Best action and barrel system for changing yourself.

[Yeetdude]

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.

 

[Sgeorge]

Zeus action is hard to beat. Easy barrel changes, even the trigger pins are threaded for quick changes

 

[demolitionman]

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.

 

[Kanati]

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...

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

 

[Yeetdude]

Zeus action is hard to beat. Easy barrel changes, even the trigger pins are threaded for quick changes

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.

 

[charnicus]

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.

 

[Tokay444]

Barrel vise, action wrench, and a torque wrench.

 

[308pirate]

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.

Anything with a barrel nut.

 

[Covertnoob5]

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.

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.

 

[308pirate]

Any action that has prefits on the market will allow for diy barrel changes

Any action for which shoulderless, nut-headspaced barrels are available allows for DIY barrel changes

Why do so many of you think that "pre-fits" are the only way to do this?

 

[hafejd30]

- Savage for the poors
- AI for the non poors
- Or the others mentioned above for middle ground

 

[charnicus]

I inferred easy as not having to dick with headspace gauges so I didn’t mention a barrel nut system.

 

[Yeetdude]

Anything with a barrel nut.

So maybe a dumb question with a more obvious answer that I'm not seeing. What would be the advantage of a barrel nut over a pre-fit? besides maybe not having to take the action out to change. Is it easier to torque down on since it's on a nut and not the action?

 

[demolitionman]

I inferred easy as not having to dick with headspace gauges so I didn’t mention a barrel nut system.

Well that puts out my theory of a nutted system. But head spacing is super easy imo.

 

[ChristianSilver]

I inferred easy as not having to dick with headspace gauges so I didn’t mention a barrel nut system.

I'm checking headspace regardless, not something to dick with... Simple and quick...

 

[charnicus]

I agree it’s easy but everyone has a different comfort and confidence level.

 

[308pirate]

I inferred easy as not having to dick with headspace gauges so I didn’t mention a barrel nut system.

It's still DIY and it's not that hard

 

[308pirate]

I agree it’s easy but everyone has a different comfort and confidence level.

It's easier than changing a tire

 

[Ndbowhunter]

the nutt system isn't that sweet if ya wanna change often or in the field.

give me a shouldered prefit any day

tikka's are ez peasy like that

 

[308pirate]

What would be the advantage of a barrel nut over a pre-fit?

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.

 

[charnicus]

It's easier than changing a tire

Again I agree but how many times you be seein someone with a flat waiting for a tow truck when you’re pretty confident they got a spare and / or can see the spare sitting out.

 

[308pirate]

the but system isn't that sweet if ya wanna change easily

LOL

 

[308pirate]

Again I agree but how many times you be seein someone with a flat waiting for a tow truck when you’re pretty confident they got a spare and / or can see the spare sitting out.

Not my problem

Sucks to be useless and dependent

 

[Rob01]

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.

 

[hafejd30]

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

 

[Yeetdude]

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.

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.

That's a good point to consider, who makes pre-fits for bighorn and origins?

 

[Rob01]

Anyone who makes prefits can do it. Lots out there.

 

[Steel head]

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.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

LOL

getcher mind out of the gutter

 

[Tnc]

Can’t believe nobody mentioned Impact yet. Impact action. Order Impact prefits. Screw them on and go.

 

[amcardon]

Can’t believe nobody mentioned Impact yet. Impact action. Order Impact prefits. Screw them on and go.

That's exactly what I was about to post...

 

[jmornoinf]

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.

 

[jeffreybehr]

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

Here's my newest, in 6XC.

 

[Tokay444]

What's the max OD of a large shank Savage pre-fit?

 

[jeffreybehr]

What's the max OD of a large shank Savage pre-fit?

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.

 

[kthomas]

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.

 

[jeffreybehr]

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.

One thing that really helps a rebarrel job on a Savage is a Savage-barrel-nut wrench.

NSS Tools | Northland Shooters Supply

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.

 

[Altoonabcm157]

Savage unless you you hate them for some reason. If budget allows pretty much anything that takes barrels with a savage thread pattern.

 

[CaptNemo]

tikka's are ez peasy like that

Once you get the original Tikka Barrel off....

 

[toopoorformore]

I have literally no experience with any gunsmithing but since I purchased an Impact 737, it's been a breeze to change out the barrel. Bought a cheap barrel vise some go /no-go gauges and you're all set.

 

[Tokay444]

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.

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.

 

[ScottPriestley]

Is a Remage system a decent option?

 

[Altoonabcm157]

Is a Remage system a decent option?

Same idea as the savage barrel nut system, different thread pitch

 

[hafejd30]

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

 

[Tokay444]

Every barrel that isn’t welded to an action is a switch barrel.

 

[demolitionman]

Every barrel that isn’t welded to an action is a switch barrel.

My 4 and a half inch grinder says otherwise....

 

[Kickin45]

No mention of Desert Tech?

 

[Tokay444]

No mention of Desert Tech?

Bullpups are stupid.

 

[Kickin45]

Your mom sure likes them!

 

[Tokay444]

That makes them even worse!