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Rifle Consolidation?

Phil3

I am considering selling 1 - 3 bolt rifles (factory actions), and moving to ONE rifle of higher quality (custom action) and switch out barrels when the mood strikes me to use a different cartridge. I currently have factory based rifles in 223, 6mmBR, and an incomplete 6.5 x 47. Three scopes, three stocks, three actions, etc. Three average rifles even if two would have a custom barrel. Since my shooting is almost always using a bipod off a bench in a non-competition environment, I had to wonder why not opt for a top drawer action, scope, and stock, and three different barrels (different cartridges). A removable bolt head would allow use of 223, 6mmBR, and 6.5 x 47. A quality scope should handle a wide range of distances. And using the same style of shooting, the right stock should work all the time. Also, some custom action makers have dimensional tolerances tight enough where they can order prefit shouldered barrels, necessitating only a barrel vice, which I have.

Anyone gone this route? If so, did you find not switching barrels as often as you anticipated? Too much hassle (removing barreled action removal and reinstall)?

Thanks.
 
Phil3 said:
I am considering selling 1 - 3 bolt rifles (factory actions), and moving to ONE rifle of higher quality (custom action) and switch out barrels when the mood strikes me to use a different cartridge. I currently have factory based rifles in 223, 6mmBR, and an incomplete 6.5 x 47. Three scopes, three stocks, three actions, etc. Three average rifles even if two would have a custom barrel. Since my shooting is almost always using a bipod off a bench in a non-competition environment, I had to wonder why not opt for a top drawer action, scope, and stock, and three different barrels (different cartridges). A removable bolt head would allow use of 223, 6mmBR, and 6.5 x 47. A quality scope should handle a wide range of distances. And using the same style of shooting, the right stock should work all the time. Also, some custom action makers have dimensional tolerances tight enough where they can order prefit shouldered barrels, necessitating only a barrel vice, which I have.

Anyone gone this route? If so, did you find not switching baarrels as often as you anticipated? Too much hassle (removing barreled action removal and reinstall)?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Phil -

Howdy !

IMHO - Your idea seems do-able, on the face of it What plays a major role' here is of course.... what live game / varmints you might use the rifle for ?

Thinking out loud:
If always shooting PDs or rock chicks from a bench or well-rested position, that's one way.
If you are more apt to do walking varminting or have to walk to the game, that's another consideration.

3 barrels in 3 separate calibres /chamberings it sounds like. Repeater or single shot ?
Magazine fed would put it's own limits on choice of cartridges / cases.

If the 3 varying cartridges are significantly different in powder capacity / calibres / bullet wt, then felt recoil would in-part be mitigated by barrel wt. One stock for all would mean the barrel channel would need to accommodate all 3 barrel' profiles. Barrel lengths might be varied to best match each cartridges, and also to help w/ rifle balance and felt recoil.
All do-able.

A variable power scope might make sense for you application, with type of game and typical engagement distances looming large amongst your optics considerations.

I've not ( yet ) used a pre-fit, but have changed barrels multiple times on the same action.
In a sense... many bolt rifles are " change barrel ", as all one needs is an action wrench and barrel vice. There are some ' smiths and machinists that share knowledge at this site, and should be able to impart far better info on " pre-fit s ".

With regards,
357Mag
Please let us know how your project progress.
 
357Mag said:
Phil -

Howdy !

IMHO - Your idea seems do-able, on the face of it What plays a major role' here is of course.... what live game / varmints you might use the rifle for ?

Thinking out loud:
If always shooting PDs or rock chicks from a bench or well-rested position, that's one way.
If you are more apt to do walking varminting or have to walk to the game, that's another consideration.

3 barrels in 3 separate calibres /chamberings it sounds like. Repeater or single shot ?
Magazine fed would put it's own limits on choice of cartridges / cases.

If the 3 varying cartridges are significantly different in powder capacity / calibres / bullet wt, then felt recoil would in-part be mitigated by barrel wt. One stock for all would mean the barrel channel would need to accommodate all 3 barrel' profiles. Barrel lengths might be varied to best match each cartridges, and also to help w/ rifle balance and felt recoil.
All do-able.

A variable power scope might make sense for you application, with type of game and typical engagement distances looming large amongst your optics considerations.

I've not ( yet ) used a pre-fit, but have changed barrels multiple times on the same action.
In a sense... many bolt rifles are " change barrel ", as all one needs is an action wrench and barrel vice. There are some ' smiths and machinists that share knowledge at this site, and should be able to impart far better info on " pre-fit s ".

With regards,
357Mag
Please let us know how your project progress.
Click to expand...
I always liked those Rock Chicks to!! lol
 
My Heavy Varmint Neuvo Acation based rifle has 6PPC, 30 BR, and a 6BR barrels.

I know it’s a good platform, and it shoots quite well with any of them.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
I have built a ton of switch barrel rifles over the years and have found any extra barrel usually gets sold as new when the gun sells. I even have my own method of building switch barrels that dont even require removal from the stock and no heavy tools and they STILL dont get swapped
Click to expand...
I did a switch barrel set up and what Dusty says is exactly what I did. It’s a nice concept but in the end I didn’t use it like I thought I would. You never know though, maybe you would.
 
If you're game is just informal target shooting why not just go with one caliber to simplify component inventory, reloading, etc.

I've pretty much have gone this way for varmint / predator hunting. Since the vast majority of my shots are under 300 yards, I've opted for the 223 Rem as my caliber of choice.

I also like to spent a lot of range time practicing. The long barrel life, economic components, and low recoil add a lot of value to this choice and approach.

I also have several 223 Rem rifles so the barrel wear is spread over them and shooting different rifles helps add variety.

At least for me, switching barrels to different calibers is too complicated and I'm not sure what benefit is achieved. But, I like to keep things simple. It's been my experience that if things become too complex then it take all the enjoyment out of a past time.
 
I have two Kelby Atlas actions with 4 different barrels. I started with 2 refinished Remington stocks that each worked for 2 specific barrels. I now have a 3 rd stock, an MDT lightweight hunter, and have purchased a 3rd Atlas and another scope. Before it is all over, I suspect that I will have 4 complete rifles; so much for switching barrels.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
I have built a ton of switch barrel rifles over the years and have found any extra barrel usually gets sold as new when the gun sells. I even have my own method of building switch barrels that dont even require removal from the stock and no heavy tools and they STILL dont get swapped
Click to expand...
Interesting observation, thinking about it though I’m not surprised though.
 
Do it and don't look back. Buy a Nucleus action get 2 shouldered or nutted barrels in 6br. Also at the time buy the .223 bolthead which comes with the extractor and pick up a .223 barrel....
 
Good points on both sides. The switch barrel has worked pretty well for me. I use a 6BR barrel for 9 months of the year and screw on a 260 Rem for deer season. If I was just shooting paper I'd stick with the 6BR and be done with it.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
I have built a ton of switch barrel rifles over the years and have found any extra barrel usually gets sold as new when the gun sells. I even have my own method of building switch barrels that dont even require removal from the stock and no heavy tools and they STILL dont get swapped
Click to expand...
While I’ve never owned a switch barrel setup, I would assume that (at the very least) the gun would have to be re-sighted after swapping barrels. And I can also picture harmonics changing enough so that the barrel’s pet load would be out the window. Dunno for sure. But it all seems like too much work.
 
I rarely find myself switching barrels but do find myself picking up another rifle out of the safe. Switch barrels are as convenient as it it might seem.
 
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