After having less than stellar results with the factory 20" threaded barrel, I decided I would try a custom replacement barrel from Crown Ridge Barrel Works.
I asked them to take a standard Sendero profile they had in stock (1:8 twist 5R) and custom profile the front for a Surefire MB68AR muzzle brake/suppressor mount. They provide a barrel nut that works with a Savage small shank barrel nut wrench, so you can thread the tenon to correct headspace and lock the barrel in with the nut. Total barrel length ended up about 19.5" from bolt face to muzzle.
So, to get the factory barrel off...
I used the tools I had on hand, which included an open ended wrench that fit the recoil lug, a cheater bar, padded barrel vise jaws, and lots of rosin. I frankly did not want to spend $$ on tools I would use once
The barrel was on there tight, so I ended up creating a relief cut using a small hacksaw. Took all of 10 minutes, after that the action spun right off the barrel. I'm not at all concerned about re-using the factory barrel.
Mounting up the new Crown Ridge barrel was a breeze.
I was able to get to the range to zero my new Crown Ridge barrel. I'll cut to the chase and say I am VERY happy.
Shooting my 130gr Berger Hybrid/CFE223 handloads -- which were a problem child in my factory Howa barrel -- I was able to do this with 5 rounds at 100 yards:
These rounds are going about 2470fps, 4.95 mils up at 600 yards. I will be cranking out a bunch of them shortly.
No POI shift with my suppressor mounted. Nice.
I also did a quick experiment with a Strike Industries +5 .223 mag extension for PMAGs. I did a bit of shaping of the area of the extension that interfaces with the bottom lip of the Howa factory mag, cut down the follower and baseplate a bit, and was able to get a reliable 8 round mag out of it. Total time was about 10 minutes.
I asked them to take a standard Sendero profile they had in stock (1:8 twist 5R) and custom profile the front for a Surefire MB68AR muzzle brake/suppressor mount. They provide a barrel nut that works with a Savage small shank barrel nut wrench, so you can thread the tenon to correct headspace and lock the barrel in with the nut. Total barrel length ended up about 19.5" from bolt face to muzzle.
So, to get the factory barrel off...
I used the tools I had on hand, which included an open ended wrench that fit the recoil lug, a cheater bar, padded barrel vise jaws, and lots of rosin. I frankly did not want to spend $$ on tools I would use once
The barrel was on there tight, so I ended up creating a relief cut using a small hacksaw. Took all of 10 minutes, after that the action spun right off the barrel. I'm not at all concerned about re-using the factory barrel.
Mounting up the new Crown Ridge barrel was a breeze.
I was able to get to the range to zero my new Crown Ridge barrel. I'll cut to the chase and say I am VERY happy.
Shooting my 130gr Berger Hybrid/CFE223 handloads -- which were a problem child in my factory Howa barrel -- I was able to do this with 5 rounds at 100 yards:
These rounds are going about 2470fps, 4.95 mils up at 600 yards. I will be cranking out a bunch of them shortly.
No POI shift with my suppressor mounted. Nice.
I also did a quick experiment with a Strike Industries +5 .223 mag extension for PMAGs. I did a bit of shaping of the area of the extension that interfaces with the bottom lip of the Howa factory mag, cut down the follower and baseplate a bit, and was able to get a reliable 8 round mag out of it. Total time was about 10 minutes.
