what is involved in making a switch barrel rifle?

[kuribo]

Pardon my novice question, but I am interested in learning what is entailed in making a switch barrel rifle. I would assume any rifle can have the barrel removed and replaced, so what is it that is done to a regular rifle to make it a switch barrel?


Thanks to all that reply....
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[HTSmith]

With a Savage, not too much. Get a wrench and order a chambered barrel. Headspace gauge is nice, but you can use a fired case.

With a Remington 700 or a custom action, just have the 'smith make up the barrels. I would have the recoil pinned so you don't have worry about it. You'll need a vice and wrench from someone like Brownells or Sinclair. Just screw them on to about a 100 foot lbs. The machining of the shoulder makes the headspacing automatic.

If you can change a tire on your car, you can change barrels.

 

[kuribo]

Thank you for the reply. So it seems that all you need to do is to pin the recoil lug,if it isn't already stationary) and use the appropriate wrench/vise/etc. I am surprised that it is not more commonly done if it is that simple as it is definitely a lot more economical to have one action/stock/scope and multiple barrels....

I saw one web site where a gunsmith simply milled lands on the end of the barrel so a wrench or socket could be used to screw/unscrew the barrel. That looked pretty simply and handy....I wonder if the same couldn't be accomplished by drilling holes to make a muszzle break and then screw/unscrew the barrel with some sort of tool that would use the muzzle break holes for leverage....

Again, thanks.....

 

[Hammer]

If you can change a tire on your car, you can change barrels.

Changing a barrel is much easier than changing a tire. Much easier.

If you can change a 40 Watt light bulb in a table lamp then you can swap barrels.

If you can supervise someone changing a 40 Watt light bulb...