Barrel Nut Disadvantages?

[Rat Rifle]

If I have a point blank BR rifle that is a proven action and stock combo, the last thing in the world I would do is disrupt the harmonics of the glue in to change a barrel.

Along with that, I doubt You are using a Barrel Nut ??

 

[STS]

You are correct. How about those receivers with a recessed face like the Stolle Teddy and Polar? Any way to use a nut with those?

 

[JFrank]

With a quality action like a Bat B I cannot think of a good reason to “not” use a shouldered barrel.

It’s just so easy, I can change barrels in a couple minutes.

 

[Rat Rifle]

You are correct. How about those receivers with a recessed face like the Stolle Teddy and Polar? Any way to use a nut with those?

I don’t think I would need to or want to use a Barrel Nut on one of those.

 

[Rat Rifle]

With a quality action like a Bat B I cannot think of a good reason to “not” use a shouldered barrel.

It’s just so easy, I can change barrels in a couple minutes.

No discussion needed there

 

[SKWERLZ]

With a quality action like a Bat B I cannot think of a good reason to “not” use a shouldered barrel.

It’s just so easy, I can change barrels in a couple minutes.

Great way to infuriate others and spawn internet arguments!
Lol!

 

[JFrank]

Great way to infuriate others and spawn internet arguments!
Lol!

I think we’re past that.
To be perfectly honest I’ve shot small 1000 yard groups with both types.

 

[jackieschmidt]

One issue that I fear on the barrel nut jobs is that the attention to detail may not be adhered to in dialing in the barrel as a hand crafted shoulder barrel would have.

^^^^^^^^

 

[SKWERLZ]

I think we’re past that.
To be perfectly honest I’ve shot small 1000 yard groups with both types.

My first hit at two miles was with a barrel nut.
That barrel is dead now and sitting on my workbench for SS stock for parts.

 

[SKWERLZ]

One issue that I fear on the barrel nut jobs is that the attention to detail may not be adhered to in dialing in the barrel as a hand crafted shoulder barrel would have.

I seriously doubt any decent smith is going to skimp out because it is for a barrel nut.

 

[AckleymanII]

"Decent" being the key word.

 

[AlNyhus]

One issue that I fear on the barrel nut jobs is that the attention to detail may not be adhered to in dialing in the barrel as a hand crafted shoulder barrel would have.

Not long ago, a video was posted on here in reference to the interior finish of a certain brand of barrel. The video camera inadvertently strayed into foreign waters (the throat area). It was quite a sight. The video got deleted quickly, as did the comments.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

With a quality action like a Bat B I cannot think of a good reason to “not” use a shouldered barrel.

It’s just so easy, I can change barrels in a couple minutes.

I agree. But you know we like testing. Theres still a lot of areas way in front of this for me, since I do not think we will come to the conclusion the nut is better. But I have been wrong before. Thats why I have not done it yet. I still have things to test that I do think will shrink aggs.

 

[jds holler]

I guess this thread has evolved (or devolved?) into a "Which is Best" question, but the title was simply, "Barrel Nut Disadvantages?"

I think for a lot of us, there aren't any disadvantages for a nut barrel system, and a lot of the debate or differences, real or imagined, are moot. This thread however is in the gunsmithing forum, so I guess that flyshit vs pepper arguments ought to be considered.

I'm not a competitor, and prolly about nine out of ten of us here aren't either. We like our rifles to shoot well, but the difference that MAY be offered by a shouldered barrel probably won't be noticed compared to the other variables that affect accuracy. And something that I don't think has been mentioned is that you don't seem to hear anyone bitching about how badly their nutted barrel rifle shoots.

I've got just one nut-barrel rifle, and it happens to shoot better than any of my others. That's not saying a lot for my rifle collection, since I don't have many that I'd expect to shoot that well.

The next barrel I get will also be a nutter, maybe from Urbanrifleman.

I'm interested to see this test Y'all are talking about, but I don't think it will influence me for what I'm interested in. I have learned a lot just from reading all these pages of "pissin match". jd

 

[762plinker]

t

Not a gunsmith but a question for those of you who are.
If the barrel nut is so bad why are Savages on the most part so accurate?
Why do so many people claim 0.50 or better group size with them?
And why did most gun makers start using them? Not custom makers of course but factory makers?
Disclaimer I had my two bench guns switched over to shouldered but they did shoot good with nuts, I just wanted to squeeze that little bit more out of them.

he difference beteween hunting and bench rest...0.5 sucks in BENCHREST
savages as accurate rifles occur in their single shot solid bottom actions.
even these are not short range br accurate. they do okay in fclass because the target is LARGE

 

[urbanrifleman]

I agree. But you know we like testing. Theres still a lot of areas way in front of this for me, since I do not think we will come to the conclusion the nut is better. But I have been wrong before. Thats why I have not done it yet. I still have things to test that I do think will shrink aggs.

Why does it have to be better all of a sudden?

I mean this whole thing is very weird. The thread is talking about the disadvantages. The overall elitism in this forum is always talking about how nut barrels are inferior and only for beginners and for people who take shortcuts, but now the test must show that the nut is superior?

I mean this whole thing is just bizarre to watch.

 

[rjtfroggy]

t

he difference beteween hunting and bench rest...0.5 sucks in BENCHREST
savages as accurate rifles occur in their single shot solid bottom actions.
even these are not short range br accurate. they do okay in fclass because the target is LARGE

My 0.5 was in reference to most of the Savage shooters here, they are mostly hunters or plinkers, not competitors, and a .5 group is plenty good enough for a factory gun.
I tinkered and played around with many things, spent more than I should have but I did cut those groups way down to almost competitive size but ended up with a Kelby for comp. and I'm not going back for competition.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Why does it have to be better all of a sudden?



I mean this whole thing is just bizarre to watch.

Why would we push something that isnt better?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Why does it have to be better all of a sudden?

I mean this whole thing is very weird. The thread is talking about the disadvantages. The overall elitism in this forum is always talking about how nut barrels are inferior and only for beginners and for people who take shortcuts, but now the test must show that the nut is superior?

I mean this whole thing is just bizarre to watch.

Only speaking for myself, I dont like the nut. I never said it would shoot better or worse. I dont like it from an engineering point or and end user point. The best thing for a beginner is a shoulder. They cant mess than up and you need less tools for a barrel swap = cheaper. Far simpler job for the beginner. I dont think its a short cut. I guess its less work since you dont need to locate and machine a shoulder but I wouldnt call it a short cut. But since the question is being asked and this thread is back up, if people want to know if theres a difference the only way to know is get the best shooters you can to test it using all the same components including the barrel. The only reason for the test would be to see if one way was better. If you didnt care if one was better you would never test anything.

 

[tom]

Just so this isn't missed, if @Alex Wheeler says he will do the barrel work, and if @tom or @GlennK says they will shoot it; this will be the ultimate long range test.

Alex is one of the premier LRBR rifle builders, Tom is the 2022 IBS 1000 yd Shooter of the Year, and Glenn holds the IBS 1000 yd heavy gun record--2.6xx" for 10 shots.

Yes, it will only be one data point but it will be a beret strong one.

I don't know why @urbanrifleman is so opposed. There is no doubt that the nut barrel--chambered by Alex and shot by Tom or Glenn, will shoot well--probably better than anyone has ever shot one. To the guys buying nut barrels, they won't care if the shouldered rifle shoots .1 MOA smaller (if it does). They'll just be excited that a barrel that can afford to buy and install themselves has potential to shoot so well.

I only posted so I'd get alerts when Jackie gets done with his test.....and I thought the shitshow was over. And we thought Glenn was a troublemaker lol.



Tom