Savage Barrel Lock Nut Cracked

[Will Field]

Barrel lock nut on Savage 110 in 7mm REm Mag has cracked all the way through from front to rear (directly on the bottom of the barrel - lines up with small space in recoil lug).  It and the barrel are still tight and rifle shot fine the last time it was fired. Is this a common problem, what can cause this and what is the best course of action to get corrected? thanks
Will

[John Traveler]

The cracked barrel locking nut on your Savage rifle is a BIG "UH OH!"

Bolt action rifle barrel tension is typically close to 100 lb-ft.  What that means is, it is NOT safe to continue firing that rifle in the condition you described.

The barrel may be held in place with thread sealant, which is certainly not enough to keep it tight to the action.  It needs qualified gunmith attention, PRONTO!

[gunnut69]

Yes sir the barrel lock nut needs replacing.. It's not all that uncommon but is still sort of unusual..  The Savage rifles are usually fairly trouble free..  Should be just a matter of replacing the nut and assuring the headspace hasn't moved..  good luck from the gunnut69

[wildman]

You need to give the folks at Savage a call concerning this.  I was at the range last year, when a guy shooting a Savage 110 bolt action starting talking rifle mumbo jumbo to me.  He was telling me of the exact same thing that happened to his rifle, and said Savage fixed it free of charge.  I do believe he said he had to pay shipping to Savage to have it done.  This shouldn't be a problem for you, as you can ship your firearm back to the manufacturer and also receive the repaired firearm from them without having to involve and pay a ffl to do it for you.  Also, if there's anything else wrong, they should be able to remedy it. :money:

[gunnut69]

On Savage rifles the barrel nut is simply a jamb nut.  The barrel is screwed into the action against a headspace guage and the barrel nut is tightened down with a wrench..  If one gets a bit heavy handed these rather thin nuts with wrench grooves all around will stress fracture, especially if the receiver ring face is not perfectly square to the barrel threads...  If you send it back Savage will indeed fix it free, but there will be a shipping and insurance charge.  Perhaps a local smith can contact Savage, get the replacement nut and repair it for you for less??  Good luck from the gunnut69

[WW1]

hi I just want to put in my 2 cents worth...Savage will not work on any of the rifles built before the company was sold..if memory servs me right that was in 91, but could be wrong on this...I have several and wanted an older one rebarreled to 260 rem...they asked for a serial number and I was told there were service placesthat had parts that could do the job...
now they will seel you the parts, as most are the same, butthey said that with all the lawsuits going on, that if they worked on a gun made before they took over, it would be admitting they had a responsibility for the rifle...wish I could remember the serial number range, but it seems it is somewhere on the Savage web site...as I say they will sell you a barrel nut or you can get them from Midway, who carries the parts needed for changing barrels on the Savage...anyway hope this helps...Rob

[gunnut69]

The rifle still needs the headspace checked when that barrel nut is replaced.  It's not that much of a job to do but it should be checked to assure the barrel hasn't moved since the jam nut broke.  Which it probably hasn't..  These are quite good rifles and Savage service has always been good when I needed them.  Contact them directly just to be sure the situation hasn't changed.  Usually when a company changes hands it's previous liabilities are part of the deal.  Savage should fix the barrel nut since letting the rifle go the way it is would surely be dangerous...  Call and ask..