I am sure some of you saw the article in Guns & Ammo about MidwayUSA offering barrels for Savage rifles. Well I decided I didn't need a 22-250 Rem anymore since I have a 243 Win, so I ordered a 24" 308 Win barrel, the barrel nut wrench, and a set of Go-No Go headspace gauges. It only took about an hour to swap out the barrels. All you have to do is figure out how to keep the action from rolling in the vise. I rigged up some wood blocks and pounded out some lead to slip in between the wood and the action. Then its a matter of whacking the wrench with a rubber mallet, spinning the barrel out, putting the nut on the new barrel, and fitting it into the action. Then headspace it and tighten the nut. I am anxious to test fire it. I am sure I will do the tire and string thing first just to make sure it doesn't blow up. Hoping it shoots well. If it does I will pick up another Savage after hunting season and rebarrel it to 358 Win.
Wow, thats pretty impressive that you took it upon yourself to just do it. So its already reamed out? Definately let us know how it shoots. Savages seem to have this strange nut holding the barrel on. Is it like other actions like 700 or model 70?
The barrel nut on the Savage is what makes it so easy to rebarrel. The barrel threads into the receiver and the nut locks it into place. The barrels come fully chambered, blued and ready to install. From what I have seen of rebarreling a 70, 700 or Mauser, the chambers are only partially cut and need to be finished to headspace since the barrel actually has shoulders that tighten against the receiver.
that does sound like a slam dunk... I've always wondered why you couldn't have a switch-barrel rifle on a Savage action... sort of like changing barrels on a Dan Wesson handgun.. you could keep the headspace gauges in the guncase with the extra barrels...I suppose you could even make a witness mark on the barrel and receiver for each barrel, might even get by without needing the gauges. Who made the barrel, was it Adams and Bennet?
I've rebarrelled two mausers with A&B barrels.. my 35 Whelen shoots pretty good, so far. I'm trying to decide what caliber will be next.
"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana
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"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana
What models offer this system. I am really unfamiliar with Savage boltactions, only ever used the 99's. Is it the older stuff or the newer models. I am looking at one of the weather warriors in 7-08. If I could get a varmit and a 300wsm barrel I might just run right out and buy one this afternoon. Does Midway offer these barrels on their website?
Kenny "Frizzelr" Jarrett custom rifles...I like the ring of that. Pretty impressive work and something that would have been impossible to do in ones home until recently.
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Yes, the barrels are made by Adams & Bennett. I don't know if I would go swapping them back and forth, but I guess you could if you wanted to. You would have to resight the rifle every time since the scope is on the receiver and not on the barrel like a TC. These are aftermarket barrels and are not made, nor offered by the Savage company. The idea behind these barrels is to be able to have a Savage in chamberings not normally available such as 257 Roberts, 358 Win, 6.5X55mm, 280 Rem, etc. There should be a flood of cheap used Savages hitting the pawn shops right after hunting season and before tax time. That opens up some possbilites.
One thing to watch ,in doing this, is to be sure the new barrel chambering will fit your bolt face. The barrels at Midway,fit the 308 Win bolt face size .
I just got my American Rifleman and they have an article on this subject as well. Midway carries a lot of different barrels and if you want to convert from a 30-06 to a 300WSM you will need a new barrel, bolt or bolt face (both available from Midway), and some parts for the magazine. My brother-in-law has a .223rem Savage with a bent barrel, I might see if he would want to try this out, maybe convert it to .257 Roberts. For less then $200, you can't beat it.
I saw the article in The American Rifleman also. It almost makes me want to buy a Savage as my next rifle. Who would have ever thought that the ugly (it doesn't look so ugly now to me) barrel nut the factory uses to make headspacing quick and easy could be a huge benefit to shooters.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
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Rebarreled a Savage on my lunch break
