Rifle with Swappable Barrels

cactusjack

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Jan 3, 2021
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31
Location
Maryland
Does anybody have a rifle for which they have more than one caliber barrel they switch out? For instance, 7PRC and 300PRC barrels for one action. Does it work well? Technical issues?

Thanks!
 
I have some switch barrel rifles. I find I don't often switch the barrels.
I have a 308/22BR, a 7-08/6.5-08/308, a 223 AI 9 t/223AI 7 t. But as stated, I haven't switched barrels in years. I think that it is just as well to buy dedicated caliber rifles.
 
I have a couple switch barrels rifles as well, a bighorn origin and an Accuracy International. I dont swap barrels around very often the biggest benefit is being able to buy prefits.

Seems when I set a rifle up I'll keep it that way until I get tried of that caliber or I drew a tag that requires a different caliber.
 
I watched a video from Barbour Creek with I believe it's their Fusion rifle…I was impressed! Their website has details in on it. I can try and post a link to the video. I can't remember what all caliber they offer. I don't have any affiliation, but figured I'd plug them because they're on here as well and I believe are good folks. I do like their content as well.
 
I am having a rifle built that is for fire-forming only. Being set by a gunsmith for 2 califbers presently. It's not that hard, but with the rifles I use in the field I don't change barrels. So in some ways it's interesting, may exten the barrel life on your hunting rifle. The other is I by the reamer for those action. I wish I have had started that a long time ago in purchasing the reamers. The reason for having rifle that I can fire-form my cases, is having fire-form case as much as 3 time to get it form. That's 3 less time in my rifle. Probable all I going to get 500 shots before having to rework the chamber. That fine. The example is I fire-form 50 case x 3= 150 times down the tube. I feel it will take me at least 100 firing to figure out a load for that rifle. That doesn't leave many firing left before the rifle has to be rechambering. Then some new load checking again. That is all find and dandy. Rifles are going to be used in high a volume shooting.
 
I have a Zermatt origin long action that I shoot a 300 win mag barrel and swap out to a 6.5 prc barrel. I haven't had any issues. My barrel vice is mounted onto a trailer hitch so I can swap barrels out in less than 5 mins. Pre-fit barrels Make things nice, proof research and preferred barrels are two that can be ordered easily or have a GS do one one whatever blank you want.
 
I have a Zermatt origin long action that I shoot a 300 win mag barrel and swap out to a 6.5 prc barrel. I haven't had any issues. My barrel vice is mounted onto a trailer hitch so I can swap barrels out in less than 5 mins. Pre-fit barrels Make things nice, proof research and preferred barrels are two that can be ordered easily or have a GS do one one whatever blank you want.
I am not really up on 6.5 PRC cases. I guessing tha the base is the same. Other than that I don't see why not.
 
I switch barrels, scopes, & stocks all the time. Just make notes for scope settings, & you'll be pretty close, but you'll still need to confirm.
All but two rifles I own have multiple barrels and stocks.

I build off of a "Platform", a platform being a Trigger, action, rings and Scope. Caliber(barrels) are swapped, sometimes stocks.

It is a lot less expensive to have a rack full of barrels vs a rack full of rifles

For shouldered barrels using the same recoil lug, POI does not vary much between the barrels.

Swapping barrels is WAY beyond the scope of most shooters, , and this is a crying shame..

I would be concerned about post #12 damaging the scope internals. I use a torque wrench set at 80 foot/lbs to get a consistent seat of the barrel shoulder on the action. Threads do have an elastic limit where they will stretch.

If you have your barrel channel inletted to the same dia as the barrel shank, you can remove the barrel like you see in post #12. I change out barrels, never remove the scope or stock, but I do it gently so the scope internals are not damaged....4 different calibers on one action/stock/scope, and Trigger.

When I was shooting p. dogs a lot, a barrel vise was welded on the grill guard of my truck. I bore sighted on a p. dog.
 
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I am selling my Kratos action and buying a Zeus QC so I can use the action on another stock bedded for a Zeus and an EH1 I ordered with a shorter LOP for my sons. I plan on having two or three barrels for it. In the past I hesitated because of having to change the zero on the scope, but having multiple barrels on one action will save me money.
 

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