Hello ,iam thinking of buying a weather warrior in 338 ,for a ''one gun'' all weather that i can treat like a tool rather than baby ,and if overseas if it gets stolen or lost its no big deal. Can any owners give me their point of view on their rifle ? is it true you can have two barrels [different cals] and easily change them with the ''barrel locknut'' ? any bad points with this action ? thanks for any comments

quote:

Originally posted by tankhunter:
Hello ,iam thinking of buying a weather warrior in 338 ,for a ''one gun'' all weather that i can treat like a tool rather than baby ,and if overseas if it gets stolen or lost its no big deal. Can any owners give me their point of view on their rifle ? is it true you can have two barrels [different cals] and easily change them with the ''barrel locknut'' ? any bad points with this action ? thanks for any comments

I bought one of the original ones in .338 when they first brought them out and it is one gun I have that isn't for sale. I for one look at rifles as tools, I'm not impressed with pretty guns. Mine was used primarily in Canada's north country and for reliability, toughness and ease of maintenance, you won't do better. Taking it apart for maintenance is dead simple and the action is one of the safest anywhere.

The locknut is a key component of headspacing and Savage's legendary accuracy, if it were me, I would just buy another rifle in another calibre rather than switch barrels. The first stocks on the Weather Warrior were crude by today's models and that would be my only criticism. Mine is also a blind magazine, if I were buying one today, I would look for one with a detachable magazine.

Depends on how you define easily.

Savage barrel switch

It's not a field job and requires a bit of attention since you must set the headspace but requires only hand tools.

LWD

I have six Savage/Stevens rifles three of which Have switched barrels. These are calibers that are not readily available. I think the Savage action is an excellent platform on which to build a rifle or to have a "switch barrel".
As has been pointed out, the changing of the barrel is not a simple task, however with Savage rifles if you are the least bit "handy" and have the necessary tools it is easier than most others.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

Takes about 15 to 20 minutes to switch barrels on my savage rifles ,with the right tools.
That's staying with the same bolthead size. I try to stay with one bolthead size for all my cartridges that way I don't have to many problems with magazine issues.
Slenk