I’m working on barreling a Solus action. I found the spec sheet on barrel threads but I’m tempted to do it a little different. The action came with a barrel nut like a Savage but I don’t like using them so I won’t. The Solus action has a shoulder inside that the barrel can contact if it is long enough. Im wanting to leave the tenon long enough to contact this inner shoulder and face of the action at the same time, like done with a Mauser action. I will have to cut a bolt relief in the back of the barrel like done on a Remington for this to work. Anyone see any problems or disadvantages to doing it this way. Basically I will end up with a barrel that will work just on my action instead of it being a prefit type barrel that can be headspace to any action.
Barreling a Solus action
- Thread starter EasyShooter
- Start date
Two things come to mind. Feeding issues maybe. Also that shoulder was never intended to make contact with the barrel. So there's a question about precision. Why run the risk of complicating things for no gain?
I can see a possibility for feeding problems I guess. Was thinking giving the barrel a second contact area would make the barrel more rigidly attached to the action and possibly helping accuracy. I like the bolt recess idea in the back of the barrel to help in the case of a brass failure.
I would do it to contact that inner shoulder, providing the inner surface was parallel to the face. I would cut the tenon to hit on the face .002" before the inner surface. I can't honestly say it helps but I can say it doesn't seem to hurt either. WH
Some things just have to be tried to know. I've never even heard of a Solus action so can't be of much help there. I highly doubt it'll give any trouble but I don't think there's really anything practical gained by making it contact at both places. At the least, it introduces the potential for problems if those two surfaces aren't very parallel with one another. I do like your thinking in regard to containing gas and debris should a case rupture, though. It certainly seems that we are blessed with many more custom actions available than ever before.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
What is the thickness of that inner ring? If it is less than 1/8 thick, I would not use it primarily as the seat.
Mausers seat the barrel on an inner ring, it is pretty substantial.
When I did my Mauser project, I trued the threads, the inner ring, and the action face all on the same setup. I then seated the barrel on the action face and carefully measured the tenon length to have .001 Clarance. I figured it contacted when I torqued the barrel
.
If you want to do that, make sure both surfaces are truly square with each other.
Here is a picture of the Mauser.
Mausers seat the barrel on an inner ring, it is pretty substantial.
When I did my Mauser project, I trued the threads, the inner ring, and the action face all on the same setup. I then seated the barrel on the action face and carefully measured the tenon length to have .001 Clarance. I figured it contacted when I torqued the barrel
.
If you want to do that, make sure both surfaces are truly square with each other.
Here is a picture of the Mauser.
No big problem but the main disadvantage I see of a prefit barrel that it is just screwed on and headspace set with a barrel nut. Doing it this way you don’t know the space between your bolt face and breach. The diagram I’m looking at says it could be anywhere between .005”-.020”. If it ends up being closer to that .020” there is going to be a long length of unsupported brass so it possibly won’t last long. Extending the tenon past the bolt face adds a safety factor of helping contain hot gas and debris if the brass does fail in that unsupported length. Prefit barrels can work great and are convenient but if your making a custom gun why not make it as good and safe as you can.
I ended up giving it a shot but considered some of possible problems you guys pointed out. I extended the tenon past the bolt but did make it .003” short of the inner ring. It might just barely touch it when snugged up. That inner ring isn’t real substantial, around .12”. The bolt recess is tapered to hopefully it causes no feeding issues. Will see but I really don’t think it will be a problem. Breach to bolt face is set at .008”. Just finished chambering it but got a little more work to do before I take it out. Guess if for some reason it doesn’t work well I can just chuck it back up and cut the end off.
Thank for all your thoughts and ideas!!
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Look at the 6 o'clock position on the edge of the chamber. It appears metal has been rolled to the outside during the reaming process. Is this an illusion?
I see unnecessary stress coming in the threads and two faces .
urbanrifleman
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Exactly.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
That's incorrect.
When a prefit barrel is made the gauge stickout determines the distance from the bolt face to the back of the tenon.
And making the bolt shroud face closer the the back of the tenon DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to accuracy.
The bolt shroud only exists to house the extractor. And I'm sorry but a bolt shroud does not "support" the case. Bolt shrouds are much larger than the brass base. That case doesn't even know that shroud is there.
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urbanrifleman
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Probably cut the recess last and cut going toward the center.
urbanrifleman
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Savage has one of the shortest bolt face to tenon dimensions on the market. The gauge stickout is already significantly shorter than a Remington and most of the other custom actions.
urbanrifleman
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It's best not to post pictures.
It does kinda look like that. I checked it out and there is a slight edge there. I had just finished reaming and hadn't rounded that sharp edge off yet. It is gone now.
Thanks for everyone’s replies. Even the criticism. If having a second mating surface was a good thing I guess maybe all the custom action manufacturers would be doing it. Still had to give it a try just because I wanted to. I have done a couple guns on Mauser actions and they shoot just fine so I’m thinking this one will too.
LOL. That’s possibly true but it’s good to hear others opinions even if I don’t like them. I learn more that way.
urbanrifleman
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