What say you oh guru's of the barrel nut? Is it all gimmick like I've been hearing? Or is there some validity to a Large Shank action with high pressure rounds? Lets hear it. I will be back to stir the pot every so often. Mind you this is for my education and curiosity only.
I don't consider myself a Guru, but I do have an opinion based on experiences.
The barrel nut is not a gimmick, It is a means of Quick assembly at the factory.
Most factories have a way of headspacing fast and this is just one method.
It is also a good way to head space consistantly if done by an expert.
The trouble in my mind with it is that they are not always assembled by an expert and the
additional threads add to the possibility of poor alignment of all of the action and barrel
parts.
I prefer to shoulder the barrel and make it up without the nut. (I think it looks better and
definitely more consistant rifle to rifle.
Note : It is not designed to be able to switch barrels indiscriminately. The factory is even starting
to make the barrel nuts with no wrench flats to prevent this.
On the shank issue - The larger the shank the better the support for large powerful cartriges. The
chamber allways expands upon firing. The amount depends on the shank size.
This expansion is what causes the brass extraction problems when high pressure loads
are used because the chamber returns to its original size and the brass has yielded and does not.
A larger shank will minimize this in powerful cartriges. "Size does matter".
J E CUSTOM
