I just got my .300 WSM and am checking it over. The bolt has a ring around the firing pin that looks like a primer dirt ring. Also the extractor has a shiny spot in the usual center where it has to pop over the brass. The barrel has what looks like to me as copper fouling at the muzzle. I have two photos on my computer for you guys to look at if you would please. However I don't know how to post them. I could e-mail them to someone. This is killing me Its a Savage 16 FSS no sights. Would Savage have fired it? Damn it I don't even have ammo or rings for it yet.

PEI Rob,

no doubt they test fired it at the factory. My Cz's all come with a test target with three shots taken at the 100 yard mark. They do not clean them after fireing them either

I saw the same things you describe on a M70 .300 wsm the other day. They could at least give it a clean so you THINK your the first person to fire it hey

PC is correct that most new guns are being test fired before leaving the factory. All my new rifles and handguns were dirty when I bought them. Some items are worst than the others. It is normal and you might as well get used to it from now on. Good luck.

[ 11-14-2002, 08:09: Message edited by: Mingo ]

They are all fired at least once with a heavy overload (proof load) in an effort to verify that the rifle is safe and doesn't have some mysterious defect or some other unsafe condition. The proof mark is then stamped on the barrel and/or receiver to show this has been done.

I doubt that many US manufactured rifles get fired more than once. I like the test targets furnished with most European rifles. You see sort of what you are getting and the tester probably would have noted and/or corrected any feeding, extraction, or ejection problems. Plateau Hunter

I'm sure Savage did fire it - that way they know you're getting a safe gun that works as it's supposed to. This is common, I've found powder residue in most of the new rifles I've purchased over the years. Regards, Guy

As has already been stated above, Savage has fired the rifle at the factory. It has been practice to fire a minimum of three (3) high pressure proof loads through a rifle for years. Pistols also get fired, but I do not believe that the majority get "blue pills", just standard loads.

Manufactures are already experiencing a "raft of crap" with lawsuites. They would not skip this procedure before, so i don't believe they will stop proofing their firearms in the future.

Regards,

Eric

I was watching an outdoor show not to long ago that had one of the writers touring the Savage factory. He followed a rifle all the way through production, including the proof firing. They claimed on that show that they proof fire every rifle.

Barry

I would rather the gun blew up at the factory than in my arms!

Where can i sign up for that proof firing job? Endless rifles and ammo? Hell ill volunteer my time for that.

I doubt you'd like that job. Think of putting the barrled action, minus all the superfluous bits in a steel box, wheeling the box up to a snail pulling a lanyard.

Not exactly shooting. Don't know of anyone who pops three proof loads. Those I've spoken to do just one. It is 85,000+ psi after all. And the primers smoke the bolts sometimes. SAAMI proof loads are constructed by certified ammunition makers. Black Hills is one. I would NEVER want to pop one of these things in a rifle I held in my hands.

At MRC, we have a barrel stub (15" long) mounted in a box constructed of 1/2 steel plate. The chamber end of the barrel is threaded two inches forward of the receiver and we use a barrel nut not unlike the savage. The other end protrudes out of the box about 10 inches. The receiver is threaded onto the barrel stub until the proper headspace is achieved. Then the nut is locked against the receiver face. A proof load of 270win (highest .473 bolt face proof there is) or 300win is loaded, depending on action bolt face. The box is closed and locked. This thing sits on an engine stand. It is wheeled up to our snail (which can take .460 Weatherby) and triggered by a lanyard.

The action is measured for headspace deviation and electo-engraved if all is well. This is called slave-proofing.

If something went really bad, the armored box SHOULD contain the results. If you still want this job, send in an application

OK then, but not knowing this I wasn't impressed. I did look for a test target, I couldn't figure why anyone would shoot it with nothing to aim with. This one had no scope mount marks but it looks like about 20 rounds went through it. Obvious primer smoke ring, extractor mark and lots of copper fouling. The bolt face also looks as though it had a HOT HOT load in it because of a shiny dent ring the diameter of a case head. I had no idea they proof test, maybe they should have made a note in the paperwork to explain such a crappy presentation.

While I'm here, can I dremel the synthetic stock to float it better? It isn't very stong at the end to put it mildly and will touch the barrel just holding it.

PEI ROB,

They're not trying to hit anything with that proof load. Who cares where that bullet goes. (as long as it goes down the range somewhere). It's just to test the strength of the action to make sure YOU don't end up perforated if something were wrong.

Yeah, maybe they could have run a brush through it or something to clean it up a bit before it goes out the door. But I wouldn't worry about it. Clean it, shoot it, and enjoy your new rifle.

Barry

Rob, I just went to pick up my own 300 WSM Savage (delayed -- again, gotta go get that CCL).

Anyway, yup, pretty nice black ring around the firing pin hole. They must have put one through there that was SMOKING!

Anyway, is yours a CRF bolt head, too? Mine's different from any Savage bolt head I've ever seen. I wonder if they did that to make them feed those short stubbies? Dutch.

CRF yep. Still scrubbing that ring. There is another thread about CRF and I think there is pictures too The trigger has almost NO creep so I'll leave it alone. However the stock sucks. On the topic "A Discussion with Winchester's Custom Shop" the guys are noting original stock quality or the lack of it. Tupperware for sure but for $600 CDN what can you expect. Had to float it too. Just trying to be frugal here but what can we do with these toy stocks? 4 lbs of bedding compound?

I think the most economical way to get the "tupperware" stocks working well is with aluminum pillars. they don't cost much (and are really easy to make), are easy to install, and will salvage whatever use you can get out of POS (Plastic Or Something) stocks. FWIW - Dan

There are only a few options as far as Savage stocks go. I am hearing a lot of good reports about the Bell and Carlson Duramax stock (for a little over $100). The Sharp Shooters Supply (also see Lock, Stock and Barrel) stocks are better, molded plastic over fiberglass over an aluminum frame, but they are more pricey, unless you buy the Out of The Mold.

Of course, you can go the McMillan route, but I have neither the money, or the patience, or HS Precision, who aren't cheap, either. HTH, Dutch.