Pre-fit barrel compatibility?

[omega1]

Hello everyone. With more rifles using a barrel nut system to headspace (or so it seems) are any of the thread and diameter interchangeable? The Savage, Remington 783, Ruger American, etc. Can I swap one to any one of the others or are they all make/model specific specs?
Thanks

 

[memilanuk]

They tend to be make/model specific. Some semi-custom actions like the Bighorn Origin and ARC Nucleus are built to specifically take Savage small-shank pre-fit barrels, though.

 

[Franko]

There should be comparability between receivers that use the same thread pattern (e.g. Savage Small Shank) as long as the barrel is cut for a barrel nut. If it's shouldered your likely out of luck.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

They tend to be make/model specific. Some semi-custom actions like the Bighorn Origin and ARC Nucleus are built to specifically take Savage small-shank pre-fit barrels, though.

Mausingfield is the same as the nucleus plus they have a drawing so you can fit a barrel to them without having the action in hand

 

[Nightraider]

The best way is to use a shoulder, not a nut.

No one thinks smashing their nuts into a wall is a good idea, so why start with barrels.

Anymore companies like Impact, Siller, ARC, Bighorn, Kelbly, Bat and Borden have such high tolerances you can cut to fit without having the action in hand.

A few months ago I cut a Stolle Panda from 91' that still had identical specs to the new Pandas.

 

[AckleymanII]

Another question that comes up, "I have a trued action, can I order a Pre fit barrel"?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Another question that comes up, "I have a trued action, can I order a Pre fit barrel"?

the answer is- i wouldnt

 

[1911nut]

There’s a considerable cost savings being able to rebarrel with a prefit barrel with a barrel nut. A Shilen prefit barrel for a Savage action, an action wrench and barrel nut wrench cost me less than having a gunsmith supply, chamber and fit a barrel.

I’ve barreled 3 Savage actions with Shilens and big ol’ barrel nuts and they shoot way tighter than I expected.

 

[Nightraider]

There’s a considerable cost savings being able to rebarrel with a prefit barrel with a barrel nut. A Shilen prefit barrel for a Savage action, an action wrench and barrel nut wrench cost me less than having a gunsmith supply, chamber and fit a barrel.

I’ve barreled 3 Savage actions with Shilens and big ol’ barrel nuts and they shoot way tighter than I expected.

Until it doesn't. Perfect example, PVA makes prefits for Bighorns. Customer buys one, screws it on, shoots 700 6.5x47L virgin cases through it, realizes the chamber is screwed up and is so large the brass is trash because you can't resize it, PVA hasn't made it right yet. Several other barrels are identical to that one in many other calibers. Why? Well because people are so eager to have it now that the QC has gone to shit to keep up with demand. People just throw a barrel in the CNC and hit send, the Amazon Prime generation is coming to a range near you.

 

[Mark W]

Guys who can chamber their own barrel, guys who chamber others barrels for dollars, and those who have a quality gunsmith readily accessible will never say anything nice about a nut job. For the rest of us it’s a viable option in many cases.

 

[1911nut]

Until it doesn't. Perfect example, PVA makes prefits for Bighorns. Customer buys one, screws it on, shoots 700 6.5x47L virgin cases through it, realizes the chamber is screwed up and is so large the brass is trash because you can't resize it, PVA hasn't made it right yet. Several other barrels are identical to that one in many other calibers. Why? Well because people are so eager to have it now that the QC has gone to shit to keep up with demand. People just throw a barrel in the CNC and hit send, the Amazon Prime generation is coming to a range near you.

I only have experience with Shilen prefit for large shank Savage actions and only 3 barrels.

There’s always somebody selling crap, my three rifles give Shilen prefit barrels an A+ rating.

 

[jpx2rk]

Is it even possible to swap barrels on a Ruger American rifle ?

 

[omega1]

Yep, PTG offers replacement barrel nuts in case you want to use your Savage barrel nut wrench when you replace your barrel.

 

[Shawnba67]

Different rifles have different unsupported case measurements(go guage protrusion)
Savage uses 0.125+or-
Remmington is 0.150+or-
I thought I had read Marlin xr7 had 135 so while it has Savage threads a savage barrel probly wouldnt fit.

 

[Bill K]

You will be way ahead to buy pre-fits for a specific brand/action. When you start to make this or that fit you can really open a can of worms and can wish you never started down that path.

 

[dolek]

Guys who can chamber their own barrel, guys who chamber others barrels for dollars, and those who have a quality gunsmith readily accessible will never say anything nice about a nut job. For the rest of us it’s a viable option in many cases.

Well said,nothing wrong with them for their intended purpose. Not everyone has a lathe .

 

[jlshaw]

There’s a considerable cost savings being able to rebarrel with a prefit barrel with a barrel nut. A Shilen prefit barrel for a Savage action, an action wrench and barrel nut wrench cost me less than having a gunsmith supply, chamber and fit a barrel.

I’ve barreled 3 Savage actions with Shilens and big ol’ barrel nuts and they shoot way tighter than I expected.

That really closely tracks with my own experience. Have purchased several Shilen and Criterion barrels - mostly in .260 Rem and .308. They have been uniformly excellent.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[dminn1]

Shot this target yesterday evening with my newest Criterion Remage in 284 Win. First shots with fire formed brass, 184g Berger Hybrids and H4831SC . It is shooting well just like my other two Criterions and one Shilen. Shot 4 other three shot groups on another target and the barrel averaged .401 moa for 7- 3 shot groups at 330 yards. This was with no previous load development and across 3.5 grains of H4831SC. I continue to be impressed with the performance of the barrel nut system.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Another question that comes up, "I have a trued action, can I order a Pre fit barrel"?

When you cut the threads true to the raceway you never know how far oversized they will be. If you have to take .010 or a hack takes .055- once its cut its not a good fit plus you wont have the bolt nose clearance after the front ring is trued up. Will it screw on and tighten up? Yes and it will fit about like every other prefit. Best option is to not touch an action if youre going to run the prefit route

 

[1911nut]

When you cut the threads true to the raceway you never know how far oversized they will be. If you have to take .010 or a hack takes .055- once its cut its not a good fit plus you wont have the bolt nose clearance after the front ring is trued up. Will it screw on and tighten up? Yes and it will fit about like every other prefit. Best option is to not touch an action if youre going to run the prefit route

So then the gunsmith cuts the threads on the barrel some oversized to match the “oversized “ action?

I thought barrel/action would be trued/threaded to a standard?

I tried to thread a bolt one time for my truck, it worked ok. That’s my level of machining but I have great interest in this stuff.