So you want to change your barrel?
I thought it would be a good idea to switch my favorite hunting rifle to a shorter barrel. I am sure it was the quarter pound difference in weight that convinced me to do it. Or, maybe it was the loss in velocity due to less powder burn. Actually it probably was the 6 inches that make it easier getting in and out of vehicles, deer blinds and UTVs that convinced me. Whatever it was, I did it.
Now, I am going to attempt to explain how I did it and what problems I had.
Tools needed:
- A good work bench
- A vise ( with barrel adapter) or barrel vise
- Action Wrench
- Torque Wrench
- Drywall- Paper Tape
- Go/No-Go gauges (for the correct caliber)
- A pre-fit barrel or barrel that has a barrel nut.
Work Bench– Let’s start with the good work bench. I list the obvious because I once watched a video of two guys that decided to take on the task and didn’t realize how tight some of these barrels can be. Their make shift vise held to the bench but they did manage to turn the bench over while loosening the barrel.
Barrel Vise– If you have a regular bench vise already attached to your bench, there are barrel adapters or “soft jaws” that you can get on Brownell, Midway or Amazon for pretty cheap. This may be the fastest way to put together a barrel vise. There are also barrel vises that attach to a work bench or you can watch YouTube or read a few SnipersHide threads and build your own. Regardless, make sure it is secure and also make sure the barrel does not slip in your vise.
Drywall Paper Tape- You can buy one roll and it will last you the lifetime of doing barrel work. Before putting your barrel in the vise, wrap drywall paper tape, around the part of the barrel that is touching the vice. You can find it at any home improvement store and it will save your barrel from vise marks.
Action Wrench- You will need an action wrench. You may need to do some research to get the correct action wrench. There are many universal or modular action wrenches out there but if there is one piece of advice I can give you, DO NOT use a wrench that is too small and messes up the inside of your action. Try to get the wrench that fits or a good universal wrench that has a couple of attachments. There are plenty of options out there.
Drywall Paper Tape- You can buy one roll and it will last you the lifetime of doing barrel work. Before putting your barrel in the vise, wrap drywall paper tape, around the part of the barrel that is touching the vice. You can find it at any home improvement store and it will save your barrel from vise marks.
Torque Wrench– All I can say is make sure to use one. These days there is no excuse. They come in all sizes and price points. Start with a Harbor Freight wrench if that is all you can afford.
Go/No Go Gauges- You will need to purchase the gages that match the caliber of your rifle. These are used to set the head space of the rifle. This is the distance between the bolt face and shoulder of the cartridge. Too much head space and you could have blow-by or an unsafe situation. Not enough and you may have a tight bolt or jammed round. They are pretty easy to use and can save a lot of headache and give you a better feel that the job was done right when you finish.
Basically install the go-gauge and confirm after your barrel is installed and that the bolt will close tightly with the gauge installed. Now install the No-GO gauge and confirm that the bolt will not close with the gauge installed. If it does, your barrel is not within tolerance and needs the less headspace.