Switch barrel vs multiple rifles

[hunter0528]

Another thought is the Blaser R8 system. Granted the initial investment (3500.00 and up) but additional calibers run 1400 and up depending on caliber from 22 rim-fire to 505 Gibbs. Plus the scope is mounted on the barrel so it is sighted in for that barrel. I've got a 300 Win and with good loads shoots 1/2" at 100 yards. The Elk in my Picture was at 200 yard. Basicly 1 shot (guide had me follow up with a second). One was through the heart other through the lungs.
Right now looking at the 22lr barrel for practice. Same exact trigger, same exact stock.

 

[Philward]

How would that work with short action mags, long action standard bolt face, and magnum bolt face? If you want a lightweight mountain rifle, a heavier bench gun.....The variations could be endless and you may need different stocks for different setups too.

Switch barrel to me is remove a set screw and quarter turn of barrel and it comes off. Just to clarify.

 

[vern.284]

I spent a long time thinking of this myself. Enter zermatt actions. Solid platform and no need to spend 4-500 on another bolt. There bolt head is $125. This with a WTO switchlug is bees knees to me
I did pick up a switch barrel here for target use only that is a .473 bolt face that I can't change, it was the WTO lug and work fantastic. Once I sent to my Smith all I have to do is call them and order a new barrel, no need to send the action back and I'm in business
Much more affordable for me

 

[Presis Skyter]

Anybody doing this with a short action and long action cartridge. What I'd love to be able to do is have a 6 dasher (or 6gt) for practice and something like a 280 ai for hunting. But how easy is it to overcome the feeding issues? Do they make long action magazines that can properly feed either of those rounds? I know the 6 dasher usually needs a spacer just to run in a short action.

 

[Takni]

Anybody doing this with a short action and long action cartridge. What I'd love to be able to do is have a 6 dasher (or 6gt) for practice and something like a 280 ai for hunting. But how easy is it to overcome the feeding issues? Do they make long action magazines that can properly feed either of those rounds? I know the 6 dasher usually needs a spacer just to run in a short action.

With short action cartridges it can work in Long actions but it's a pain to get the magazine set right for the short action cartridges. It can work I run 6 creedmores out of a Long actions. The problem I had was the bullet would til down far enough it would hang up on the feed ramps of the action. Took some time but I did get it to work

 

[VinceMule]

Think of building a platform, that includes Action, Trigger, Scope base, and mounts, Build off of that platform. You can adapt different stocks for different applications. Some custom actions are so uniform, that gunsmiths can chamber off of a print of the action for shouldered barrels, Stolle Panda and Batt I know for sure.

Swapping barrels is not very involved at all. Barrel nut Pre-fits are a tad more involved, but still simple.

The bottom line is how much disposable income you have to throw at your hobby.

Every rifle I own is a switch barrel except one, been that way since the mid 1980's.

 

[kfreeze]

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.?

I wouldn't ever want to switch barrels. I keep my stuff ready to grab and go. Switching a barrel and making sure the load and etc are still right on is too much screwing around. Grab gun, put already loaded ammo in, know it's good and go. Not even a hard choice for me.

 

[fseaman.js]

Another thought is the Blaser R8 system. Granted the initial investment (3500.00 and up) but additional calibers run 1400 and up depending on caliber from 22 rim-fire to 505 Gibbs. Plus the scope is mounted on the barrel so it is sighted in for that barrel. I've got a 300 Win and with good loads shoots 1/2" at 100 yards. The Elk in my Picture was at 200 yard. Basicly 1 shot (guide had me follow up with a second). One was through the heart other through the lungs.
Right now looking at the 22lr barrel for practice. Same exact trigger, same exact stock.

Unless something has changed, terrible accuracy. I went DTA SRS for quite awhile. If I had known about the 375 Swiss P, I would have kept it.

 

[sable tireur]

Just for a little edification, here is the style of takedown rifles we used to build:

For the well-heeled African Hunter, this design allowed them to take two barrel assemblies (or three) and one action.

Lots of time and careful attention to details.

 

[fseaman.js]

I wouldn't ever want to switch barrels. I keep my stuff ready to grab and go. Switching a barrel and making sure the load and etc are still right on is too much screwing around. Grab gun, put already loaded ammo in, know it's good and go. Not even a hard choice for me.

You don't use it like that, "opening day I'll use the 308 barrel, then on the next day I'll use the 6.5 CM barrel and then I'll switch to the Magnum bolt and switch to the 300 Win Mag barrel".

In general use of a switch barrel is not that "volatile" a situation. It is much more a case of leave it alone until there is a reason to change. It's not a system to change barrels daily on a whim.

At the moment I have 3 Bench rest switch barrels and I had a DTA SRS.

The "Remage" system Bench Rest 284 has never been changed but the Savage system, Remage and Howage do require a bit of care when switching. 2 AMT bench rest use a system that can be swapped at the range, they hold zero and hold headspace. At a competition, sighters are used to verify but it is no different than making sure nothing got bumped during the trip to the range. The DTA SRS was so accurate in barrel switching that all I had to do was adjust "zero" on the Nightforce per notes for each barrel.

 

[VinceMule]

fseaman, you can lead them to water, but can't make them drink. You can argue with them, but they will beat you with their inexperience. The ultra-rich can afford 5 gun safes full of guns, they do not need to switch barrels, and plenty of money trumps all options.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I wouldn't ever want to switch barrels. I keep my stuff ready to grab and go. Switching a barrel and making sure the load and etc are still right on is too much screwing around. Grab gun, put already loaded ammo in, know it's good and go. Not even a hard choice for me.

AGREE with,. this ^^^^
Yeah,.. Me too, as I "Freak Out" when, I Know that, my Scope is, a Click or Two,.. "Off" So, NO thanks for Me or anyone, in My Family,..
As we LIKE to Have,.. "Precision, on Tap" for, Every Game or, Varmint Animal hunted and Steel Target, Use !!
And I Live, 15-20 minutes away from, My Desert, "Shooting Area"
Sorry But,.. NO Thanks,.. When I need to, "Dial" for, Long Range shots,.. I want my Bullet to,.. Be,.. THERE !
( But, the rest of You,. should,.. Do,.."You" )

 

[sika64]

Anybody doing this with a short action and long action cartridge. What I'd love to be able to do is have a 6 dasher (or 6gt) for practice and something like a 280 ai for hunting. But how easy is it to overcome the feeding issues? Do they make long action magazines that can properly feed either of those rounds? I know the 6 dasher usually needs a spacer just to run in a short action.

Watch Barbour Creeks video above