Need to Swap a Barrel
- Thread starter Beeron
- Start date
Calibre is 243.
The current action/barrel combo is factory.
The swap barrel is a New, take-off, also Rem700, also 243, bought on CGN.
Both barrels are the powder coated sps type.
I don't know what indexing is but what I want is for a barrel/action fit that is equal to or better than a factory would be.
It is intended to be a very compact and quick hunting rifle. I don't think I need match grade precision.
I was under the impression that a good snug, torqued fit would be sufficient as it will be free floated and scoped.
Does that answer your questions?
The current action/barrel combo is factory.
The swap barrel is a New, take-off, also Rem700, also 243, bought on CGN.
Both barrels are the powder coated sps type.
I don't know what indexing is but what I want is for a barrel/action fit that is equal to or better than a factory would be.
It is intended to be a very compact and quick hunting rifle. I don't think I need match grade precision.
I was under the impression that a good snug, torqued fit would be sufficient as it will be free floated and scoped.
Does that answer your questions?
He is asking about if you want the printing on the barrel to be properly indexed (just above the stock line on the left side of the barrel) or if you just want it headspaced and don't care where the printing ends up.
700 barrels will swap from one action to another but invariably the printing does not line up but often the headspace will be correct. If when swapping the headspace is correct and you can live with the printing off...that can be as cheap as $20.(No stock and no scope... just bare barreled actions and bolts. If the rifles are in stocks and have scopes on... more time is required = more money)
Aligning printing and correcting headspace can be as much as $150.
Sometimes it's in between those two prices.
Pretty much the same both ways. Of course you either need to replace the stock or open up the barrel channel for the larger diameter barrel. Synthetic stocks are tricky to alter but with proper tooling and lots of patience/care it's possible to get very decent results.
guntech also didn't mention iron sights. OP, if your sporter SPS barrel has mounted iron sights, they are usually held in place with screws. If you want to retain the sights, indexing will have to be exact when the barrel snugs up against the shoulder so the sights are top dead center. If you take the sights off and are satisfied with everything as is, the sight screw holes should have filler screws in the holes.
You already have the barrel for the job but let me give you another option. Remington actions will usually fit into the headstock spindle on most gunsmith's lathes. It's a pretty quick job to chuck up the barrel with the receiver still attached, and cut back the barrel 4-6 inches to reduce weight, make for an extremely well balanced and fast handling, accurate hunting rifle with that varmint barrel. I have one in 338-08 I made up with bin parts about 25 years ago. It's my favorite tree stand and bush stalking rifle. It's just sooooooo handy and well balanced. Just enough weight on the barrel to steady aim very quickly. It has lots of accuracy/power out to 300 yards for anything in North America.
Your 243 would be a prime candidate for this option.
That's just IMHO of course.
