I've been really been enjoying my HTI's ability to quickly and easily swap barrels while retaining zero - without having to fuck with vices or big torque wrenches. Huge QoL improvement (for lazy people like myself). What other rifles or actions have the same level of ease and repeatability / return to zero capability when swapping barrels? I've heard the AI lineup (like the AXSR), Terminus Zeus action, and maybe the Cadex Kraken (which they claim is more repeatable but needs a larger tool) are all in that same league, am I missing any other stand out options? Are any significantly better at retaining zero between barrel swaps than the others?
Who Makes the Best Switch Barrel Rifle?
- Thread starter LeadZeke
- Start date
I will say this is where AI does indeed have the best system. Every other attempt is half ass attempt to copy it. I have an atx with 3 barrels, barrel changes require the least amount of effort about anything on that rifle!
AI with the Quickloc, DTA, Barrett, Sig SSG3000 / Sauer 200STR
The only one I don’t have 1st hand experience with testing return to zero & repeatability is Barrett. Of those mentioned above they are all equally as repeatable and extremely accurate. I personally think DTA has the best design (for the barrel retention / change system).
The only one I don’t have 1st hand experience with testing return to zero & repeatability is Barrett. Of those mentioned above they are all equally as repeatable and extremely accurate. I personally think DTA has the best design (for the barrel retention / change system).
I love my MRAD ... switching barrels takes just a couple of minutes and requires only two screws to be loosened, and a bolt-head swap (no tools required). I frequently bring multiple barrels to the range and switch them without ever removing the rifle from the bench. Never owned an AI, but I've heard they're easy too. The return to zero on my MRAD barrels is very precise.
I owned DT as my first bolt gun. Eventually I got tired of things that didn't work and sold it. It was an easy switch barrel, but not really great at anything. Add in firing pins falling in the dirt because of half ass bushing 'fixes', a trigger that sometimes went click and didn't go bang, etc....
I now own AT-XC and it's everything it should be. Barrels are easy, any smith can spin them up without an expensive barrel extension.
I now own AT-XC and it's everything it should be. Barrels are easy, any smith can spin them up without an expensive barrel extension.
Just about all the DTs I have personally seen have had ejection problems.
But AI rules the roost in the switch barrel platform.
But AI rules the roost in the switch barrel platform.
DTAs have weak ejection, no doubt … and weak magazines. That said, I’ve never had a failure to fire on mine and it’s a Gen2 pre A1 model and I’ve extensively modded the trigger to have zero pre travel and zero over travel with the set screw mod.
How do the Zeus QC and Seekins HIT stack up? Looking at one of those two options for my next rifle.
Just putting my Zues QC together, real easy to install the barrel to the action which is already installed into a Foundation Samson stock.
Nice options all around, that is a nice looking stock for the R8! I'm glad others have jumped in with their own questions around this topic too. For myself, it really started about the ease of swapping cartridges (50bmg to 357CT for example), but I've been very pleasantly surprised at how much easier it can make transporting the rifle setup as well. Basically every time the rifle comes out at least one barrel is swapped in/out these days.
For the new rifle, I'm looking for a build (or complete rifle) that has a similar easy/repeatable QD barrel system to the HTI, and can go from .338 Lapua to 300PRC (or .300WM) at a minimum. The AI AXSR does seem to have a lot of things going for it, aside from the weight. The DTA SRSA2 is also kinda tempting, but I'd like to branch out a bit from the bullpup of the HTI design. Is there anything else out there I might be overlooking than what was mentioned here already?
I'll also say if someone has a "just torque the milled flats" build idea as @st1650 was suggesting I'd be willing to give it a look as long as it is zero retaining/repeatable and doesn't require a vice or a bunch of other tools (which I haven't seen great success with so far but I'm willing to keep an open mind).
For the new rifle, I'm looking for a build (or complete rifle) that has a similar easy/repeatable QD barrel system to the HTI, and can go from .338 Lapua to 300PRC (or .300WM) at a minimum. The AI AXSR does seem to have a lot of things going for it, aside from the weight. The DTA SRSA2 is also kinda tempting, but I'd like to branch out a bit from the bullpup of the HTI design. Is there anything else out there I might be overlooking than what was mentioned here already?
I'll also say if someone has a "just torque the milled flats" build idea as @st1650 was suggesting I'd be willing to give it a look as long as it is zero retaining/repeatable and doesn't require a vice or a bunch of other tools (which I haven't seen great success with so far but I'm willing to keep an open mind).
2 Cadex Kraken 1 AI AXSR walk in to a bar....
Ok bad joke...
The Cadex Kraken holds zero and is repeatable for me....x 2
So does the AXSR....
If your not in to big tools for a caliber/barrel exchange then the axsr's quickloc is pretty easy... you can always use a fixit stick limiter and set it to the appropriate torque.
However I like how you torque on the barrel of the Kraken. The action wrench grabs on to the back barrel. THis does NOT need a vise or anything.. If you want to change barrels/caliber at the range its doable...just need to hauls some xtra gear.
In case you want to see a video of the quick change.
Quick Change of a Cadex Kraken
Ok bad joke...
The Cadex Kraken holds zero and is repeatable for me....x 2
So does the AXSR....
If your not in to big tools for a caliber/barrel exchange then the axsr's quickloc is pretty easy... you can always use a fixit stick limiter and set it to the appropriate torque.
However I like how you torque on the barrel of the Kraken. The action wrench grabs on to the back barrel. THis does NOT need a vise or anything.. If you want to change barrels/caliber at the range its doable...just need to hauls some xtra gear.
In case you want to see a video of the quick change.
Quick Change of a Cadex Kraken
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I took a class a few years back and the instructor was Pete Gould (IYKYK) and Pete had an early prototype Surgeon CSR with several barrels that had wrench flats milled into the barrel and he could swap barrels very quickly and said that he saw little to no POI shift. Pete had also used a CSR here and there for the unit he had retired from and had significant time behind it and spoke highly of it.
My experience also... Throw in magazine that just plain sucked...
My ATX was pretty nice, great system, great trigger, prefit barrels everywhere but I hated being married to the AI chassis.
My Terminus Zeus is a dream. I love everything about it.
Can use any rem700 stock or trigger. Barrels screw on hand tight then fit-it stick torque two set screws. This set up is stupid light.
My Terminus Zeus is a dream. I love everything about it.
Can use any rem700 stock or trigger. Barrels screw on hand tight then fit-it stick torque two set screws. This set up is stupid light.
Great looking rifle! How do you like that scope? I have been wanting to try one but am leary. Also, do you have any issues with the Zeus holding zero if you impact the barrel? I heard some grumblings about that early on when they first came out, but it kinda seemed like BS to me…
I've owned AI's, a Barrett MRAD and an older DTA and I would rank them in that order. I have never messed with a Cadex so I can't speak to that platform. Terminus rules the roost in the 700 clone world but I have never owned one of those either. Pretty happy with how AI does the barrel swap system, no need to look elsewhere.
I haven’t shot this setup yet but I’ve shot others. No never experienced the barrel bump bs and the 5 other Zeus shooters I know haven’t either.
I love the scope, best $600 I’ve spent on optics. The size and weight are what I was looking for. The glass is nice, love the reticle. Elevation turret could be more tactile.
Me and my MRAD buddies might have something to say about that. LOL
There are a number of reasons why SoCom in general, and the US Marines (specifically), settled on the MRAD for their preferred sniper rifle. Not dissin' anybody else's preference ... I just think my MRAD is awesome in my three barrel calibers (300-PRC, 300-NM, 338-LM). Swapping out the barrels is super easy, and now that the bolt has that quick-change-lever-thingie ... the bolt head is also super easy to swap out (admittedly it didn't used to be easy before the "QCL-Thingie").
You guys know what I'm talking about with the bolt ... right? If you've got an older MRAD (like mine), it probably came with the bolt that's much harder to disassemble. About 2 years ago Barrett took my $250 and sent me the improved bolt, and it's terrific ... worth every dime to no longer break my finger nails trying to change the bolt head.
Yeah, domestic companies absolutely are preferred if they can meet the technical specification.
Won't try to suggest it's better than the established choices like AI, but the West Texas Ordnance SwitchLug (installed by them on a Tikka T3X factory action) has worked well as another "poor man's AI option" for me over about 3 years. I don't switch a lot, so I can't speak to its long-term durability. But do switch occasionally between 6/6.5 CM barrels, works without issue, and is not overly pricey to get it added onto an existing 700-clone, Tikka, or other setup.
I'd be curious to hear if others here have tried the SwitchLug, and if so, how it compared to other switch-barrel solutions you've tried.
I'd be curious to hear if others here have tried the SwitchLug, and if so, how it compared to other switch-barrel solutions you've tried.
I have buddies with a WTO. To be honest it’s been real hard not doing a WTO on a Bergara premier or Origin action
Few spots where I believe AI’s shine in these categories is barrels. Lots of smiths can make prefits and they’re available all the time for reasonable prices in the px here.
Another thing that shines is the magazines. AI’s have probably the best double stack mags
I consider AI’s a good value in the used market. I wouldn’t pay new prices for one. The MH elite sand AXSR deal at $8900 isn’t terrible but I’d pick up a used AXMC and spend the rest on bolts or barrels
Another thing that shines is the magazines. AI’s have probably the best double stack mags
I consider AI’s a good value in the used market. I wouldn’t pay new prices for one. The MH elite sand AXSR deal at $8900 isn’t terrible but I’d pick up a used AXMC and spend the rest on bolts or barrels
I love love love AI AW mags.
That's why I went ARC CDG with my latest 22 creed build.
AW double stack mags + CRF action + cone breech + properly timed trigger = absolute feeding bliss.
I also love that no matter how much pressure you put on a AW magazine, it'll never bind or misfeed. You can use it as a barricade stop or sit the rifle on the mag and it'll feed.
Facts! Also please leave that to me in your will! I keep trying to buy a tempest and it keep eluding me.
