Left Port: Is It Safe?

[Phil3]

I really like the Savage right bolt, left port (RBLP) action, but have heard comments by some expressing concern over having your face that close to the port (containing 50,000 psi) of pressure. Of course, that would also be the case to a similar extent with the dual port action from Savage and some custom actions.

Is this concern really legitimate, or if things did blow, would the entire thing just detonate, doing potential harm to the shooter regardless of what side the port was on?

- Phil

[Fjold]

The gas relief hole on the right bolt/left port actions is on the right side, away from a right handed shooters face.

The Savage action is the strongest bolt action of any of the major manufacturers and has better gas handling properties than most. In addition to the gas relief hole in the forward action ring (which most manufacturers have), there is a gas baffle behind the bolt head that fills the bolt raceways and blocks gas and debris from a major failure from coming back along the inside of the action to the shooter and at the rear of the bolt there is a second gas baffle that protects the shooter's face from gases leaking down the inside of the bolt.

[Phil3]

I am impressed with your knowledge of the Savage action. Would appear then it is quite safe. - Phil