Interchanging barrels regularly

[DaveTooley]

Who? What disciplines?

Pick one. Short range BR, LR BR, F-Class, PRS, NHL etc. etc.
Any bolt action is a candidate for a barrel change.

 

[GetReal]

Pick one. Short range BR, LR BR, F-Class, PRS, NHL etc. etc.
Any bolt action is a candidate for a barrel change.

Who? In what specific disciplines ? I'm looking for the names of actual guys who shoot the barrel change system and how they perform.

Or maybe I'll say it this way... i bet you There's a lot of very competitive match shooters that don't use interchangeable barrel systems. For exactly the reasons I stated.

Variables are the enemy in precision shooting, and changing barrels just introduces both real variables and the concern of unknown variables defeating your accuracy goals.

The last thing I want as a shooter at the line is wondering if my poor accuracy has to do with something I screwed up with changing a barrel.

I want the confidence of shooting a rifle I know has performed well in the exact configuration Im presently shooting it without me Having changed anything.

I get insanely obsessive anal retentive in producing exactly the same rounds every single time I shoot the gun. Why would I Go changing up The barrel, when I could shoot the gun in exactly the same precise configuration and specs as performed excellently the last time I shot it ?

Daggum.... i shoot the exact same magazines as I know Performed well in a match before. I don't go changing those or introducing new magazines.

Now , if i'm just banging around the range for fun and want some new gizmo to play with just from the sake of the variety or challenge... switch barrel systems are a great way to do that.

But if 'm looking for outstanding accuracy every single time, i leave my rifles alone , and I don't go messing with them.

 

[4xforfun]

Who? What disciplines?

Well....over the years I have won the IBS national overall title. 1st LG group and 6th in LG score, 1st in LG overall, 6th in Hg score. A few other individual national championships. Over the years I shot nationals I think I there were only 3 or 4 times I wasn't in the top 10. Rookie of the year in IBS. Made the Final 14 and the super 7 twice at the 600/1000 yard Rendezvous at Vapor Trail. Pretty sure I got my gold IBS jacket....... Won enough wood to build a house.

I could opine further, but ....you get my point.

Tod

 

[GetReal]

Well....over the years I have won the IBS national overall title. 1st LG group and 6th in LG score, 1st in LG overall, 6th in Hg score. A few other individual national championships. Over the years I shot nationals I think I there were only 3 or 4 times I wasn't in the top 10. Rookie of the year in IBS. Made the Final 14 and the super 7 twice at the 600/1000 yard Rendezvous at Vapor Trail. Pretty sure I got my gold IBS jacket....... Won enough wood to build a house.

I could opine further, but ....you get my point.

Tod

What bbl change systems did you use in what calibers and how often did you change bbls ? Are you still shooting those rifles / actions / barrels? Did you ever change bbls mid - match? Why? Are you sure there was no wear on the barrel threads or the action itself from all of the Frictions and pressures and torque of barrel changing ? Was re- zeroing the same after every bbl change?

I could go on and on and on about the possibilities such as i've listed above , that changing barrels introduces.... that no precision shooter needs those headaches. More importantly... why ? Why not just leave a rifle that shot well alone ? If you're goal is to win matches, why are you playing musical chairs with your action / bbl all the time ? If your rifle is not broken, Why are you fixing it ? Does it. not make more sense to just leave a good shooting rifle alone? I just dont get the point of it all.

Pls IM me your real name and I can educate myself.

 

[jackieschmidt]

What is an “interchangeable barrel system”. Is that the same as a typical threaded action accepting a properly threaded barrel tenon?

I shoot a lot of Benchrest Matches, and changing barrels is pretty darned common.

I have seen really good shooters such as Charles Huckeba and the late Larry Bagget change a barrel between relays.

I fail to see the big mystery.

 

[dk17hmr]

I am not a competitive shooter. I have a couple of Accuracy International rifles that I can swap barrels out in about 3 minutes. I haven't mapped my zero shifts with them but generally it's only a couple clicks at 100 yards. I don't swap my barrels out that often I usually will shoot them for several months until I get bored or need to do something specific.

I also swap barrels on a couple of Zermatt Origin hunting rifles, those are super handy because of the bolt head options and prefits. I generally pull the scope off when I swap those barrel. I'll generally pick one barrel and leave it on for a year.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I am not a competitive shooter. I have a couple of Accuracy International rifles that I can swap barrels out in about 3 minutes. I haven't mapped my zero shifts with them but generally it's only a couple clicks at 100 yards. I don't swap my barrels out that often I usually will shoot them for several months until I get bored or need to do something specific.

I also swap barrels on a couple of Zermatt Origin hunting rifles, those are super handy because of the bolt head options and prefits. I generally pull the scope off when I swap those barrel. I'll generally pick one barrel and leave it on for a year.

Do you feel it could damage the the scope or just like the barrel vise up closer?

 

[ELR LVR]

What bbl change systems did you use in what calibers and how often did you change bbls ? Are you still shooting those rifles / actions / barrels? Did you ever change bbls mid - match? Why? Are you sure there was no wear on the barrel threads or the action itself from all of the Frictions and pressures and torque of barrel changing ? Was re- zeroing the same after every bbl change?

I could go on and on and on about the possibilities such as i've listed above , that changing barrels introduces.... that no precision shooter needs those headaches. More importantly... why ? Why not just leave a rifle that shot well alone ? If you're goal is to win matches, why are you playing musical chairs with your action / bbl all the time ? If your rifle is not broken, Why are you fixing it ? Does it. not make more sense to just leave a good shooting rifle alone? I just dont get the point of it all.

Pls IM me your real name and I can educate myself.

What I have witnessed, and I dont swap barrels as often as some of these other guys do
But if a barrel is a shooter, it will shoot on any similar action you screw it onto
(that's if the bedding is good)
---
Just recently:
I had a 6BR barrel laying around I hadn't been using for years
But I used the action I took it off of for another gun
So I checked headspace and had to set it back .016" to fit another action I had laying around
took it out the other day, threw a few loads together with the old seating depth of
.010" off
and forgot how dang accurate it is
---
I've done that with a few guns, build a different caliber and end up with a good barrel laying around and later decide to play with it again so will screw it onto a totally different action of the same make, different stock, and still shoots just as good as before.
that being the case, a barrel should still also shoot just as good as the action it originally came off of.
---Thread wear is a concern as all threads wear over time, but usually we go for something near Class 3A type threads (close tol.) so any wear... is still wayyyy better than a brand new hardware store bolt
plus greasing or anti-sieze on the threads prevents that.

 

[dk17hmr]

Do you feel it could damage the the scope or just like the barrel vise up closer?

Its mostly habit because the action is getting cleaned also while I have the barrel off. Since they are field rifles they get pretty dirty


I definitely like the vise closer with the carbon fiber barrels, not sure it matters but I prefer to clamp on steel. Also some of my barrels have a dedicated scope, like my 45 caliber smokeless muzzleloader.

With some of my stainless barrels I clamp in front of the stock or chassis and just pull the barrel.

I like to pull barrels for deep cleaning also, plug the muzzle and fill it up with solvent for a week because I'm lazy.

 

[dgeesaman]

Head Space Gauges maybe wanted just in case ?

I’d match mark the action and barrels. If the match marks line up your headspace went back where it was.

IMHO the biggest risk with this is damaging a barrel thread or action thread. Take your time switching barrels and don’t push through any resistance you feel. Make sure your barrel vise fits your barrel contour really well. Invest in barrel tenon thread protectors.

One plus is you should be able to keep your lugs immaculately clean and lubricated which normally requires special kit to keep very clean.

The idea of keeping scope click settings for each one should work. Just some setup to deal with up front.

 

[DaveTooley]

Its mostly habit because the action is getting cleaned also while I have the barrel off. Since they are field rifles they get pretty dirty


I definitely like the vise closer with the carbon fiber barrels, not sure it matters but I prefer to clamp on steel. Also some of my barrels have a dedicated scope, like my 45 caliber smokeless muzzleloader.

With some of my stainless barrels I clamp in front of the stock or chassis and just pull the barrel.

I like to pull barrels for deep cleaning also, plug the muzzle and fill it up with solvent for a week because I'm lazy.

In regards to CF barrels you have to clamp on the steel breach area. If you don't you will flex the steel section and break the bond between the CF and steel.

 

[Owens85]

Who? In what specific disciplines ? I'm looking for the names of actual guys who shoot the barrel change system and how they perform.

Or maybe I'll say it this way... i bet you There's a lot of very competitive match shooters that don't use interchangeable barrel systems. For exactly the reasons I stated.

Variables are the enemy in precision shooting, and changing barrels just introduces both real variables and the concern of unknown variables defeating your accuracy goals.

The last thing I want as a shooter at the line is wondering if my poor accuracy has to do with something I screwed up with changing a barrel.

I want the confidence of shooting a rifle I know has performed well in the exact configuration Im presently shooting it without me Having changed anything.

I get insanely obsessive anal retentive in producing exactly the same rounds every single time I shoot the gun. Why would I Go changing up The barrel, when I could shoot the gun in exactly the same precise configuration and specs as performed excellently the last time I shot it ?

Daggum.... i shoot the exact same magazines as I know Performed well in a match before. I don't go changing those or introducing new magazines.

Now , if i'm just banging around the range for fun and want some new gizmo to play with just from the sake of the variety or challenge... switch barrel systems are a great way to do that.

But if 'm looking for outstanding accuracy every single time, i leave my rifles alone , and I don't go messing with them.

Know of short range score shooters that will switch between barrels. 600 yard BR shooters as well. I did a HG barrel switch before last weekends match at rattlesnake because of the conditions for Saturday evening it worked out fine. It was said earlier that Wayne Campbell switched out his barrel when he won the Tack Driver. Guess what? I did as well when I won. If the bones of the rifle is right I don't believe it matters.

 

[GetReal]

Know of short range score shooters that will switch between barrels. 600 yard BR shooters as well. I did a HG barrel switch before last weekends match at rattlesnake because of the conditions for Saturday evening it worked out fine. It was said earlier that Wayne Campbell switched out his barrel when he won the Tack Driver. Guess what? I did as well when I won. If the bones of the rifle is right I don't believe it matters.

I'm simply trying to explain why I don't swap barrels. There's one thought that never ever crosses my mind :

"I finally got a rifle set up so that it is capable of winning matches, functioning perfectly, With a load that perfectly matches the chamber and the distance to lands with a scope mounted Securely, The bedding of the rifle working well with the action, hand loaded a couple hundred rounds that are tailored to those specifics And now that i've finally gotten to this point , let me tear it all apart and risk any of 2 dozen different factors making my rifle not function well, not shoot accurately, be less capable of winning matches, not work well with my loaded ammo and worse... put a bunch of noise in my head right in the middle of a match as to the reasons the rifle isn't shooting well anymore .... all because I had to mess around and did not leave a rifle that was shooting well as it was."

I have never and will never go there. Variables are the enemy, and equipment consistency and personal confidence are the best tools to have in the tool bag When you go to the line. That's what forms my thinking on this issue. Thats just me. If others come to a different conclusion, that's cool.

I Am blessed enough to be able to afford different rifles, So that's what I do.

A final example... right now , i'm getting ready to purchase another vehicle. The Jeep Wrangler looks like a lot of fun.But I know a fourth toyota tacoma will be reliable and not give me a bunch of grief. Guess which one i'm buying.

 

[steve210]

If it's going to get in your head, it's probably best that you don't do it. It is common practice among competition shooters to change barrels as they see fit. In my personal experience, I've never seen a problem with doing it.

 

[quest450]

@GetReal are you a PRS shooter ?

It's a very common thing to switch barrels in benchrest and Fclass
Most of the competitive shooters have several barrels, if your rifle is build by a top gunsmith I don't think there's anything to worry about, I wouldn't change a barrel in the middle of a match but I always test and tune my barrels (10) trying to find the one that will win a National event

 

[jackieschmidt]

Guess what? I did as well when I won. If the bones of the rifle is right I don't believe it matters.

^^^^^^^
You sure did!!
You are in a pretty exclusive club.

 

[GetReal]

@GetReal are you a PRS shooter ?

It's a very common thing to switch barrels in benchrest and Fclass
Most of the competitive shooters have several barrels, if your rifle is build by a top gunsmith I don't think there's anything to worry about, I wouldn't change a barrel in the middle of a match but I always test and tune my barrels (10) trying to find the one that will win a National event

I've probably already posted enough here and should probably leave it at what I initially intended... to give the OP some rationale for why I don't change barrels, I buy Another rifle instead. That way, I can grab the rifle, Put it on the bench, & pull a trigger without having to mess with completely rebuilding the rifle each time

I do geek out on building new guns, and I can afford to, so if that's where the fondness of switching barrels comes from, I get it.

 

[quest450]

you do you buddy, good luck

 

[AlNyhus]

I've had Panda barrels on the Kodiak, the Kodiak barrels on the Atlas, the Atlas barrels on the Panda...and every other way possible. When testing a new Hunter Class barrel for the Kodiak, I routinely put it on the Panda HV gun rather than swapping scopes on the Hunter gun.

It's like the Easy Button. Only easier.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[Owens85]

^^^^^^^
You sure did!!
You are in a pretty exclusive club.

Looking forward to seeing you this year Jackie.