Is switching barrels between actions possible?

[HK Dave]

Howdy folks, curious about bolt action barrels and the ability to switch them from action to action.

I have a Surgeon 591/R action with a Bartlein barrel installed. Is it possible to simply to remove that barrel and slap it on my Rem 700 action?

I suppose what i'm asking is, are the barrel threads common from rifle to rifle?

Thanks

[gunboat]

"Are the barrel threads common from rifle to rifle" --- No --

[spamsucker]

apart from the thread pitch and size issue there's also a thing called headspacing. If you don't know what it is, you need to go read up. Simple stuff but you might as well have the complete picture.

[kcstott]

Your rifle has the same threads as a Rem 700 but that is not all the needs to be the same.

The actions are not head spaced to the same dimension. So if the barrel was mounted to the Remington and it head spaced long i.e. too loose, then there is really not much you can do. The barrel would need to be set back and the chamber re reamed to correct headspace.

If the barrel was mounted and the head space came up short you could in theory just run a reamer through it to correct the head space. I say "in theory" because no two reamers cut the same and you will most likely have a bit of a step or mis match in the chamber


Now all that work in any case would cost the same or more then having a new barrel made for your action. and once all those changes are made the old barrel will not go on the old action.

[HK Dave]

"Are the barrel threads common from rifle to rifle" --- No --

So much for that plan. Guess i'll have to have my smith spin up a new barrel. :P

Would have been nice if I could have them move my rarely used Bartlein to my rarely used Rem 700 action.

[HK Dave]

Your rifle has the same threads as a Rem 700 but that is not all the needs to be the same.

The actions are not head spaced to the same dimension. So if the barrel was mounted to the Remington and it head spaced long i.e. too loose, then there is really not much you can do. The barrel would need to be set back and the chamber re reamed to correct headspace.

If the barrel was mounted and the head space came up short you could in theory just run a reamer through it to correct the head space. I say "in theory" because no two reamers cut the same and you will most likely have a bit of a step or mis match in the chamber


Now all that work in any case would cost the same or more then having a new barrel made for your action. and once all those changes are made the old barrel will not go on the old action.

Thank you for your answer, now it makes much more sense.

[ElvenSoul]

TC Dimension

[kcstott]

just an FYI Dave

there are very few rifles built with barrels that have spot on perfect repeatable headspace. Which is why there is a tolerance of about .004".006" from good to bad headspace.

Now just to give you a better understanding of whats going on. Not only would both actions have to have the exact same dimension from receiver ring face to bolt face. the threads on the action need to start in exactly the same spot. and that also goes for the barrel. because if the action threads and barrel threads are not timed to be exactly the same. Even though you had a smith machine everything to within .0005" if the threads do not start at exactly the same spot in relation to the receiver ring and shoulder of the barrel. The shoulder can bottom out to early or not at all due to the thread timing

There is however a solution...

Have both rifles set up with Sako/Savage barrel nuts. This will allow you to swap barrels between actions and just rest the headspace with a gage and then tighten the nut.

Few people like the looks of a Sako nut and tend to stay away from them because of that.

[HK Dave]

Thanks for that. After your two explanations, it's become much more obvious why it wouldn't work.

I was just hoping it would be simple so i wouldn't put the Bartlein 308 barrel to waste since i'm pulling it in favor of 6.5 cm barrel on that Surgeon action.

Would have been nice to cut down the 308 barrel and slap it on my rem 700 as an 18" setup for fun.

The look of the Sako barrel nut doesn't bother me at all, but given that it's 308, it'll probably be a rare moment where i need to switch it out given how long it'll last.

[ar15barrels]

I have a Surgeon 591/R action with a Bartlein barrel installed. Is it possible to simply to remove that barrel and slap it on my Rem 700 action?

I suppose what i'm asking is, are the barrel threads common from rifle to rifle?

The barrel threads are common.
The breeching dimensions are not common.

So, while the surgeon fitted barrel will likely screw into a 700 receiver, the headspace and bolt nose fit will likely be different.

Here is my barrel fitting drawing where I take all the measurements on a receiver and then calculate what I want the barrel dimensions to be before I start machining a barrel to fit a receiver:

https://www.700barrels.com/700dimensions.pdf

[ar15barrels]

I was just hoping it would be simple so i wouldn't put the Bartlein 308 barrel to waste since i'm pulling it in favor of 6.5 cm barrel on that Surgeon action.

Would have been nice to cut down the 308 barrel and slap it on my rem 700 as an 18" setup for fun.

A barrel could probably be moved over to another receiver, but it would just have to be fitted TO that new action.
You would not want to try and move it BACK to the original receiver after that.

[Rbutler]

you can do a switch barrel, BUT all the barrels are made to headspace on 1 receiver. SO you can have 3 barrels for your surgeon action a 308 6.5 and any other 308 family cartridge. All you need is a barrel vise and action wrench and go/no go gauges to be safe.

Some say since remingtons headspace based on the shoulder of the barrel threads and its cut to that action you can torque to the same settings and be safe, id rather pay 50 or whatever bucks for go nogo gauge and know my stuff safe. I kinda like my face.... even if its ugly lol