Gunsmithing Savage cocking piece issue w/bolt lift kit

[MattyZ28]

Okay, I have a Savage Model 10T-SR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I decided to act on some info I had gotten about a bolt lift kit that could, in conjunction with a few other minor adjustments and polishing, improve the bolt lift on my rifle.

My issue is the cocking piece on my rifle does not look like any other Savage Model 10 cocking piece I have seen. Mine has a cocking indicator that sticks out of the back side of the bolt. This, and I am sure many of you are familiar with, kind of puts a damper on using this lift kit.

Is this a new "feature" Savage started adding to their rifles? If so can I order the older style cocking piece? If not, do you guys see any issue with me simply cutting off the tail to allow clearance for the lift kit? I'll attach a photo of the cocking piece.

Hopefully this isn't a brutally beaten dead horse. The search function isn't working well for me on my phone.

 

[hereinaz]

Check out www.savageshooters.com and ask your question there if you can't find the answer. The guys there are great.

Also, pretty sure you can cut the tail on the new style pin and call Savage for a new "old style bolt" without the through hole for that cocking indicator. Or, check Numrich.

Or, you can tap the through hole, and make the contact adjustable for the lift kit. Otherwise, it can require grinding the bolt some.

 

[SIDS01]

Personally, I think those bolt lift kits are a waste of time and money. The longer bolt handle pictured, some smoothing, and just using the rifle bring it down from new. Mine haven't been any worse than any other factory gun new.

I've replaced a similar setup in a long action gun with the older parts. The setup I had used a one piece firing pin and the spring was moved to the cocking indicator tail inside the recessed bolt assembly screw. I replaced the entire firing pin assembly for $25 and the bolt assembly screw for $6 with parts from Midway and Brownells. I needed a longer firing pin to work with a different caliber bolt head.