Ever heard the term "proof testing"? There's no shame if you haven't, because not all firearms manufacturers do it. Savage Arms is one of the companies that does, and it's essentially what it sounds like. It's one of the final inspections that Savage completes before a firearm is boxed up. Basically, Savage puts it through an extensive trip to the range.
This includes firing a proof round through it, along with firing several traditional rounds to ensure that everything functions properly. So what's a proof round? Well, that's is a cartridge that will develop higher-than-normal chamber pressure. The idea is to test the firearm with pressures that you're unlikely to ever experience outside of the test lab, to ensure that the firearm is safe and effective with everything else.
That's not the end of the story. Once the proof test is completed, the firearm is shot again with traditional ammunition to help ensure that everything functions as it should.
Some customers note that their new gun's bolt head looks "dirty," and that's why. Savage says that it's not necessary to clean the bolt head in this condition before you shoot it for the first time. However, if the dirty bolt head bothers you and you want to clean it, simply spray it with a small amount of solvent and use a soft bristle brush to clean it up.
