explain how the barrel nut on Savage bolt action receivers are used to easily set the head space?
I know a few bench rest shooters on my range that swear by the Savage Nut system....When their barrel throats wear they order a new custom barrel and quickly set up their rifles to shooting machine?
Just trying to understand!
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
It's a jam nut like a tie rod on a car uses. Think "adjustable barrel shoulder". Screw the barrel down on a go gauge, screw the nut down to the receiver face, install the barrel in a barrel vise, install an action wrench on the receiver and hold it while you torque the nut with a special spanner wrench. If the thread crush pulled the headspace too far, mark the barrel and receiver, loosen the nut, crank the barrel in slightly (do the math on thread pitch and revolution, use a degree wheel to index the barrel) and retorque.
 
JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I had an Idea that is how it worked...But this was a great explanation! So It is quite a bit easier then barreling a standard action?
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
No lathe required to thread the tenon or face the breech end, shoulder, or to ream the chamber. Pre-fit, fully-chambered barrels are widely available in a drop-in configuration or for custom order. All you need to install are headspace gauges and and the wrenches/vise, which can be improvised.
 
Joshua

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
There are more than a few individuals who don’t even use gauges. Just a sized piece of brass and a layer or two of scotch tape across the head stamp. Not really an establishment recommend measuring system, but there are many who swear by it.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Thats What I do myself!! If ya watched my video on my 340 I mention it a few times. I have checked it against a "nogo" and if ya aint ham handed its amazingly close!!

Brass varies so its required!!

Savage barrel nut is a god send!!

CW
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
That works, but.

Tolerances tend to stack rather than normalize. You can make the rifle fit the ammunition, but what about the next guy? Reloading dies are a terrible headspace gauge, as is trying to use resized brass that sprung back ??? much?

If it's a benchrest rifle in a special caliber I can see tweaking the rifle a little, but not with something you can buy ammunition for at Walmart.

If I'm headspacing a firearm I put it as close as I can to the tight side of SAAMI specifications so it will chamber anything and be safe. One exception is my Thunderbolt, I chambered it about .005" short of minimum to be sure of positive primer strikes.....but .45 ACP brass never comes close to .898" anyway.
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
:sigh:I had my barrel nut removed when we rebarrelled the rifle. Someday, I'll get to finish that rifle, I'm having stock issues with it at the moment. This particular rifle needs an exorcist.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Wouldn’t have been a problem had you gone with a stock stock
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
I'm a rifle exorcist. PM for my FFL's address and I'll be happy to relieve you of the afflicted device.
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
I appreciate the offer Ian. So far it has only been fired to verify headspace, and I need to finish repairing the stockmakers issues so I can shoot it. I'll try to get a pic or two up in the next couple of days.

Brad: that's been my stock answer so far...:rofl:
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Bob was unhappy when he took stock of the stock. It wasn’t a stock stock but a custom stock. He will not be investing in the stock makers stock.

He could make one from generic Nebraska cattle and have a stock stock stock.

Face it, he is stock stuck. He told the stock maker to stick his stock.

He could have used it to make a stock clock? It would then be a tick tock stock. That would rock.
 
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358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
Brad said:
Bob was unhappy when he took stock of the stock. It wasn’t a stock stock but a custom stock. He will not be investing in the stock makers stock.

He could make one from generic Nebraska cattle and have a stock stock stock.

Face it, he is stock stuck. He told the stock maker to stick his stock.

He could have used it to make a stock clock? It would then be a tick tock stock. That would rock.
Click to expand...

UNCLE!!! I can't take the pun-ishment!
 
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