Realities of Barrel Interchangeability

S

SmallBoreBuyer

New member
Hello All,

I am wondering about the degree to which you can buy a barrel chambered for a particular action, screw it on and shoot.

I believe Panda and BATs have this ability. Are there others?

What needs to be done to ensure the new barrel fits? How often do problems come up with barrels that fit other examples of the same action?

TIA
 
SmallBoreBuyer said:
Hello All,

I am wondering about the degree to which you can buy a barrel chambered for a particular action, screw it on and shoot.

I believe Panda and BATs have this ability. Are there others?

What needs to be done to ensure the new barrel fits? How often do problems come up with barrels that fit other examples of the same action?

TIA
Click to expand...

I have 6 Pandas. I can change any barrel on any action and use the brass off any other barrel and hit within 2" with the first shot of where the last shot of the last barrel hit. Anyone can. It's just careful gunsmithing. Actions like Savage, Remington, etc., is a different story.

If a good Benchrest gunsmith has the specs of the last barrel he sent you he can send you another one to the same exact headspace.

.
 
JerrySharrett said:
I have 6 Pandas. I can change any barrel on any action and use the brass off any other barrel and hit within 2" with the first shot of where the last shot of the last barrel hit. Anyone can. It's just careful gunsmithing. Actions like Savage, Remington, etc., is a different story.

If a good Benchrest gunsmith has the specs of the last barrel he sent you he can send you another one to the same exact headspace.

.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jerry - my understanding was that the Panda headspace was standardized so that a well-made barrel from a different gunsmith would fit - is this true
 
SmallBoreBuyer said:
Thanks, Jerry - my understanding was that the Panda headspace was standardized so that a well-made barrel from a different gunsmith would fit - is this true
Click to expand...

If that's action hasn't been altered since manufacture a 1992 Panda will have the same headspace and tenon dimensions as a 2017 Panda. The threads will even have the same timing so that the barrel logo will come up in the same place.

.

.
 
JerrySharrett said:
I have 6 Pandas. I can change any barrel on any action and use the brass off any other barrel and hit within 2" with the first shot of where the last shot of the last barrel hit. Anyone can. It's just careful gunsmithing. Actions like Savage, Remington, etc., is a different story.

If a good Benchrest gunsmith has the specs of the last barrel he sent you he can send you another one to the same exact headspace.

.
Click to expand...

Jerry

How did you ever find a gunsmith that could do that?

Later
Dave
 
SmallBoreBuyer said:
Thanks so much, guys.

Besides the Panda and the BAT, are there other actions that have this level or repeatable precision?
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Troy, I have found the same on Rimrock actions. I have 2 Rimrock BR actions and I can swap PPC and 30BR barrels on each rifle, plus his bolts will extract both PPC and BR sized case rims. On a Borden Rimrock BR, B, BRM and the BRMXD you can buy a .215 spacer ring and use barrels from a coned Panda. Jim is making me and Sid Goodling some prototype BB actions that will allow us to use Bat tenon barrels that are 1.062x18TPI. He is making Sid's 3 in conventional RBLPRE. Mine is going to be a drop port. I have a dozen chambered new barrels in 4 different calibers and only 2 Bat action rifles. Having this 3rd action with alleviate me having to swap 2 barrels from each rifle.
 
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Jim Pag said:
Troy, I have found the same on Rimrock actions. I have 2 Rimrock BR actions and I can swap PPC and 30BR barrels on each rifle, plus his bolts will extract both PPC and BR sized cases. On a Borden Rimrock BR, B, BRM and the BRMXD you can buy a .215 spacer ring and use barrels from a Panda. Jim is making me and Sid Goodling some prototype BB actions that will allow us to use Bat tenon barrels that are 1.062x18TPI. He is making Sid's 3 in conventional RBLPRE. Mine is going to be a drop port.
Click to expand...

DITTO that part! I have three RimRocks - any of the many barrels will fit and be perfectly head-spaced on any of the three actions: however, the threads are not timed; the markings may/may not end up in the same location. I'm not concerned about that.:p I've got waldogs, talldogs, Idiotdogs, PPC, 30BR, 25BR, 6BR, .220x30*Russian, Dashers . . . you get the picture - all three actions have worked flawlessly since day one.:cool:RG
 
Dave Coots said:
Jerry

How did you ever find a gunsmith that could do that?

Later
Dave
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Dave, its just a Southern thing, I guess.


Seriously though, there are families or series of some custom actions that are only the same within that series. For example, on the Panda, the original Ralph Stolle Pamda had a flat bolt face where the later Kelbly Pandas have a 30 degree coned bolt face. Some of the other customs have "family" groupings.


.
 
Realities of Barrel interchangeability

SmallBoreBuyer said:
Hello All,



What needs to be done to ensure the new barrel fits? How often do problems come up with barrels that fit other examples of the same action?

TIA
Click to expand...



IMO....The above question is best answered by your Gunsmith.


Your question about the realities of barrel interchangeability reminds me of when I was a beginner at this sport. I’m a curious person, by DNA:D.

My mentor advised me to buy an action wrench and barrel vise. At the time, the total cost, of both(new), was about $100.00.


With practice, and a little expert advice, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to figure out which chambered barrels work on your action.

A benchrest shooters tool box should include an action wrench and barrel vise. its kinda like a jack and spare tire for the car. You never know when you might need it.



Glenn
 
I was wondering about the same thing as I want to get a 30BR Barrel for my new 6PPC built on a BAT. No issue with a glued in action? I am new to all of this. Who's barrel vise and wrench does everyone recommend?

Bob
 
rkittine said:
I was wondering about the same thing as I want to get a 30BR Barrel for my new 6PPC built on a BAT. No issue with a glued in action? I am new to all of this. Who's barrel vise and wrench does everyone recommend?

Bob
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No problem. I have a heavy varmint Bat action rifle that currently mounts a 30 BR barrel but I can put the 6ppc barrel back on at any time I feel like it.
 
rkittine said:
I was wondering about the same thing as I want to get a 30BR Barrel for my new 6PPC built on a BAT. No issue with a glued in action? I am new to all of this. Who's barrel vise and wrench does everyone recommend?

Bob
Click to expand...

Bob. IMO one of the nicest barrel vices is a VIPER. You can use it without putting anything between the vice and the barrel. It won't mar the barrel in any way because of the coating they use. As far as wrenches go, again IMO the rear entry angled stainless steel wrench from PMA tools is the cat's ass.
 
Bob, the only

rkittine said:
I was wondering about the same thing as I want to get a 30BR Barrel for my new 6PPC built on a BAT. No issue with a glued in action? I am new to all of this. Who's barrel vise and wrench does everyone recommend?

Bob
Click to expand...

thing I would worry about is is your bolt face universal or PPC dedicated. All else is superfluous.

David
 
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