Reports of people screwing barrels on hand tight

[Gil P.]

I've heard of people screwing on barrels hand tight and shooting them without issue. What are your thoughts on this? They are doing this on actions that do not have set screws to hold the barrel in place like Accuracy International.

 

[hoz53]

I've heard of people screwing on barrels hand tight and shooting them without issue. What are your thoughts on this? They are doing this on actions that do not have set screws to hold the barrel in place like Accuracy International.

thats been happening a long time- most that do it give it sort of a snap as it hits the action

 

[tmwinds]

I guess that would work if they are strong enough. I wouldn’t want to shake hands with them.

 

[Ksracer]

I think the AI system is more of a circular clamp. There are some aftermarket actions that use set screws into the sides of the tenon to prevent loosening. I've never been a fan because uneven tightening will push the barrel one way or the other. There's also a recoil lug with a circular clamp built into it that's pinned to the action face. There's a video out there showing a significant zero shift after bumping the barrel against a block of wood using one of the "quick change" systems.

 

[Gil P.]

thats been happening a long time- most that do it give it sort of a snap as it hits the action

Really? That is interesting. Have you heard of any issues from doing it?

What's the point torquing barrels down then?

I'd imagine you'd need a strap wrench to remove it after a few hundred rounds.

 

[Dgd6mm]

How many ft lbs of torque can you achieve with a snap using just your hands? Also once you put a barrel on with your hands can you then take it off with just your hands. Inquiring minds.

 

[Gil P.]

I think the AI system is more of a circular clamp. There are some aftermarket actions that use set screws into the sides of the tenon to prevent loosening. I've never been a fan because uneven tightening will push the barrel one way or the other. There's also a recoil lug with a circular clamp built into it that's pinned to the action face. There's a video out there showing a significant zero shift after bumping the barrel against a block of wood using one of the "quick change" systems.

Do you remember which action that was?

 

[Vandy321]

How many ft lbs of torque can you achieve with a snap using just your hands? Also once you put a barrel on with your hands can you then take it off with just your hands. Inquiring minds.

Exactly 1.21 gigawatts of torque

 

[whatsupdoc]

AI barrel clamp, This is not mine but on my particular example
if you remove the barrel and reinstall it hand tight (no snapping it on)
the first shot will be off by .75-1.0 MOA the second shot will be within .25 MOA
of where it was when you removed the barrel.

 

[hoz53]

Really? That is interesting. Have you heard of any issues from doing it?

What's the point torquing barrels down then?

I'd imagine you'd need a strap wrench to remove it after a few hundred rounds.

i torque mine but some people who change barrels often, i think do it that way

 

[rijndael]

Do you remember which action that was?

Sounds like a BarLoc system from ARC. It was abandoned.

 

[Ksracer]

Do you remember which action that was?

Curtis Custom and Terminus use the set screws that bite into opposing sides of an unthreaded section of tenon.

The WTO Switch Lug is pinned to the front of the action and is split so that it clamps to an unthreaded portion of the tenon which has a 1* taper.

Neither these two seem to load the threaded joint beyond the initial hand torque. The WTO lug claims that it requires 55ftlbs of torque to unscrew if the pins are removed, although my impromptu test unscrewed it much easier.

The ARC Barloc was designed to address the seemingly apparent shortcomings of the Switch Lug by using opposing conical washers that mate with conical seats in the split lug which spread in the axial direction when the screw is tightened. The idea is that the spreading forces will load the tenon threads and secure the joint to prevent movement. If I remember right, the project was put on hold because of headspace inconsistency.

I don't think the hand tight barrels pose significant accuracy issues, it's more of an issue with POI shifts due to rough handling. The guys I know abandoned the quick change systems and just bought barrel vise's or have flats machined in the shank of their barrels.

 

[rijndael]

If I remember right, the project was put on hold because of headspace inconsistency.

That doesn't mesh with my recollection:

why did ARC suspend Barloc sales?

I tried to order one the other day and was told by ARC guys there not selling them right now. He said reports of POI change if the barrel is struck. I would have figured the amount of positional shooters, hunters, yahooos here it would have shown up here with an issue. I'm gathering my parts...

www.snipershide.com

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How many ft lbs of torque can you achieve with a snap using just your hands? Also once you put a barrel on with your hands can you then take it off with just your hands. Inquiring minds.

If its machined right and the threads are clean you cant remove it by hand after a good snap. No issue at all doing this if its for yourself. Ive shot a bunch with snapped on barrels

 

[Ksracer]

That doesn't mesh with my recollection:

why did ARC suspend Barloc sales?

I tried to order one the other day and was told by ARC guys there not selling them right now. He said reports of POI change if the barrel is struck. I would have figured the amount of positional shooters, hunters, yahooos here it would have shown up here with an issue. I'm gathering my parts...

www.snipershide.com

I can't recall what I had for breakfast and I often forget what I'm saying in the middle of a sentence.

You're probably right.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I forgot, i have a barloc ive never used. Ill never use a nut barrel so ill sell it if somebody needs it

 

[INTJ]

I have a client who has sent in a couple of WTO switch barrel setups. The instructions were to fit hand tight and then tighten the clamp to 30 in lbs. I didn't really like the setup. It just doesn't seem like it would be rigid enough. Shot okay, but not spectacular.

 

[Gil P.]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like switch barrels arent worth the trouble.

 

[tmwinds]

I’m not a gunsmith but I’ve removed and reinstalled a lot of barrels and never had one loosen. I hand tightened and then give it a snap with the action wrench. I don’t worry about torque. I guarantee it will take more to get it off than it did to put it on.

 

[AlNyhus]

Done correctly, every barrel/action is a 'switch barrel'. You can most definitely have accuracy issues if barrels aren't adequately tightened..

Good shootin' -Al