Got the 416 barrel, dies, bullets etc for a conversion of a tired old 110 25-06 (oh the game THAT rifle has taken!) to the thumper 416. I searched all the past posts on this project and got some great info. I ordered a magnum bolt face from midway and of course ran into trouble. First the firing pin holes are too small (which I knew was a possibility from other posts.) Second, the bolt I received has no cut out at the rear portion of the bolt head to fit into the notch on the inside of the bolt body which serves to align the bolt head correctly. I understand the older bolts did not have this notch. Question 1: can I simply drill out the bolt head to accept the larger diameter firing pin (in other words, is the firing pin travel regulated by the pin or is there a limiter within the bolt head that I need to be careful of.) And Second: Can I simply grind away the protrusion on the inside of the bolt to allow the new head to fit or will this unduly weaken the bolt? It appears that Savage, true to form, simply punched this protrusion into the bolt and milling it away may leave a hole in the bolt body. The picture of the bolt head I was SUPPOSED to have gotten from the good folks at Midway shows the notch in the bolthead so I may simply have gotten the incorrect part. I would be willing to do some work to what I have to get the rig shooting sooner if it is possible. To any of you who are still with me after this rambling, thanks in advance for the advice.

when I trued up and squared my 110 varmiter prior to getting a new hart barrel, I found the the bolt head was to wobbly in the bolt body. I made a new bolt head from scratch...but its been so long I dont remember the details. Mine is about 20 years old already, but I am thinking (at work now) that there was a feature that kept the bolt from binding, and it may have been the slot you say is missing in yours....I could recheck my bolt at home if you dont get an answer. I would think that if the firing pin was designed so the travel was stopped at the fron of the firing pin, it would have to be a large square shoulder on the pin preventing further travel into that bolt head...if it wasnt then you would beat down the bolt head and the shoulder on the pin....but I dont remember if the stop was farther back on the assybly. which would make opening the hole up an easy task....dont you have the firing pin out?........if you need me to check let me know....bob

Give Fred a call at Sharpshooters Supply: 419 695 3179. He'll get it straightened out for you. HTH, Dutch.