Gunsmithing What do I need to change my own barrel?

[elmerdeer]

Hi Guys, I have a few barrels that will be threaded, chambered and headspaced from my gunsmith, ready to put on my rifle. And I would like to be able to change my own barrels instead of going to a gunsmith. What do I need to do this process properly?
I have the no-go gauge, my action is Stiller Predator and my barrels are stainless. From what I've read I know I need a barrel vice, a action wrench, and some anti-seize grease, which ones would you guys recomend?
And how do I get the barrel on properly so that I dont have a problem? What is the procedure?
Thanks
Elmer

 

[GasLight]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

if the barrels are already headspaced to your action, you can either torque them to around 55 foot pounds, or you can put witness marks on them so that you make sure they return to the same place each time. As long as you aren't trying to gorilla the barrels on the action, it would be pretty tough to mess up the headspacing. Since these are custom barrels, I personally like the ease of the Surgeon action wrench. I bought my barrel vise from Wally Cooper on eBay. Good guy and a great vise. I personally like the copper anti-seize, but I think any similar grease will work on the threads.

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Gas, is 55 ft-lbs sufficient? Ive always seen barrels usualy getting torqued to 100 lbs.

 

[GasLight]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

I think 100lbs is overkill, but I know the AI is asking for that kind of torque. I don't think there will be a problem with a 55 pound toque backing out

Dave

 

[kombar]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Even if it does, he'll have the tools to fix the problem.

 

[x ring accuracy]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

We build some switch barreled rifles, ie .50 and .408 Cheytacs that you only tighten hand tight to swap barrels, so 55 is more than enough.

 

[btyeung]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

I also have a breaker bar to do the unscrewing so as to not wear out the torque wrench.

 

[former naval person]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Even when you just "snap" the barrel and action together hand tight you need a wrench of some type to loosen them. Hand tight usually responds to a strap wrench. If you torque to 55 or so, you'll need the proper tools. Like Bryan Yeung says... a heavy duty bar with a tap or two from a dead blow hammer takes the work out of breaking them loose. JMHO

 

[mcfred]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elmerdeer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">barrels that will be threaded, chambered and headspaced from my gunsmith, ready to put on my rifle.</div></div>

If everything is set up, then all you need is the wrenches to hold the barrels and the receiver. If the barrels are chambered for different cartridges that require different case heads then you will need different bolts, but again, if the smith sets everything up for you then all you need is the action wrench and a way to hold the barrel.

 

[mcfred]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Here is what I use. I just made some pieces out of aluminum, one to grip the barrel and one to apply torque to the <span style="font-weight: bold">front</span> of the receiver.

I use 80 ft-lbs with a torque wrench with moly grease on the threads. I've read different theories on the torque to use, but as long as you are consistent you should have no problem with your zeros after changing out barrels. Also, you probably want to have the barrels all free floated because I think it would be a lot of trouble to try and have the bedding match each barrel.

 

[Clark]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

The Predator is a round bottom receiver like a Rem700.

I make my own action wrenches and barrel vises.

For the Rem700, it was like making another barrel vise.

A very old Rem700 with shot out barrel took a few hundred foot pounds of torque to pull the barrel, because of the goop that Remington used to glue the threads.

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Elmer, the nice guy part of me suggests just sending your parts to a reputable smith specializing in bolt action rifles.

The rude part of me wants to say if I don't know what I need to do a job as important as this I shouldn't do it, but its none of my business.

 

[lazy21]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

a pipe wrench

 

[athhud]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey Simpson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Elmer, the nice guy part of me suggests just The rude part of me wants to say if I don't know what I need to do a job as important as this I shouldn't do it, but its none of my business.</div></div>

That's the voice of the death of innovation.

 

[JCH]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey Simpson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Elmer, the nice guy part of me suggests just sending your parts to a reputable smith specializing in bolt action rifles.

The rude part of me wants to say if I don't know what I need to do a job as important as this I shouldn't do it, but its none of my business.</div></div>

everyone has to start somewhere. We all aren't born with the knowledge.

 

[elmerdeer]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey Simpson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Elmer, the nice guy part of me suggests just sending your parts to a reputable smith specializing in bolt action rifles.

The rude part of me wants to say if I don't know what I need to do a job as important as this I shouldn't do it, but its none of my business.</div></div>

everyone has to start somewhere. We all aren't born with the knowledge.</div></div>
Thanks JCH, Once I get all the right info thats when I will proceed, and yes my barrels have been sent to very good smith its just that he is a 6 hour drive so I want to change a barrel on my own.
Thanks to everyone how has helped me out on this!
Elmer

 

[mcfred]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey Simpson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The rude part of me wants to say if I don't know what I need to do a job as important as this I shouldn't do it</div></div>
I guess everyone's too incompetent to change their own tires, huh? Torquing lugnuts is an important job with lives hanging in the balance. Do you need to have a certified technition to do that too?

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?


You're right. You're all right. But I'm a nice guy too.
Believe, I got it. I like doing it myself. First, no one cares as much as I do about my stuff as much as me. No one has a much time to spend on my stuff as me. I read Roscoe's bedding thread and bedded my bolt gun. Shoots better now. Read Zediker on Ar's. Polished my chambers, bolt's, etc., not they shoot better too. I hate waiting for another to do something.

Elmer, I was just being a smart ass. My inclination is to thrive in human primacy and struggle for supremacy - bad. My apology.

Success is born of a burning desire, skill, labor and sufficient humility to ask for help. You're graced with those blessings.-Casey

 

[gunnergirl81]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Some people just can't wrap their finely tuned minds around the concept of a "switch barrel".

FWIW I use the witness mark system on my switch barrel. After repeated swaps the witness mark may tend to wanna move a bit farther than the mark to get a nice snug torque. A smith with a lathe can roll the shoulder to get it back tight again.

I haven't swapped barrels in a while, maybe its time for a caliber change.

 

[GasLight]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kenda</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some people just can't wrap their finely tuned minds around the concept of a "switch barrel".

FWIW I use the witness mark system on my switch barrel. After repeated swaps the witness mark may tend to wanna move a bit farther than the mark to get a nice snug torque. A smith with a lathe can roll the shoulder to get it back tight again.

I haven't swapped barrels in a while, maybe its time for a caliber change.</div></div>

Not trying to be a smart ass here, but a couple questions:

why are you torquing if you are using witness marks as well?

How many times does it take before the witness marks start to wander?

What does rolling the shoulder entail?

Thanks!

 

[gunnergirl81]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

Not really torquing, but careful observation will show you where the barrel indexes just hand tight, and after time (my factory Rem barrels rethreaded for my mauser action) gets to where that index point gets closer and closer to the witness marks aligning with less and less torque. Off the top of my head about 8-10 installs was enough that we didn't like how close it was getting.

I've seen FAL builders who peen the shoulder of a barrel to get proper timing. Forgive me but I just can't see beating on a precision rifle barrel. So, we chuck it in the lathe, swap out the knurled rollers in the knurling tool for solid ones, and roll the shoulder down to get it back to where it times up right.

And don't be worried about being a smartass, or being mis-ID'd as one. You asked legit questions, I'm happy to answer. As you may notice my name is purple. I'm a woman and have zero issues calling an asshole an asshole. I don't know it all and can always stand to learn new things and new ways to do old things. I try and offer what works for us for consideration by others, but free advice is always worth what you pay for it. If I'm wrong, I was just trying to help, mind your manners in correcting me or I can be rather cruel.

I'd guess that covers everything and then some.

 

[GasLight]

Re: What do I need to change my own barrel?

I am just speculating here because I have no where near the experience you guys do. That said, isn't the reason the barrel would go past the index mark after a few times related to the threads giving a little? If that is the case, do you worry the at some point rolling the shoulder to tighten it, repeating the cycle will at some point cause the threads to give? I know we are talking about very minor changes here, and perhaps no one would ever swap barrels enough to make a difference in the long run?

I am interested because I have done switch barrels in the past, and though I found it was more work to swap all the time, I am contemplating doing another one now..

Dave