Switch barrel action

[Camus]

[ar15barrels]

Almost any action can be used for a switch barrel.
Some actions are MUCH BETTER though.

The best actions to use as a switch barrel will have a fixed recoil lug.
These will include things like a Winchester Model 70, Howa 1500 or even your 1903a3.
Ideally, the action should not have a controlled feed extractor that needs a timed extractor cut, but that can be dealt with by widening the extractor cut to allow more space for variation in timing when the barrel is torqued into the receiver.

Howa 1500 does not neen an extractor cut so it would be my top choice unless you go to a much more expensive custom action based on the 700 fotprint:


Winchester Model 70 has a fixed lug, but also needs an extractor cut in the barrel:


1903a3 has a fixed lug, but also needs an extractor cut in the barrel:


Mauser 98 has a fixed lug and controlled feed, but no extractor cut in the barrel because the reciever has the extractor clearance:


The Remington 700 design does not have a fixed recoil lug so it's common to pin the lug to the action so that it will stay in the same place each time you swap barrels.

Pinned 700 lug and action:


The two pins keep the lug clocked to the reciever as the barrel is tightened into place.

Top quality 700 clone actions like a Surgeon have the recoil lug and the scope rail built into the reciever as one piece.
The integral scope base on a Surgeon acts as a bridge to stiffen the action, making for a very accurate rifle:

[pacrat]

Mauser 98 has a fixed lug and controlled feed, but no extractor cut in the barrel because the reciever has the extractor clearance:

Except for those pesky "safety breech" Yugo 98s.

[Camus]

Ar15barrels any chance you are a gunsmith in the Northern California area?

[ar15barrels]

Except for those pesky "safety breech" Yugo 98s.

Hence they are not a standard 98...

[ar15barrels]

Ar15barrels any chance you are a gunsmith in the Northern California area?

I am in Los Angeles.
People drive down to me from northern California all the time though.
I do the work while you wait if you schedule an appointment to come over.

[bombadillo]

And he's the BEST in the business if you ask most guys on CG forums.

[Camus]

Ar15barrels pm sent

[fguffey]

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I’m gathering the gear for a switch barrel rifle. I have the barrels and reamer but I can’t find a list of confirmed actions I can use for this project. I’ve heard stuff about extractors and pinning the barrel lug. I have an old 1903a3 donor action I’d like to use but do not know if it is viable for this project. Any insight is valuable and much appreciated.

I purchased 4 rifles that were advertised as suspect. I stripped the receivers and used one barrel and one bolt to test all 4 receivers. There was not more than .001" difference in the length of the chambers from the datum (375") to the bolt face. Going the other way with one receiver/bolt and 4 barrels all I would have to do is match the case head protrusion.

The case head protrusion on the barrel I used to test the 4 receivers with was .110". Clearance has to be added to the .110".

F. Guffey

[bug_eyedmonster]

OP,

I currently have a switch barrel build in the works at a local rifle builder in San Jose. The shop name is Spartan Precision, and the builder's name is Marc Soulie. He just finished a switch barrel build, and it might still be there to check out if you catch him fast enough (he is shipping it out soon IIRC).

https://spartanrifles.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SpartanPrecisionRifles/