They’re a V thread, at least all the ones I’ve seen (only a half dozen or so).Sounds like a large shank Savage. I don't believe Savage uses a standard V thread but rather a squarish thread like an acme. Hard to see with 20tpi. Take a close look at the old barrel if you have it. Harder to tell from the internal threads. In any event a standard thread will work if you fit it on the tight side.
I've only built one SML based on a Savage action. The donor rifle was a small shank model 111 in 30-06. A local gun shop owner said that it was NOT a standard V-thread on the Savage so I checked it with a jeweler's loupe. The guy was right! The flat is probably 5 times wider than a V-thread which causes the parts to bind until the tread is inadvertently made too loose. I got mine to fit by machining a few thou off the crests on a practice piece until I got a good fit then did the barrel. It's hard to tell with the naked eye (especially my 70 year old eye) but it's plain as day with a loupe.They’re a V thread, at least all the ones I’ve seen (only a half dozen or so).
Thanks for the explanation Derf, I thought I was losing my marbles. The threads looked quite different with those big flats on the crests but I couldn't match they up with any kind of square or ACME thread.They are all v threads, they just have the crest knocked off. I've been doing Savage prefit barrels for over 20 yrs. The last 17 years, I've been using a geometric die head, with 1-1/16"-20 chasers. I can open it up to do 1-1/8"-20. I also made my own thread pitch diameter gauges to check them with. Pay little attention to the specs that Savage provides, as they are not 100% right, and just because the print says one thing, doesn't mean they actually follow it. I was fortunate enough to have 25-30 take off barrels on hand to measure and get mean dimensions to establish tolerance levels.
You did measure the existing thread over wires?To preface, I’ve been threading on a lathe for a few years, without any particular difficulties.
I was attempting to copy the threads on a barrel shank, using the pitch diameter as a reference. When cut to an identical pitch diameter, my threads did not fit the receiver. After reducing the pitch diameter an additional .008”, a good fit was achieved. The threads look perfect, the fit feels great, everything appears to be as it should, except, the pitch diameter.
Things I’ve checked:
Compound at 29.5° (the correct 29.5°), confirmed with bevel protractor.
Tool centered for height.
Tool squared to work.
TPI correct.
Different inserts tried, to same effect (full profile, and simple v)
I realize it is possible that the threads I’m copying are incorrect somehow, but I would like to know what I might be doing wrong.