Barrel Nut Disadvantages?

[DShortt]

I'm sorry I just don't see it like that.

There are like millions of nut barrels out there just working like a champ. And now there is this teeny tiny group of people that are going to set the record straight on this whole thing.

In fact, after posting here for many years it always seems to come down to this teeny group of people that must bless anything before it is considered valid. It's the ultimate snobbery. No matter what anyone is doing in the industry or competition outside this microscopic group, it is invalid until blessed by this group. On nearly every subject.

And I'm sorry you see it that way.

It appears to me the people who are getting involved, or at say they will get involved, are going to great lengths to ensure as even a 'playing field' as possible. Under such conditions it should result in as accurate a test as possible. Suppose it proves that it really doesn't matter how a barrel is attached to the receiver? I for one would really like to see the question answered.
If you are already convinced due to your testing then I don't see why it would be any problem for others to test as well.
I've never wished that I had less data to work with. Like the folks who dislike borescopes. Why would you not want to see what is really in your bore instead of looking at patches alone?
Just the way I see it.

 

[AlNyhus]

There are like millions of nut barrels out there just working like a champ. And now there is this teeny tiny group of people that are going to set the record straight on this whole thing.

Respectfully, it's not that at all. Nothing could be further from the truth.

One one hand, there are proponents of barrel nut systems that claim they perform as well as shouldered barrels in actual competitive events.

On the other hand, there are a group of involved people that simply want to know if a barrel nut system works as well as a shouldered barrel in actual competitive events. They may very well do so. Maybe there's some advantages for barrel nuts at that level of competition. These people are willing to spend their time and money to actually test both systems impartially and let the results speak for themselves.

The middle is occupied by the vast majority.

None of this is personal or in any way directed at any one individual.

Some of us don't take anything on face value. We simply have to know. For me personally, it's the learning that's important.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[urbanrifleman]

And I'm sorry you see it that way.

It appears to me the people who are getting involved, or at say they will get involved, are going to great lengths to ensure as even a 'playing field' as possible. Under such conditions it should result in as accurate a test as possible. Suppose it proves that it really doesn't matter how a barrel is attached to the receiver? I for one would really like to see the question answered.
If you are already convinced due to your testing then I don't see why it would be any problem for others to test as well.
I've never wished that I had less data to work with. Like the folks who dislike borescopes. Why would you not want to see what is really in your bore instead of looking at patches alone?
Just the way I see it.

One test and one barrel is not a valid test. It will never be a valid test.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Respectfully, it's not that at all. Nothing could be further from the truth.

One one hand, there are proponents of barrel nut systems that claim they perform as well as shouldered barrels in actual competitive events.

On the other hand, there are a group of involved people that simply want to know if a barrel nut system works as well as a shouldered barrel in actual competitive events. They may very well do so. Maybe there's some advantages for barrel nuts at that level of competition. These people are willing to spend their time and money to actually test both systems impartially and let the results speak for themselves.

The middle is occupied by the vast majority.

None of this is personal or in any way directed at any one individual.

Some of us don't take anything on face value. We simply have to know. For me personally, it's the learning that's important.

Good shootin' -Al

I appreciate your comments. Thank you.

From my experience the vast majority of the gunsmiths who banter this subject about are much more interested in discrediting the barrel nut as being inferior than they are of finding out if it's actually better.

That's my experience. And that comes from years of observation. It is certainly possible there is a teeny tiny little group of people who are curious (like yourself) but for the most part I would say the vast majority of the gunsmiths that post on these internet forums look down their nose at the nut barrel.

 

[Rat Rifle]

Whichever one of you monkeys that ends up testing this... It might be worth testing a load that ISN'T perfectly tuned for the gun and seeing what difference it makes? A lot of new shooters choose a nut barrel because they're new (not all, dont flame me) but their reloading skills might be limited and might be shooting factory ammo.

Absolutely, just like in golf, a “HANDICAP“ needs to be applied !

 

[AlNyhus]

They haven't made a run of that thread in years, because no one buys them. 18tpi threads are custom actions and people don't use nut barrels.

I must have missed something in the translation.

Of all those competitors using your nut barrels...no one is using an 18 TPI custom action?

 

[Rat Rifle]

A couple of posters have mentioned the actual size of a barrel nut might present a problem.

Not particularly the length, but more the diameter. Too thin, the nut could distort, compromising the joint.
Too large, aesthetics become an issue.

Any thoughts on this?

“FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION“

 

[urbanrifleman]

I must have missed something in the translation.

Of all those competitors using your nut barrels...no one is using a custom action?

Yes. Mack Bros, Kauger, Origin, Curtis, Axiom, Surgeon, etc not 18 tpi.

 

[SongdogHunter]

you mean besides the hideous appearance of a barrel nut?

 

[Rat Rifle]

you mean besides the hideous appearance of a barrel nut?

Yeah …”BESIDES” … so there !

 

[AckleymanII]

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.

 

[JFrank]

How does a fella change a nutted barrel on a rifle with a glued in action ?

 

[AlNyhus]

Yes. Mack Bros, Kauger, Origin, Curtis, Axiom, Surgeon, etc not 18 tpi.

Odd that any serious competitive shooter would eliminate BAT, Borden, Kelbly's, etc. actions because they have 18 TPI.....

 

[Alex Wheeler]

How does a fella change a nutted barrel on a rifle with a glued in action ?

Thats something I have been thinking about. Something like a pin spanner wrench may be the only way.

 

[jelenko]

One test and one barrel is not a valid test. It will never be a valid test.

What is your concern with doing a test?

If, in your experience, barrels with barrel nuts are always as good or better than a shouldered barrel, then there would be no possibility that the one test being discussed would show the nutted barrel to have less accuracy than the shouldered one.

Wouldn't it be good if others duplicated what you've found?

 

[AlNyhus]

How does a fella change a nutted barrel on a rifle with a glued in action ?

My Beggs tuner had external pin holes for 'tommie bars' to be used. Nut width could be addressed for the amount of barrel torque used.

 

[Rat Rifle]

How does a fella change a nutted barrel on a rifle with a glued in action ?

Apply heat to the barreled action, remove it from the stock, do what ever, reinstall it the same as first time. It’s even easier than the initial bedding job.

 

[SKWERLZ]

How does a fella change a nutted barrel on a rifle with a glued in action ?

If in a setup with an removable forend it’s easy, you could also use a ARC barloc setup.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You could make it a hex nut, with 1.350od then use a thinwall socket bored out and welded to a pipe long enough to go over the barrel. Id say most BR forends have enough room around the barrel for a thin wall setup. If not they could be modified when you pull the action out to modify it for the nut

 

[STS]

Apply heat to the barreled action, remove it from the stock, do what ever, reinstall it the same as first time. It’s even easier than the initial bedding job.

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.