Switch barrel rifles

[Cory porter]

I have always had dedicated rifles with each specific barrel. This topic is primarily about Kelbly pandas. For the amount I shoot and only shooting in club matches (2 in the last 2 years) I am considering just keeping one rifle and having two barrel options. 1. Being a 8tw 6br and am considering at some point getting a 14 or 12tw to mirror it’s contour, but to have the ability to shoot 68s or 80s. Mainly for the fun of having another bullet option to mess with.

My questions with that are

Are there any negatives to swapping barrels with accuracy, scope adjustments or anything what I’m not aware of if I were to use this as a true switch barrel rifle. How far off would zero be? Any info would be appreciated on how you would handle this

 

[HTSmith]

I switch barrels around on my Panda's willy nilly. I do have the picatinny adapter over the dovetails so it makes swapping scopes easy too. Point of impact is a crap shoot. I swapped a barrel out yesterday and it shot to almost exactly the same poi as the old one with no scope adjustments. I've swapped different barrels out and had poi shift as much as 6" at 100 yards. If I can do it pretty quickly then about anyone can

However there is a little rule that says whatever barrel you have on at the time will be the wrong one when a buddy asks you to go shoot.

 

[Cory porter]

I switch barrels around on my Panda's willy nilly. I do have the picatinny adapter over the dovetails so it makes swapping scopes easy too. Point of impact is a crap shoot. I swapped a barrel out yesterday and it shot to almost exactly the same poi as the old one with no scope adjustments. I've swapped different barrels out and had poi shift as much as 6" at 100 yards. If I can do it pretty quickly then about anyone can

However there is a little rule that says whatever barrel you have on at the time will be the wrong one when a buddy asks you to go shoot.

I am planning on doing the picatinny adapter as well on mine.

 

[rayporter]

my panda dogging rifle has a14 tw and an 8 tw
they are about 5in apart when i change barrels.
my ppc is with in 3 inches

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I switch barrels all the time. We make and sell barrels vises and rear entry wrenches. I switch barrels just to demonstrate how our stuff works. I never take the scope off if I am switching similar barrels for similar disciplines. I wouldn’t shoot a record target without checking zero first but I’m seldom off more than an inch. However, if you are changing calibers and twist rates you shouldn’t be off more than a couple inches at 100 yards.

 

[Cory porter]

I switch barrels all the time. We make and sell barrels vises and rear entry wrenches. I switch barrels just to demonstrate how our stuff works. I never take the scope off if I am switching similar barrels for similar disciplines. I wouldn’t shoot a record target without checking zero first but I’m seldom off more than an inch. However, if you are changing calibers and twist rates you shouldn’t be off more than a couple inches at 100 yards.

It would be same caliber just a different twist and bullet weight

 

[MDT6BRA]

I switch bra barrels from 10 twist to a 12 twist on a regular basis. No problems at all, scope adjustment is basically from the different bullets. Heck I just get it as tight by hand as I can and go with it. I also have a 700 with two barrels and do the same with

 

[Steve Blair]

All rifles are switch barrel rifles. The considerations are:
- bolt face
- action length
- magazine (if present)
- action/barrel diameter compatibility
- stock barrel channel

 

[farmerjohn]

I don't understand why more people don't do exactly what you are thinking about! The Panda in the picture is an old RB, LP, with no ejector. Two bolts, it handles everything from the 20 practical that I just got, through 308 case head dia. Also doubles as a scope check rifle, fire form rifle, prairie dog rifle and a teaching tool for people wanting to try bench shooting. I had a short throat reamer built in 6BR and sent it to my gunsmith and he simply runs it in my worn out ppc barrels and they turn into great 1/2" or less prairie dog barrels with 55 through 70 gr bullets, BRA fire form while I am shooting dogs, PPC, 30BRA, all my fire forming done in the spring or fall shooting dogs. Hand snap tightening and a solid bump on a short wrench to loosen, 5 minutes to change barrels. If your smith times your barrels you never have to go more than 2 or 3min up or down when you change. I probably shoot this one more than any of my match rifles that are all RB, LL, RE,. Want to try something new? Just have a cheap or a good barrel sent to your smith and then he sends it on to you. I have 8 different calibers in that stack for the Panda, wish I had done it years ago. You asked.... John

 

[MDT6BRA]

All rifles are switch barrel rifles. The considerations are:
- bolt face
- action length
- magazine (if present)
- action/barrel diameter compatibility
- stock barrel channel

I agree, I have never really understood the “new” switch barrel concept since you can unscrew and screw on another barrel anytime, if headspace was set for that action.

 

[K22]

It's an appealing concept especially for someone like me who is trying to downsize everything. I thought about the Thompson Center single shot break open rifle set up, having a few barrels with scopes installed and sighted in. The single shot aspect did not deter me but what did was the hinged receiver. I was concerned with the ability to achieve 1/2 moa precision with that set up. Also, I wasn't certain whether I have to go through a re-sight in process, the latter giving me increased stomach acid.

I took a step back and realized I would still have another barrel and scope to store, the only thing I was eliminating was the receiver but with other possible complications. It didn't seem worth it for me, so I never took the plunge, instead I downsized the calibers I shoot based on my current state in life and needs.

Switching barrels on a bolt action never appealed to me because of the extra equipment you need to make the switch and with the potential to have to resight in especially with the current component prices and shortages. However, the concept appeals to me but not the reality. 

 

[Jeff Porter]

I just picked up a Panda with .308 and 2- 223 barrels and have not had weather suited to experiment but that is my plan too. Have one stock to learn for sling positions and mid range / long range /Palma barrels. Considering a 6BRA barrel to replace a M70 I shoot now.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I don't understand why more people don't do exactly what you are thinking about! The Panda in the picture is an old RB, LP, with no ejector. Two bolts, it handles everything from the 20 practical that I just got, through 308 case head dia. Also doubles as a scope check rifle, fire form rifle, prairie dog rifle and a teaching tool for people wanting to try bench shooting. I had a short throat reamer built in 6BR and sent it to my gunsmith and he simply runs it in my worn out ppc barrels and they turn into great 1/2" or less prairie dog barrels with 55 through 70 gr bullets, BRA fire form while I am shooting dogs, PPC, 30BRA, all my fire forming done in the spring or fall shooting dogs. Hand snap tightening and a solid bump on a short wrench to loosen, 5 minutes to change barrels. If your smith times your barrels you never have to go more than 2 or 3min up or down when you change. I probably shoot this one more than any of my match rifles that are all RB, LL, RE,. Want to try something new? Just have a cheap or a good barrel sent to your smith and then he sends it on to you. I have 8 different calibers in that stack for the Panda, wish I had done it years ago. You asked.... JohnView attachment 1398593View attachment 1398594View attachment 1398595

I recognize that scope checker

 

[farmerjohn]

I'll bet you do! Old friend left it with me several years ago and moved away... think I may have cross fired on his target at a biggg 600yd shoot somewhere around St Louis maybe...

 

[ronsatspokane]

If you swap the barrels annually or semiannually that would be one thing. Weekly or daily, not a chance. Talk about creating work for yourself. I you want to insure precision you would need to verify your zero even if you knew how much the scope needed to be dialed for any given barrel. I too thought it would be a nifty idea until I thought about the ramifications. People do it though.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I shoot 68s out of a 7.5 twist 6xc all the time. Not sure what the advantage is for a special barrel if it is the same cartridge.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have built a bunch of switch barrel rifles. They always end up as a one caliber gun with a spare barrel fired very few times to throw in when they sell it

 

[dannyjbiggs]

"Switch barrel" rifles are what many of us might wind up with: Various barrels of various calibers for the same action But, what about "switch receiver" rifles? For several years, I traveled to overseas/US Palma championships with a single stock and two barreled actions. Using an aluminum "V" block.

 

[Ray123]

The only switch barrel rifles are AR uppers for me...and not too many of those. Just never been s fan of that idea...and I have 2 action wrenchs (one "rear entry" type... lol ) and a barrel vise. But no dice when it comes to switching barrels...and I have quite a few same calibers all with their own actions and stocks ...some exactly the same.
Like a caliber, I always buy two rifles if available. ... example my 308s have 12, 10, 9, 8 twist 18" to 30" barrels for different purposes, complete rifles...grab and go ...take 3 or 4 308s to the range for experimental purposes no dinking around when rifles are "completed rifles". Plus if something negative happens on an outing you have another complete rifle ready to go, instantly in the field. Ain't going hunting with one switch barrel rifle the stuff to change it and an extra barrel...ain't happenin. ... I'll take 2 complete rifles.
Murphys Law too many negative things to happen, parts lost or forgotten , dropped, wrong barrel, misplaced, etc... but, it just might fit your needs...but not mine....one rifle one barrel....besides take your match ammo varmint shooting I did for many years...didn't blow em up at close range as spectacular, but still works in fine fashion...and you could reach way out younder where the tiny bullets fail...and spot missed impacts better...
And I forgot...it's a 6 BR! I shoot 7.5 twist Dasher with 68 gr bullets at very high speed well over 4000 fps just fine plus my rifle liked the 68 gr over the 55 gr & 70 gr ...plus your match load with 105s or 108s will work fabulously just like it is...seriously save your money for more bullets and rebarreling to the 8 twist again...if it shoots its perfect the way it is...Also try a few loads with 68s on your 8 twist I don't think you'll be disappointed...unless your just group shooting the smallest possible groups...but don't be surprised if the 68s cluster in tiny groups in your 8 twist first to see it it meets your needs.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I, on the other hand, switch barrel all the time for a reason. In competition the .22 has an advantage, or the .30BR, or the 6BR, or the 6mmPPC And so we change barrels or actions. This is for our son, grandson, and me and any barrel fits on any action because the thread and the headspace is all the same.
In fact, at a match it isn’t uncommon to see several shooters switching barrels to go from LV to HV or the other way around at lunchtime.