Switch barrel vs multiple rifles

[Krumfola]

I'd like to get everyone's input on how practical it is to have a switch barrel rifle versus multiple rifles. My current go-to set up is a 6GT on an atlas tactical, EH1, and a NF. I'm trying to decide if I should add a 6.5cm prefit or even pick up a magnum bolt and prefit in either 6.5 PRC, 7SAUM, 7SS, etc. or if it would make more sense just to put together another rifle.

I've already got an extra scope, stock, bottom metal, and trigger so I'm either looking at picking up a magnum bolt or just buying another action altogether to complete the build. Cost really isn't a concern here. In my mind, one action with multiple prefits sounds like the way to go but I've also heard of people taking this route and ending up with a bunch of extra barrels because they just don't swap them as much as they thought they would.

For those that have switch barrel set-ups, do you find yourself swapping barrels regularly or just grabbing a separate rifle and heading to the range to avoid having to swap it, re-zero, etc.?

 

[Presis Skyter]

With the new quick change barrel setups of the Seekins PH3 (similar to the hit that's been out for awhile), I've been having similar thoughts. It seems like a good way to practice with a low recoil round but the couple times you want to hunt with a larger caliber, there is that option. To me the most expensive part of my setups are the scope, so a barrel change seems like a huge cost savings over two rifles and two scopes.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Look at this way/
$450 for a blank
$300 for a chamber job
Or $500-750 for prefit


VS


$1900-$5000 for new gun





Of coarse I switch barrels like changing pants, and most of mine are all the same Bolt face.. on the ones that do have different bolt faces, I already have the bolt..

It is cheaper just to switch out barrels, once you get set up for it… barrel vice & action wrench..

 

[Jbumblebee]

I was considering a PH3 for a bit because of the barrel switching. I have several rifles already, which makes switching barrels redundant. If you're starting or don't have a bunch of rifles in different calibers, the switching makes perfect sense.

 

[stazmania]

I think it an individual choice. If you're the guy that has lots of guns/choices when you go to the safe but you always grab the same favorite rifle/cartridge then a switch barrel is probably not for you if you're the guy that grabs a different setup every time and is always changing loads then go switch barrel. The guy's I know that go switch barrel, I think do it more as an excuse to play with and develop a load/cartridge combo. Then when they have a combo dialed in, they are on to the next. Eventually they put the switch barrel combo they like best together put it in the safe and move on to the next. What a great hobby.

 

[Plinker147]

It's really based on price. reason most of us do switch barrels is it way cheaper than a new gun everytime you get the itch.

Other plus on the switch barrel is you can practice with exact format you're going to hunt with but use a much cheaper to operate.

It takes a whole 5 minutes to switch a barrel so that's not a big deal.

 

[joshf303]

#switchbarrellife

 

[M118LR]

Only have one rifle? Then by all means get a second one. Two of something is one, and one of something becomes nothing on the first broken part. You could get a switch barrel setup for your second rifle to make your two rifles perform like many.

 

[MagnumManiac]

My circumstances are different, but I've been building switch barrel rifles for virtually 25 years.
We are restricted to 15 rifles max here, unless we have an alarm system that goes directly to the police, as if that makes a difference.
Anyway, we register an action, but can have as many barrels as we like for that action.
It is the easiest method to have multiple cartridges on one action without the expense of multiple rifles, which also require new hardware each time you buy, this was, you buy once.

Cheers.

 

[ARlife4me]

Just getting into short mags (6.5prc & 7saum for now) i wouldn't mind having a "switch barrel/lug" type. This way i can go from 26cal to 458cal easy.

 

[FEENIX]

"I" prefer multiple rifles over switch barrels.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Yup,. This ^^^ I want to Be, "intimate" with, EACH Rifle and,.. the "Perfect Load" for,.. each, Rifle !

 

[Barbourcreek]

Here is what I do

 

[ATH]

If you have shouldered barrels it's not as bad. Resetting headspace each time for a nut system is a real PIA. I had one for a couple years, after switching it a couple times it stayed in the more-used version and I ended up building a second rifle for the other barrel. Re-mounting optics, re-zeroing...Too much of a pain.

I did go down the route with ARs, one high quality tricked out lower and 4 uppers, swap with just the two pins. Only caveat is the need for more scopes, but this switch "barrel" is one I move back and forth all the time.