Switch-Bbl Q from Newbie

[3X5doggin]

Hi guys,

I must confess, I've read and used this site and message board for quite some time and have not yet participated.

My apologies.

It's a great site and great board which deserves more participation.

As a direct result of this site and board I now have one of the best shooting rifles I've ever had the pleasure of shooting.

Prior to being brainwashed by www.6mmbr.com I was a died in the wool shooter of the basic cartridges for varminting. My lineup was the .17HRM, .223, 22-250, .243 and closing with the shoulder pounding 25-06., I know.. pretty plain... but hey! gotta start somewhere!)

However, to get on with the saga, I had one of the sponsor gunsmiths build me a 6MMBR. Boy was I missing the boat! This gun is a dream and I could shoot the 6BR all day long without becoming shell shocked. I'm a convert!

Anyway, that leads me into a question for the collective experience here. How difficult is it to do a switch barrel and how easily can it be changed? I ordered a new 6MM AI from the same gunsmith and on a whim I ordered a second switch barrel in 22BR.

Also, as an aside, how about a 22BR with a 20BR switch?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[Forum Boss]

Switch barrel from the same smith should be a piece of cake. He should be able to chamber and headspace without requiring your action back--if he kept good records.

As to the on/off, some guys just screw on/off and set hand-tight. Most of the guys I know snug it up tight. To unseat the barrel, you put the end in a barrel vice then use an action wrench to snap the barrel free. I knew one guy who had a barrel vice mounted on the rear bumper of his truck so he could easily switch barrels at the range.

The key thing is to be careful when screwing the barrel in and grease the threads. The smith can also index the barrel to a mark on the receiver so you can tell immediately if its unscrewing itself from inadequate tension.

Hopefully one of the PPC guys can chime in. They swap barrels all the time. There may be a better/faster procedure than I've described.

 

[Asa_Yam]

Also, as an aside, how about a 22BR with a 20BR switch?

Dave,
Be careful about making switch barrel guns where the rounds are too similar to each other. I spoke with the gunsmith that got to rebuild an AR-15 after someone fired a .300 Whisper round through a .223 upper. The bolt, bolt carrier, upper receiver, and barrel extension didn't survive the process,the barrel did, with only a very slight bulge). Granted, this was the result of feeding a .30 caliber projectile down a .22 caliber hole, but the results of firing a .22 BR round in a .20 BR chamber,if it fits) would probably generate pressures in excess of 70,000 PSI - not healthy if the case ruptures.

As long as the ammo and barrel are rigorously checked to ensure you aren't feeding in the wrong rounds, you should be okay.

 

[Forum Boss]

Very good point Asa.

As to a 22BR/20BR switch barrel I think those rounds are potentially close enough in performance and application that it might be too much of a good thing. I might suggest a 22BR and the 20 Vartarg. Lapua will be producing Vartarg Brass to be distributed through Dakota Arms. The little Vartarg probably wins the efficiency contest among 20s.

This will have the advantage that the 22BR won't chamber in a 20 Vartarg barrel. The 20 Vartarg is small enough that you'd be awfully unlikely to stick it in the wrong barrel.

 

[3X5doggin]

Editor in Chief said:
"The smith can also index the barrel to a mark on the receiver so you can tell immediately if its unscrewing itself from inadequate tension."

Great idea! Just the ticket... Thanks so much for your thoughtful consideration and answer.


Asa Yam Said:
"but the results of firing a .22 BR round in a .20 BR chamber,if it fits) would probably generate pressures in excess of 70,000 PSI - not healthy if the case ruptures."

Oh man.. I'm careful, but you're sure right. It would be quite an easy thing to do.

I'll take the Editor in Chief's advice and go the 22BR and 20 Vartarg route.

Many thanks for the advice, I'm sure it'll save me a lot of headaches down the road.

Dave

 

[Forum Boss]

I feel compelled to add that the Vartarg uses a smaller bolt face. With a Savage you can add a smaller bolt head at low cost. With a Remington, you can get a second bolt for not too much money. If you have a custom action, like a BAT, that could be cost-prohibitive. In that case, having both a 22BR and 20 Vartarg might not work out--I was just laying out some of the alternatives to you. Perhaps the best thing is to do a bit more research on both the 22BR and 20BR and decide which suits your needs best. The 20 gives you more velocity. The 22 will let you shoot heavier bullets,with the appropriate twist). There are fans of both cartridges.

 

[3X5doggin]

Editor in Chief said:
"I feel compelled to add that the Vartarg uses a smaller bolt face. "

Oh man, I have just enough knowlege to be really dangerous and not enough to get the job done.

Thanks Editor!.. I guess it's back to the drawing board on this project.

I really appreciate your input. .It's nice to get information from folks that really know what they are talking about.

Changing the bolt and the barrel doesn't seem like a workable situation on a dog hunt, so I may just forego the switch barrel and try the .20 Vartarg in a separate gun. As ASA so kindly pointed out, there is a real danger if you're not extremely careful.

Thanks again for the great site!

Dave

 

[3X5doggin]

Hi guys..

Time for an update on this thread.

Thanks to the information from our "editor in chief" and "Asa Yam" I ordered a couple of switch barrel rifles from Richard Franklin. The first is a 6MM AI with a 22BR switch barrel and the second is a 6MM BR with a 20BR switch barrel. While I really appreciate the recommendation for the 20 Vartarg, the different boltface doesn't allow the same kind of flexibility.

I currently have a 6BR from Richard Franklin and it's a fine shooting rifle. I was lucky enough to shoot a single 5 shot group of 1.5 inches @ 600yds.

The Vartarg that the "editor in chief" recommended is on my list of "things to do".. May just try this one in the TC Encore.

Yes, I asked Richard to put a witness mark on the barrels. Thanks!!! Great idea!!

My first rifle should be arriving in the next couple of weeks, so should give me plenty of time to work up loads for the upcoming doggin shoots...

Thanks for the great site!

Dave

 

[3X5doggin]

Hi Guys!

It's been a while, but I took your guidance to heart! As a result, I'm now the proud owner of two new switch barrel rifles that are currently in workup.

Many thanks to ASA and Editor in Chief as you put me on the right track.

I ordered the guns from Richard Franklin and he did a great job with witness marks and stocks that are magnificent!...

The first gun is 22BR and 6MM AI.
The second is 20 BR and 6MM BR.

Oh yeah.. I took the advice of the Editor in Chief and ordered a third one,yet to arrive) .17 Mach IV and .20 Vartarg.. which are both based on the .221 Fireball cartridge.

Initial workups on the first two are excellent with .250 or less groups in all barrels.

Per your recommendations, I asked Rich to put witness marks on the barrels, which he did... Makes it a piece of cake!

Basis specs on both rifles....

Bat actions
Krieger barrels
Jewell triggers
Stocks by Rich
Pillar bedded
No turn chambers for Lapua brass,on the wildcats)
Nightforce 8X32 BR scopes

BAT machine was kind enough to ship me the action wrenches immediately. A vise from Sinclair and I was ready to go!..

Forming the brass on the .20 BR was bit challenging, but managed to survive the ordeal. Can hardly wait to shoot "dogs" with this one! NO recoil.... I'm gonna shoot flies off fence posts @ 100 yds!

Anyway, thanks for the help!

Dave