Hand tight switch barrel

[metzger]

I am having a barrel spun up for me with a wrench flat on the end to tighten. I was thinking of just having them do away with the wrench flat and screw on hand tight. Does this affect accuracy?

 

[DaveTooley]

Sure will when it comes loose.

 

[BoydAllen]

Recently there was a thread relating to barrel installation torque. In it Jim Kelbly mentioned their recommendation for the Panda. It was surprisingly high. I would just buy a typical benchrest low torque barrel vise and an appropriate action wrench. For my Viper, I use the same setup that Kelbly's sells.

 

[Bill K]

I would not trust a hand tightened barrel to not work loose within a few shots. They need some torque to stay in place.

 

[rardoin]

I torque to 85ft-lbs. Recently, my team mate in a 600yd F class team match noticed that his barrel was loose on day 2. We had a vise loaned to us but no action wrench. He said to hell with it and snapped tightened it by hand. We both shot clean on the day with 60% X counts. Go figure. I guess you can get away with it if you get lucky. Moral of the story is that, in answer to the OP’s question, barrel torque did not affect precision as long as it was hand tight. Regardless I’ll always use a torque wrench.

 

[snert]

In similar vein, then, who makes a reasonably priced vise?

 

[madmixerman]

Bald Eagle sold by grizzly.com
about $40

 

[Mulligan]

In similar vein, then, who makes a reasonably priced vise?

Barrel Vise by Viper

The highest quality, most innovative reloading tools and shooting supplies for precision riflemen. Unparalleled customer service. Shop Now - PMA Tool

www.pmatool.com

This is what I have after a call to Kelbly's for their recommendations.
CW

 

[shoot4fun]

There are a couple actions out there that will work well hand tight. They have a screw that sets against the barrel to hold them in place. AIAT, Curtis Vector and Terminus Zeus to name a few.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A hand tight barrel will throw fliers even if it does not work loose. At least with the longer barrels we use.

 

[M-61]

On my Savage which is a switch barrel I have found 40 ft.lbs. to work fine.
Remembering that I have some anti seize on the threads this 40# translates to different numbers with different substances applied to the threads. There are published lists for torque reductions when using different substances. The reduction amounts are quite surprising. (minus 50% with some).
What I have found difficult is to get a manufacturers torque value that states the value given is either 'dry' or with a particular substance.
ARP in the automotive world has no problem providing it and it is of course with their product.

 

[jackieschmidt]

There are a couple actions out there that will work well hand tight. They have a screw that sets against the barrel to hold them in place. AIAT, Curtis Vector and Terminus Zeus to name a few.

I have watched thier videos on this.
This is the kind of BS that passes for engineering in today’s manufacturing sector..

 

[MagnumManiac]

I spin the action onto the barrel all the time...has never worked loose during a match.
I also have switch barrel hunting rifles...I use a Davidson barrel vise and full inside wrench to tighten about a half turn past hand tight.
I do not know the torque setting, or care, as the witness marks line up about that point.
I have also just spun the action onto these without the witness marks aligning, interestingly, after about 20 shots shooting distant rocks, the barrel was tighter.
I do not use rear entry wrenches, saw a guy twist his action so bad it was unusable after using a rear entry wrench.

Cheers.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I spin the action onto the barrel all the time...has never worked loose during a match.
I also have switch barrel hunting rifles...I use a Davidson barrel vise and full inside wrench to tighten about a half turn past hand tight.
I do not know the torque setting, or care, as the witness marks line up about that point.
I have also just spun the action onto these without the witness marks aligning, interestingly, after about 20 shots shooting distant rocks, the barrel was tighter.
I do not use rear entry wrenches, saw a guy twist his action so bad it was unusable after using a rear entry wrench.

Cheers.

A half of a turn past hand tight.??

 

[AlNyhus]

A half of a turn past hand tight.??

Same question, here.

I make a witness mark on the barrel and action when they come up tight by hand and another on the action after torquing to 125 lb/ft. At that torque, the marks end up about 1/16" apart. On subsequent barrel swaps, a new mark on the barrel at 'hand tight' and tighten to align to the 'tight' witness mark on the action works great and is repeatable.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[billlarson]

Use 125 ft.lbs.no worries...
Bill

 

[B Nettesheim]

Putting a barrel on hand tight is no different than putting the wheels on your truck hand tight or maybe the nut on a steering wheel. When it can be tightened down why not just make it tight. This shouldn’t even be a discussion.

 

[6MMsteve]

I use bout 60 ft lbs + or -

 

[boltfluter]

If you are at all concerned about repeatable harmonics for God's sake torque the barrel. I use 75 ft lbs. This hand tight stuff is another stupid fad that will pass as soon as a few people have problems! Rant over! Lol

Paul

 

[DirtySteve]

If you are at all concerned about repeatable harmonics for God's sake torque the barrel. I use 75 ft lbs. This hand tight stuff is another stupid fad that will pass as soon as a few people have problems! Rant over! Lol

Paul

Just like neck sizing only...