Barrel Nut Cult

[MtnCreek]

I’ve read plenty of threads recently on customizing bolt actions, which bolt action is best…. Something that always seems to come up (other than Mosins shoot sub-moa to eternity) is the Savage barrel nut. Of the few brands of bolt action rifles that I own, Savage is the only manufacturer that uses a nut to secure the barrel in place. Why is that? It seems to me that my Remingtons or Winchester rifles could be retrofitted to utilize a barrel nut, but I’ve never seen anyone do this. Is there anything that makes a traditional (torque-er-down till she stops) barrel install superior to the barrel nut method? How about the other way; is there anything (other than ease of installation) that makes the barrel nut install superior to the conventional method?
Thanks.

 

[TonyAngel]

As with many things there is more than one way to put a barrel on a bolt action. Each has it's advantages. Savages are easy because you can swap barrels, but how much of a good idea that is can be the subject of some debate.

Personally, when I invest $600 in a barrel and have it precisely headspaced, I'm not going to go monkeying around with it.

Barrel nuts on a Remington are also old news. It's been done for a while. Pac Nor and a couple of other firms sell barrel nuts for Remingtons, but few opt for them.

 

[Zerodefect]

Bench rest shooters can swap barrels as often as evey 800 rounds. About $1600 in factory ammo (6mmbr).

So the barrel nut sure is nice to make that process easy.

 

[Jim Watson]

Benchrest barrels are not set up very tight, a simple action wrench and barrel clamp will change one out without much trouble. I'd still want a pro to do the actual installation to the degree of precision required for that game.

 

[TonyAngel]

I suppose that there are certain situations wherein it could be a convenience, but for the regular guy, I don't know.

I know a couple of guys that shoot benchrest and they do have quick change setups, but it's nothing like the simple barrel nut setup of the Savage. The guys that shoot benchrest are fireforming their brass to their chamber, neck sizing only, turning necks to a specific diameter and are loading their ammunition with a minimum of run out and to a very specific OAL. I'd say that getting the headspace perfect is crucial and I really don't think that you can do that by using the Savage system as a quick change setup with a set of go/no go gauges. Of course, this is all just for the purposes of discussion. I do know guys that like the Savages for this very reason. I just prefer not to go this route.

On the other hand, I also know a guy that is a master rifle builder who also shoots benchrest and he does swap out barrels at some matches, but I think that his level of skill doing such things exceeds that of most shooters.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What that bbl nut does is it cuts out the local "lathe and headspace" gunsmith and his wife's need for a new Buick.

That "$600" rebarrel for a Remington 700 is a $340 job from the folks at Shilen. Why because of not only the nut but the way savage headspace is adjustable Shilen can fully chamber and thread barrels by the hundred in their factory on their multi million dollar machines. Another factor to consider are the multitude of reamers folks like Shilen have on hand that you "local guy" may not even have a fraction of.

It's also a fallacy to believe there is "a perfect" headspace. Headspace on a savage is what YOU want it to be since it's fully adjustable. For example I have mine set to only appx .002" deeper than what my FL die will resize cases. All a gunsmith is going to do is work your 700 over till a GO. Gauge fits and a NO-GO doesn't. Especially in light of the fact that to make any adjustment required removal of metal in very fine increments.

Now I've seen and talked to a number of benchrest guys and without a doubt comparisons to their rigs and stock off the shielf actions are the height of folly.

There are those who claim a jamb nut also provides a more positive thread interference and lock than a torqued shoulder. On this I must pleade ignorant. For me the advantages of tuneability, cost, availability and ease of installation are enough


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[TonyAngel]

RW, I understand your take on the barrel nut, but you really have no idea of what it is that my gunsmith did to my rifle.

Am I to also understand from your post that I can call Shilen and they will send me a barrel that has been cut, chambered and threaded for $340? The last time I checked, their barrels alone were over $300.

Are you also saying that you can load ammunition for the purpose of precision shooting by accommodating the chamber dimensions as they existed at the time that you setup your loading gear, pull the barrel, replace it and have it shoot with the same degree of precision with the same ammunition?

 

[MtnCreek]

call Shilen and they will send me a barrel that has been cut, chambered and threaded for $340?

If you wanted the chrome moly.
SS Match is $375 and SS select match is $450.

 

[R.W.Dale]

RW, I understand your take on the barrel nut, but you really have no idea of what it is that my gunsmith did to my rifle.

no offense but unless you were standing there neither do you. What is your headspace set at

Am I to also understand from your post that I can call Shilen and they will send me a barrel that has been cut, chambered and threaded for $340? The last time I checked, their barrels alone were over $300.

that's the beauty of mass production

MY prices (off the top of my head) were a little out of date I'll admit but for the most part yes. A more "production" SS barrel from shilen can be had for $320
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=510747

Are you also saying that you can load ammunition for the purpose of precision shooting by accommodating the chamber dimensions as they existed at the time that you setup your loading gear, pull the barrel, replace it and have it shoot with the same degree of precision with the same ammunition?

I don't use my savage that way but in the past I've had to remove and reinstall barrels for various reasons and yes the results remain pretty consistent a couple times to such a degree that the scope didn't even need to be re zeroed. I'm honestly a little perplexed as to why you don't think it would assuming I take the time to set headspace to where it was previously

the advantage to the nut is it allows fully finished barrels to be mass produced (and all the advantages that go along with it vs the older system remington uses where each and every barrel is essentially hand fitted.

Other rifles that use a bbl nut are the marlin XL-S series and mossbergs I believe. There may be others but those are the ones I know of.

 

[Walkalong]

Benchresters do indeed swap barrels at a match on occasion. We would always use a different set of brass for each barrel though. The only problem with swapping at a match is getting on target. It usually isn't too hard, because it will be close, but it is a risk.

As Jim posted, the barrels are not nearly as tight as factory barrels, so a good barrel vise and an action wrench are all you need.

Some people get bolt action hunting rifles set up as swap barrel guns.

 

[bigedp51]

On my truck I can loosen the lug nuts and put fancy custom wheels on myself, or upgrade to giant tires and go off roading.
(depending on the horsepower of your engine/cartridge)

Below custom street rod Savage.



Below custom off road Savages.



It all depends on what the nut with the wrench wants to do.



I have a stock Remington thats staying that way but I plan to customize the Stevens 200.
I just can't make up my mind to go off roading or build a full blown hot rod.



The Remington 700 had one bolt lug barely touching and the Savage/Stevens always has both lugs touching equally.

 

[MtnCreek]

Jim / Walkalong,
How do you use the action wrench with the scope mounted? Modified wrench and low torque?

custom off road Savages

Mr. P51,
You Sir are as sick as I am, I'll try to find a spray paint anonymous 10 step program for us; we can car pool!

 

[Jim Watson]

How do you use the action wrench with the scope mounted?

I don't.
I am not a weekend barrel switcher, when I changed barrels it was to install a new one which will stay on the gun as long as its accuracy holds up. 2500-4500 rounds for a .308 depending on your standards.