Swapping barrels on site

[dennisj]

I have noticed shooters at comps with more than one barrel for their
rifles. What is involved in swapping barrels on site? Is it a practical reality? What is required in tooling?
Thanks for your help

[RAVEN]

1 X Barrel Vise
1 X action wrench
Takes about 5min to change barrels
and a life time working out load for them
Cheers
RB

[Woody_rod]

Add maybe a inch/pound tension wrench if you using classic style of bedding to get your screws down the same each time you take the action from the stock.

[RDavies]

I often do it between ranges. I switch from 6PPC at 300 yds to my 22BR from 400 out to 800 yds, then my 7mm after that. I dont take my action out of my stock to do it. I can fire my last shot on one barrel and my first on the next barrel in well under 5 minutes its that easy. I have found with my good barrels that the windage is usualy pretty close with each barrel, but have to adjust my elevation for each. I keep the scope setting with each barrel written down and can get pretty close to zero after changing.

That said, I will be switching to a 6x47 for all ranges and using my old barrels for practice and play shoots, saves your good barrels.
That is with F class open, if you are changing from 223 to 308 in F standard, you will need to have a different bolt for each, or as some people have, replaceable bolt heads.

[AlanF]

...I will be switching to a 6x47 for all ranges...

Hmmm.. that's not a bad choice for a one-gunner. Question: will you use flat base bullets at the longs?

BTW when I was shooting 6.5-284 only, I would sometimes take 3 different barrels (for various reasons) and switch them between ranges.

Alan

[johnk]

BTW when I was shooting 6.5-284 only, I would sometimes take 3 different barrels and switch them between ranges.

I heard that they were barrel burners, but that's ridiculous.

[AlanF]

...I heard that they were barrel burners, but that's ridiculous...

I know John. And sometimes I even have to change barrels in the middle of a range, or even in the middle of a shot - now that's a bit tricky, but when there's only half a shot left in the barrel, what else can you do?

[bennf]

Hi
I am using a Barnard with 2 bolts and changing between my 556 and my 762.
My intention is to shoot 556 out to 800 yards the screw in the 762 for the longs.
My reasons
1. The 556 is a much more plesant rifle to shoot and it preforms as well as a 762 in my opinion out to 700 800 yrds.
2. Cheaper to shoot the 556 at the shorts
3. No issues with gun shyness using the 556 and therefor better let offs.

Just my two bobs worth

[Matt P]

Benn
I do the same but I don't change the bolt just the extractor, much cheaper.

Matt P

[RDavies]

One other thing to think of is that if you are using a Remington or any other which uses a recoil lug between the barrel and action, then I,m pretty sure you will need to get the recoil lug pinned to the action. If you dont have this separate recoil lug, and your barrel is totaly free recoiling, you will be fine

[bennf]

The only reason I went for the second bolt was that I could see myself changing extractors on the range and loosing parts. Just my luck.

Benn

[IanP]

Benn
I do the same but I don't change the bolt just the extractor, much cheaper.

Matt P

How does changing the extractor enable a 223R case head into a 308W bolt?

I have a bolt for each caliber and the case head size and extractor difference is considerable. Please explain how it fits and works. Damn, I hate wasting money and would love to know how one bolt does both.