What’s the Difference Between a Shouldered Pre-Fit and a Barrel Nut Pre-Fit for a Savage?

[PhilC]

One looks a hell of a lot better than the other. That’s it.

Eye candy, sure won't shoot better.

If you plan to change barrels often and want a shouldered barrel you'll be stuck with having a 'smith or machinist do the shoulder or invest in a lot of expensive equipment and tools to do your own.

Anyone can do the barrel nut with a go/no-go gauge or a fired case and an action wrench...that's the route I took so I don't have to depend on someone else for a barrel swap.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Here is the thread. All 25 pages.

Thread 'Barrel Nut Disadvantages?'

Jan 18, 2021

I think for most applications a good quality barrel nut on a well machined barrel ought to be okay. However, as I think through this, I see some potential disadvantages.

With a well machined shouldered barrel, when you tighten it up it firmly and evenly engages the action. At most, you might get .001" more from just snug to heavy torque. More often I think it's less than .0005". This means the barrel is true to the action with no stress. This allows very heavy barrels to free float.

With a barrel nut, there is no barrel shoulder so thread tension must be what holds everything in...

• INTJ
• Replies: 490
• Forum: Gun Project Questions & Gunsmithing

• 

I would make further comment, but I'll just leave the thread to the reader.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Eye candy, sure won't shoot better.

If you plan to change barrels often and want a shouldered barrel you'll be stuck with having a 'smith or machinist do the shoulder or invest in a lot of expensive equipment and tools to do your own.

Anyone can do the barrel nut with a go/no-go gauge or a fired case and an action wrench...that's the route I took so I don't have to depend on someone else for a barrel swap.

If you want to marry an action to a barrel simply put blue loctite on the nut (not on the action) while headspacing. Now it's a shoulder.

 

[Clancy]

Eye candy, sure won't shoot better.

If you plan to change barrels often and want a shouldered barrel you'll be stuck with having a 'smith or machinist do the shoulder or invest in a lot of expensive equipment and tools to do your own.

Anyone can do the barrel nut with a go/no-go gauge or a fired case and an action wrench...that's the route I took so I don't have to depend on someone else for a barrel swap.

I swap my own shouldered barrels in the garage. You sure don’t need expensive equipment or a smith to do it.

 

[G6br]

I now have three prefit nut barrels
Two for Savages and one on my Remington 700. All shoot great and I will be adding more shortly.

Looking into a custom action, just can't decide which one....and yes it too will have a nut.

 

[Evan]

I like shouldered barrels for the simple reason that I thread it on, torque it, done. No fussing with gauges or likely setting the headspace slightly differently every time I swap the barrels (I swap multiple barrels between two rifles all the time depending on what I want to shoot).

 

[ebb]

A shouldered barrel has the shoulder milled into the barrel, and to change the headspace you would need to remove metal from the chamber, or the shoulder. The nut serves the same purpose as the shoulder only it is threaded and can be adjusted to make the headspace right. I am not trying to be cruel, but if you don't understand the difference maybe you need a smith to do the job for you?

 

[jelenko]

Also, my understanding is shouldered prefits are more expensive than ones that used nuts.

 

[DLT]

I'm leaning towards using a nut. Sounds more straight forward to me using a Go/No Go gauge.

It’s what I do. The main reason is so if I take a notion to swap barrels around to different actions I can using a nut barrel.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

When you say you plan to do as much gunsmithing as possible, does that mean you plan to chamber your own barrels? Or does that mean you plan to just replace your own barrels?

A shouldered prefit needs to either already have the measurements of the action or the action needs to be made and held to tight tolerances in order for it to headspace properly

In the case of a Savage action, you'd need to either send in your action to a smith, so they can measure and record it for future shouldered prefits, or you can simply buy nut prefits and set headspace yourself

No, not the chambering. Trigger work or replacement, bedding and lapping. Stuff like that. For complete custom build, I'll have it done by a pro.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

To bad You’re starting Your quest the day SavageShooters.com site shut down after 24 years. The answers to all Your questions have been there for decades.

Why, is there not Savage gurus on this board? Sure seems like there is.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Also, my understanding is shouldered prefits are more expensive than ones that used nuts.

Welllll... At least from me they are similar. My nut barrel is $319 plus $40 nut.

Shouldered is $470. So, 100 bucks more or so.

 

[memilanuk]

If you want to marry an action to a barrel simply put blue loctite on the nut (not on the action) while headspacing. Now it's a shoulder.

Eh... go red - or rockset - or go home

It'll last the life of the barrel, and the nut will come off and go on the next barrel when you need it to - and not before.

Blue would *probably* work fine, but I'd rather not chance it.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

You know, sometimes a post just comes across in ways you just don't know how to take. Theres a reason early on I became a gold member. When this site was highly recommended from a member here, I had to go have a look. I'm glad I did. There is a ton of knowledge here! To include comp shooters, gunsmiths, machinist, guys shooting with over 50+ years and much more. Yes, there are other forums, but what it comes down to is opinions. Everyone has one! What works for them, works for them and you have to respect that. For me being newer to the custom guns, wildcats and build aspect, I'm simply putting my feelers out to make a decision based on what options I might have, and which way might be best for me. Several of you have reached out and PM'ed me on several topics I have made. That tells me that you care and are willing to contribute time and knowledge with your experiences with me. And for that I am grateful.

And to you urbanrifleman, I will read over that 25-page thread tonight. Thank you for finding what I was looking for while the popcorn was being popped!

 

[urbanrifleman]

Eh... go red - or rockset - or go home

It'll last the life of the barrel, and the nut will come off and go on the next barrel when you need it to - and not before.

Blue would *probably* work fine, but I'd rather not chance it.

Sure. That too. Have you removed one red loctited on?

 

[LuvDog]

No, not the chambering. Trigger work or replacement, bedding and lapping. Stuff like that. For complete custom build, I'll have it done by a pro.

If you're not doing your own chambering, then you probably are limited to nut pre fits.

Unless you send your action to the person who will be chambering your barrels. They could take and keep the measurements for headspace and then provide you with shouldered prefits going forward. But I don't think that's really what you will end up wanting.

Get the nut prefit for the Savage.

When you decide that you really hate having money in a savings account, then get a custom action and that opens up a whole new world of shouldered prefits.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

If you're not doing your own chambering, then you probably are limited to nut pre fits.

Unless you send your action to the person who will be chambering your barrels. They could take and keep the measurements for headspace and then provide you with shouldered prefits going forward. But I don't think that's really what you will end up wanting.

Get the nut prefit for the Savage.

When you decide that you really hate having money in a savings account, then get a custom action and that opens up a whole new world of shouldered prefits.

I have decided on the nut pre-fit. The PTA will be sent off for truing & timing before I attempt my first barreling and setting headspace. I have one complete Model 12 LRPV 204 new, in safe just yelling at me to do something with. That will be my first pre-fit barreling expectance.

Are "pre-fits" not chambered? All the ones I'm seeing are.

 

[ashooter]

Pre fits will be chambered in the cartridge you select, you choose barrel twist and reamer options, best option is to call who ever you plan to purchase barrel from and go over it with them.

 

[LuvDog]

I have decided on the nut pre-fit. The PTA will be sent off for truing & timing before I attempt my first barreling and setting headspace. I have one complete Model 12 LRPV 204 new, in safe just yelling at me to do something with. That will be my first pre-fit barreling expectance.

Are "pre-fits" not chambered? All the ones I'm seeing are.

Yes - prefits are chambered and threaded for your action.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Pre fits will be chambered in the cartridge you select, you choose barrel twist and reamer options, best option is to call who ever you plan to purchase barrel from and go over it with them.

Exactly!