Best action and barrel system for changing yourself.

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Yeetdude

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Minuteman
Aug 29, 2020
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#1
I'm looking to build a bolt gun for shooting matches. Ideally, I would like an action and barrel system that is easy to change myself without having to send it off to a smith. Any input would be helpful. I'm thinking about at a Terminus or Definacne action with a proof pre-fit barrel.
Thanks in advance.
 
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#3
from my limited experience, I personally would want something that takes prefit small shank savage barrels. The big horn was on my radar for a long time. Not sure if it’s still a viable option as I’ve been out of the scene for years...tagging in for the info here.
 
#4
OP, put Terminus Actions in to the search query and you will find plenty of threads with info and pics. Below is probably the largest thread...

www.snipershide.com

Terminus Actions

Most of you know that I separated myself from another custom action company because I was unwilling to compromise on my demanding standards and fundamental business practices. I played key roles in that business that included designing actions to being solely responsible for making the original...
www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com
 
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#5
Sgeorge said:
Zeus action is hard to beat. Easy barrel changes, even the trigger pins are threaded for quick changes
Click to expand...
I like the idea of their quick-change barrel system, does it still requires a pre-fit barrel? I'd imagine the set screws on the action holding the barrel save you from having to torque down hard with an action wrench.
 
#6
Any action that has prefits on the market will allow for diy barrel changes. However the action will need to come out. Zeus / Vector are exceptions. I have no experience or knowledge about switchlug and ARC barloc. The pinnacle would be AI in my opinion.
 
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#8
Yeetdude said:
I'm looking to build a bolt gun for shooting matches. Ideally, I would like an action and barrel system that is easy to change myself without having to send it off to a smith. Any input would be helpful. I'm thinking about at a Terminus or Definacne action with a proof pre-fit barrel.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Anything with a barrel nut.
 
#9
Yeetdude said:
I like the idea of their quick-change barrel system, does it still requires a pre-fit barrel? I'd imagine the set screws on the action holding the barrel save you from having to torque down hard with an action wrench.
Click to expand...
Yes just get a pre-fit Zeus barrel and tell the smith you’re going to hand tight it and you’re off to the races with minimal tools. No barrel vice, action wrench, etc. Allen key and a 15in/lbs limiter which you should already have anyway and you’re good to go.
I have a Curtis vector which is pretty much the first design of the Zeus (the Zeus is the improved version) and I did a YouTube video showing the take on/off method and return to zero. Check it out on my YouTube channel.
I personally didn’t have a good place to put a barrel vice as all the tables in my house have glass tops. So that’s why I went with the set screw route.
 
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#25
I use the AI and the savage. The AI is obviously easier/quicker and more expensive

The savage is just prefit barrel/barrel nut. Allows me to buy the barrels much cheaper

Both shoot just as accurate as the other. One can be changed in 2 minutes anywhere. The other requires more tools and removal of the chassis, optics and rail

I prefer a setup like the AI for convenience if nothing else. But if you just want to change the barrel when you burn one up, have the time and plan to re work a load anyways then a savage or bighorn etc will work.

The barrel makes the accuracy of the rifle. I’ve seen several CBI prefit savages shoot very very well
 
#26
308pirate said:
The advantage is that you're not limited to a few action brands.

Sounds like you've never done this before. Maybe head off to youtube and watch a few videos of barrel changes to get a better idea what goes on.
Click to expand...

Rob01 said:
Get a Bighorn TL3 or Origin. Can get prefits but you can also change out the bolt face so you can have a .223 and .308 sized cases on the same set up. You could also do a short magnum.
Click to expand...
That's a good point to consider, who makes pre-fits for bighorn and origins?
 
#28
Shouldered prefits are easy but cost a bit more.

Barrel nuts are easy, cost a bit less and you can get perfect headspace easily.

I’ve ran just barrel nuts on shilens pre fits and Brux prefits snd they have shot really well.

My next Barrel will be shouldered because I will be lighting off 90+ grains of powder in it and I want all the weight I can get.

Want silly easy and fast changes?
ARC barloc.
Go gauge, Allen wrench and lil spanner for the nut version.
 
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#32
I run an Impact Precision 737R. I bet all the "prefit" actions out there are comparable in capability.

I just changed a barrel last night in about 15min.
 
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#33
I vote--with my money, many times--on the Savage system.. All mine have been large-shank, and all of my barrels are Criterions from Northland.

Prefit Savage Barrels by Criterion Barrels | Northland Shooters Supply

Northland Shooters Supply offers hand lapped match grade prefit Savage barrels by Criterion Barrels Inc. that are finished and fully chambered.
northlandshooterssupply.com northlandshooterssupply.com

Here's my newest, in 6XC.
2021Mar04_1050085_110 Trij Cald Dr_Rightfront_1500w.jpg
 
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#35
Tokay444 said:
What's the max OD of a large shank Savage pre-fit?
Click to expand...
One of the Criterion bull barrels I have has an OD of c.* 1.12" next to the treads and the threads themselves.

* 'C.' is short for 'circa' and it means about or around or approximately.. I use it to indicate that my measurement is intended to be NOT precise, as in I don't have a 1-2" micrometer.
 
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#36
Can you change a lightbulb?

If so, you can change out a barrel on any action. You just need a barrel vice, action wrench and torque wrench. Or if you want to go really simple, get flats machined at the end of your barrel and use a crescent wrench and hammer.
 
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#37
kthomas said:
Can you change a lightbulb?

If so, you can change out a barrel on any action. You just need a barrel vice, action wrench and torque wrench. Or if you want to go really simple, get flats machined at the end of your barrel and use a crescent wrench and hammer.
Click to expand...
One thing that really helps a rebarrel job on a Savage is a Savage-barrel-nut wrench.
northlandshooterssupply.com

NSS Tools | Northland Shooters Supply

northlandshooterssupply.com northlandshooterssupply.com

I have the short one and the NSS action wrench.. I buy new nuts with the barrels and sometimes new recoil lugs.

I agree with kthomas, but I'd change it to 'Anyone who know which end of a combination wrench is 'box' and which is 'open end' can change a Savage barrel'.. I'm down to about 15 minutes each, even tho my right shoulder can't be loaded with more than c. 10 pounds--I have to stand on the action and torque wrenches while they lay on a thick towel on the floor. :rolleyes:
 
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#41
jeffreybehr said:
One of the Criterion bull barrels I have has an OD of c.* 1.12" next to the treads and the threads themselves.

* 'C.' is short for 'circa' and it means about or around or approximately.. I use it to indicate that my measurement is intended to be NOT precise, as in I don't have a 1-2" micrometer.
Click to expand...
Hmm. Too light for me. My 6BR barrel is being spun up at 1.25" straight by 28" long, with shouldered Savage small shank threads.
 
#44
Anyone attempting to get into a switch barrel rifle should consider what they plan to do with the rifle and what amount of $$ they plan to use to achieve it.

The savage and remage systems work and will be accurate. But require you to break the rifle down to change. As do a few of the options mentioned above.

The systems that allow you to change the barrel without removing the scope, base, chassis etc are a preferred method. If you’ve messed with these systems you’d understand

If time isn’t an issue. If you plan to burn a barrel and swap them out. If you want to keep cost down then go with a savage. If you want a better action but same advantages then a bighorn or something similar is great.

If you want to be able to swap the barrel out without removing anything but the barrel and bolt/bolt head then the Zeus I believe mentioned above will do it, maybe the impact and for sure the AI

I’m a fan of buy once cry once after trying the other methods. Figure out what you want to do and what action will achieve that. Spend the money there and save for the rest.

Upgrading rifles/components is the biggest money pit there is. If you can afford to get what you want from the start then go that route and build up from there
 
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