Interchanging barrels regularly

[UndFrm]

Hi

In order to cut down on costs, I've been thinking about getting a barrel chambered in another caliber while keep the same action, scope etc.
The idea is to switch barrels on my own when I want to switch the calibers (usually twice a month). From what I have discussed with people, the scope zero will be very close everytime I switch barrels and can verify the zero on the day of the match (F-Class).

Is it a decent enough idea/plan or am I overlooking something?

 

[BKA]

Lots of folks run a switch barrel rig.
Tools you'll need to switch barrels include a barrel vise, action wrench, and torque wrench.
Scope zero between the two barrels may or may not be "close" enough to get on a F-Class target.
I usually verify zero a few days prior to match, one less concern on match day.

 

[GetReal]

The greatest evil and the number one enemy in precision shooting are variables.

Frequently changing barrels will be adding so many variables that I believe you'll end up driving yourself crazy.

As the old saying goes "fear the man with only one gun." The idea being shooting one gun, that's the same gun all the time is gonna make you really good with it.

In my opinion... save up your money and cut out eating out at restaurants and having to have Starbucks lattes and cut it down to basic cable etc etc and put all that ssvings in a piggy bank.And soon enough , you'll have money for a whole separate rifle.

 

[longrangebanker]

I was in your shoes about 3-4 months ago, I built a switch barrel rig out of a Bat M. I was going back and forth between a 6 Dasher and a 260AI. It worked great for a while, but I got tired of moving stuff around very quickly. Long story short, I found another M and bought it, now I have two fully built rifles. I like this setup much better!

 

[SKWERLZ]

I have one rifle I run 6mm, 7mm and 338 on.
Certainly doable and doesn’t take long to switch.

 

[steve210]

Record scope settings for each barrel, then change the scope settings when you change barrels. Should have you very close to zero.

 

[jelenko]

Assuming you want to do as well as you can at the match, if I'm going to a match, I'd want to have a good zero - unless I had really high confidence that I always shot on call.

Also, if it were me, I'd want to test out the difference in zero's between the two barrels and how consistently the same barrel returned to zero after reinstalling.

Of course, if you get to go to a lot of matches, you could use some of them to confirm zero's and consistency.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Lots of folks run a switch barrel rig.
Tools you'll need to switch barrels include a barrel vise, action wrench, and torque wrench.
Scope zero between the two barrels may or may not be "close" enough to get on a F-Class target.
I usually verify zero a few days prior to match, one less concern on match day.

Head Space Gauges maybe wanted just in case ?

 

[NF1E]

If you can change a tire on your automobile, you can change barrels. I find the zero is very close and as suggested, just document your scope settings for each barrel. Whatta Hobby!

 

[argrendel]

Have you checked out the Seekins rifles? Most are setup more for hunting, but to be able to jump from 6.5 PRC to 22 Creed in minutes does sound good, especially when scopes are $2000 a pop!

 

[Tod Hendricks]

Hi

In order to cut down on costs, I've been thinking about getting a barrel chambered in another caliber while keep the same action, scope etc.
The idea is to switch barrels on my own when I want to switch the calibers (usually twice a month). From what I have discussed with people, the scope zero will be very close everytime I switch barrels and can verify the zero on the day of the match (F-Class).

Is it a decent enough idea/plan or am I overlooking something?

It’s a great plan. That’s how I started. As long as you’re using a higher end custom action, (borden,bat,kelblyetc.) you can evolve to a second rifle with the same action and interchange barrels between them.

I have friends that log their scope settings from bottoming out the turrets for each barrel. I have pretty easy range access so I get a new zero when I switch.

I have several brmxd’s and bkmxd’s, any barrel I have can go on any action/stock.

Many gunsmiths can chamber barrels for those actions without needing your action.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I

Record scope settings for each barrel, then change the scope settings when you change barrels. Should have you very close to zero.

this is what I do and you get you very close to zero.

 

[338 Mollett]

If you get a gunsmith to dial the high end up on the barrels your windage wont be too far off . All that is needed then is to know the elevation differences between barrels .

 

[DaveTooley]

Head Space Gauges maybe wanted just in case ?

Headspace doesn't change on shouldered barrels.

 

[DaveTooley]

Besides my BR rifles I have several hunting rigs that I change barrels on depending on my needs. I have never had a problem and the "tune" doesn't change. If you can change a light bulb you can change a barrel. Save your scope settings.
One time I was testing 10 barrels on 3 actions for a government submission and just for the hell of it I install all 10 barrels on one action and shot a 10 shot group. 9 shots measured just over 2" with the 10th shot going 1 1/2" left of the group.

 

[LCazador]

Is it a glued in action or bolted in? If it's bolted in check that torque settings are the same on both the barrel and the action screws every time you switch. I had group sizes and tune change when I switched barrels on my old bolt in. Barrel harmonics can change.

 

[round]

Hi

In order to cut down on costs, I've been thinking about getting a barrel chambered in another caliber while keep the same action, scope etc.
The idea is to switch barrels on my own when I want to switch the calibers (usually twice a month). From what I have discussed with people, the scope zero will be very close everytime I switch barrels and can verify the zero on the day of the match (F-Class).

Is it a decent enough idea/plan or am I overlooking something?

What brand of action are you using ?

 

[GetReal]

This thread validates my choice - just get a separate rifle.

 

[WyleWD]

Record scope settings for each barrel, then change the scope settings when you change barrels. Should have you very close to zero.

Assuming you want to do as well as you can at the match, if I'm going to a match, I'd want to have a good zero - unless I had really high confidence that I always shot on call.

Also, if it were me, I'd want to test out the difference in zero's between the two barrels and how consistently the same barrel returned to zero after reinstalling.

Of course, if you get to go to a lot of matches, you could use some of them to confirm zero's and consistency.

+1^^^^^ on both of these. Only add that you be EXTRA careful changing out barrel(s) that you don't ding up your scope while changing barrels...... I can see where it would be VERY easy to do while changing out a barrel. JME WD

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you have the proper tools, ie a good barrel vice and the correct action wrench, changing barrels is as easy as changing a light bulb.

How much the POI changes depends on how the Gunsmith set the barrel up when chambering.

Don’t be frightened of the idea. It’s just common sense and attention to detail.