Quick Switch barrel Tikka system - Switchlug?

[koesdibyo]

Looking to make a multi-purpose rig.

I love the .308, and although it seems redundant, I'd like to add another .308 barrel... as well as a couple others.

Currently it's .308 Tactical in a KRG Whiskey 3.

I've been on the hunt for another T3 in .308 for a hunting rig, but also want one in .243 as well.
There's a few factory barrels that pop up here and there, which would be good enough for a hunting rig, and come time for the current factory barrel to be up for a change, it'd be ready for a pre-fit upgrade barrel.

As much as I love the spending money on guns. 3 relatively expensive guns, and their hardware to go with it (if I want to maintain the KRG stock on all of them), with glass... the prices keep growing, as I wouldnt want to cheap out on the glass on them either.

Has anyone used the "West Texas Ordnance - Switch Lug" before?
Anyone know where/how to get one? (Ive mesaged WTO but haven't heard back yet on if they export to Canada).

And lastly, any recommended smiths that would do this? I'll be contacting Wise Choice Sports just north of me, as well as Ellwood Epps - but from previous experiences, their wait times can be lengthy, along with pricey.

The intriguing thing about the WTO is the ability to change in the field without having to remove the scope or the chassis.

 

[Dragon-Rifles]

Have not installed one, but the T-3 would not be a good candidate for the WTO in my opinion due to the thin wall receiver and beveled face not being stout enough for the lug dowel pin hole . Have you thought about going with a Savage style nut?

 

[koesdibyo]

Have not installed one, but the T-3 would not be a good candidate for the WTO in my opinion due to the thin wall receiver and beveled face not being stout enough for the lug dowel pin hole . Have you thought about going with a Savage style nut?

I contemplated the barrel nut - but it would either require the action coming out of the receiver, or the scope coming off, or both to do the change.
The idea behind it was the quick-change system.

The more I’ve had to dwell, think, make calls, inquire to various smiths and companies to get the above done... Ive come up with an alternative ‘temporary’ solution
While not as ‘quick’ change, a hitch-mounts vice and internal action wrench might be the best of both worlds before making the commitment.
I like the fact of shouldered and not having to worry about the go/no-go gauge testing each time.

Will likely try to crack the current barrel out (from what I hear, Tikka factory barrels are torqued on over tight to begin with, so this should be fun). And then re-installing at a lower torque level like 60#s.
Shoot some, take it off with the hitch vise - reinstall and retest for zero.

If all goes well, I’ll attempt some new pre-fit barrels and re-run the tests.

If I find myself using or desiring the quick change still after some time, I’ll maybe opt to pursue the WTO then

 

[TRDJer]

Do you currently have an internal action wrench? If so where did you get it from? I've been looking for one myself. I was talking to Xtreme Gun and they said they should have one out in the next month or two. That may have changed with the pandemic.

 

[xingyc]

I contemplated the barrel nut - but it would either require the action coming out of the receiver, or the scope coming off, or both to do the change.
The idea behind it was the quick-change system.

The more I’ve had to dwell, think, make calls, inquire to various smiths and companies to get the above done... Ive come up with an alternative ‘temporary’ solution
While not as ‘quick’ change, a hitch-mounts vice and internal action wrench might be the best of both worlds before making the commitment.
I like the fact of shouldered and not having to worry about the go/no-go gauge testing each time.

Will likely try to crack the current barrel out (from what I hear, Tikka factory barrels are torqued on over tight to begin with, so this should be fun). And then re-installing at a lower torque level like 60#s.
Shoot some, take it off with the hitch vise - reinstall and retest for zero.

If all goes well, I’ll attempt some new pre-fit barrels and re-run the tests.

If I find myself using or desiring the quick change still after some time, I’ll maybe opt to pursue the WTO then

I'm not a gunsmith. I'm also considering to rebarrel my rifle in the future.
the WTO doesn't seem very secure. I would get a prefit barrel with barrel nut, and epoxy the barrel nut onto the barrel during the first set up. Don't epoxy the nut or the barrel onto the action. With this method you could probably get repeatable results when switching between barrels, and don't need go/no go gauges between switch. I AM NOT A GUNSMITH!!!

Does your Tikka showed improvement after switching to KRG stock?
Looking forward to hear about your result with prefit barrel.

 

[Dragon-Rifles]

Have not installed one, but the T-3 would not be a good candidate for the WTO in my opinion due to the thin wall receiver and beveled face not being stout enough for the lug dowel pin hole . Have you thought about going with a Savage style nut?

No sooner than I yap off, I see WTO is making a Tikka T3 kit now. Still not much meat there in my opinion for the locating pins, but the do produce a kit for them.

 

[koesdibyo]

I am going with a switch barrel system - and it’s actually easier than anticipated with minimal costs.

So far I bought the wheeler action wrench, and was able to get the barrel off with ease using my viper barrel vise.

Wrench soaked me about $100, but it’s a tool I can use down the line on other actions, and forever... so priceless.

Was going to home-make a Tikka internal action wrench using of all things, a Stanley pry bar. Hex body, perfect to fit a socket on, and cut the head of the flat parts of the pry, and some filing to shape of the tikka bolt head. Can’t take credit for this, as I came across it on another forum.
Bought the pry bar, and it was a total of $15... however, I’ve abandoned this idea, as it wouldn’t be ‘as quick’ of a change in the field... as I’d require a barrel vise still.

Having a local machinist make up a replica of the ‘Ross Vise’, and the total cost for this vise will be $80. Not only do I get what I want, cheaper than *if* I could get this vise from the US, but I get to support someone local that’s out of a job currently from covid.

Barrel being made up, but in the meantime I’ve got some factory barrels I found on the EE that I can try it out with.

Started as a .308 lite
Custom barrel on order for long range
.308 original lite barrel for big game
.243 barrel found, for small game
30-06 barrel found and may consider it for ####s and giggles

Goal is to torque to approx 50 ft-lbs and see how it flies. At 50# it passed headspace testing using Clymer gauges.

 

[goober23]

I know your post is about a month old, but if you haven't found an internal action wrench you should check out GoBigTactical. They just got in the SAC modular action wrench which has the option to swap the head out on the wrench for different actions, including Tikka (sold separately). SAC also make some really nice barrel vises too.