I over heard a conversation (wasn't snooping, just happened to over hear). One guy was saying he was going to get a new, I think it was .308 barrel to replace his 22-250 barrel in his bolt action rifle (not sure what make or model). According to the guy it would work as long at the calibers had the same action (short or long). Now I know you can do that in some single shots like the Contender, Encore, or SSI-One, but is there really a bolt action you can do that with? kcihak

There are lots of them, many are European. Do a search for the Sauer 202, Mauser M03 (I think) or the Blaser.

Savage rifles are also fairly easy to switch barrels on (with barrel vice and headspace gauges) and it is possible to do so on others such as Rem 700 (so I've been told).

I'm sure there are other options out there but this is a start.

Ian

if you want something cheaper than sauer, mauser, blaser etc, there is the schultz&larsen m97 and rössler titan 6.

http://www.schultzlarsen.com/
http://www.jagd-shop.at/english/home.html

Cool, thanks for the info Ian in Oz and Steffen-9.3. kcihak

I think the original poster was referring to rebarreling and not switch barrel guns as far as bolt actions go.

In that regard a bolt action gun can be rebarreled to another caliber as long as the length and bolt face are compatible. A 22-250 and a 308 both use short actions of similar length and both have .473" bolt faces.

You can also block longer magazines shorter and to a small extent lengthen magazine boxes as well as open up bolt faces to magnum specs to have even more flexibility in rebarreling choices.

Tru switch barrel (quick change) bolt guns are possible but not cheap.

I have several:
Ruger#3 223 to 250Ackley
Savage 12fv 22-250 to 220Swift
Stevens 200 22-250 to 308
Stevens 200 25-06 to 257Roberts
Savage 10 308 to 250/3000

All were easily managed.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:
I think the original poster was referring to rebarreling and not switch barrel guns as far as bolt actions go.

In that regard a bolt action gun can be rebarreled to another caliber as long as the length and bolt face are compatible. A 22-250 and a 308 both use short actions of similar length and both have .473" bolt faces.

You can also block longer magazines shorter and to a small extent lengthen magazine boxes as well as open up bolt faces to magnum specs to have even more flexibility in rebarreling choices.

Tru switch barrel (quick change) bolt guns are possible but not cheap.

Howver in the case of converting from 22-250 to the .308 family it is very possible a new follower may have to be installed.

I have a friend who asked me at deer camp over Christmas what I though the chances of changing barrels in order to change calibers would be. I responded I didn't know. Now he wants to be able to change back and forth mind you. He wants to remove the current barrel, put on and chamber a different caliber barrel, mark the index on the barrel and then at some later date remove that barrel and put the original back on and match its original index marks up and go shoot.

I don't think he envisions doing it once a month, but he would like to be able to change back and forth once a year or so, depending on his needs for the rifle and thus have two calibers on one action. Ever heard of anyone doing this, and is it even possible?

quote:

Originally posted by befus:
I have a friend who asked me at deer camp over Christmas what I though the chances of changing barrels in order to change calibers would be. I responded I didn't know. Now he wants to be able to change back and forth mind you. He wants to remove the current barrel, put on and chamber a different caliber barrel, mark the index on the barrel and then at some later date remove that barrel and put the original back on and match its original index marks up and go shoot.

I don't think he envisions doing it once a month, but he would like to be able to change back and forth once a year or so, depending on his needs for the rifle and thus have two calibers on one action. Ever heard of anyone doing this, and is it even possible?

Yes it is possible. In the Wold of Savage Rifles.
We do this all the time. I have a long action Savage model #111 that started life as a .270.
I have the following barrels that I change and use on it. 22-250,7mm08,.270, .280,.338-06. I also have a short action Stevens that I can put all of the above barrels on, the only problem is the longer cartridges have to be used as a single shot rifle in the short action.And I can do it all on the tailgate of my pickup at the shooting range if I want to. Action wrench, barrel nut wrench, and headspace gauges and your good to go. I have about $200 in equipment to change barrels.
Slenk

If you're going to swap barrels back and forth as often as they do partners on Desperate Housewives, you need cartridge specific scopes and QR mounts. I did a Savage 11 switch-barrel set a couple of years ago and found it to be more of a PITA that it was worth. After messing with the 4 barrels on the Savage, I decided to buy another Savage 11 and have 2 rifles that I really liked in 22-250 and 260 in lieu of a single action with 4 barrels, 4 scopes, and 4 sets of QR rings.

With any luck, Marlin will expand the cartridge choices in their new XS-7 from 243, 7mm-08, and 308 to include quick-twist .224" barrels in 223 and 22-250. A pair of Marlin XS-7s in 223/22-250 and 7mm-08/308 work cover most American hunters who don't live in AK.

Jeff

PS Index marks on the barrels helps to get the rifle close to proper headspace when you swap barrels, but headspace is measured to the 1/1000", so you still need to check them with a proper headspace gage before you shoot them.

quote:

PS Index marks on the barrels helps to get the rifle close to proper headspace when you swap barrels, but headspace is measured to the 1/1000", so you still need to check them with a proper headspace gage before you shoot them.

That's a good point, but I'm not sure how critical it is. Guys take rifles apart for polishing and blueing all the time and re-install the barrel to the witness mark. I've never heard anyone say you had to remeasure headspace if the mark is lined up. (provided of course that your mark is fine and your eye is good.) Who knows the math to determine how much rotation is equivalent to 1/1000 inch of headspace change?

quote:

Originally posted by montea6b:

quote:

PS Index marks on the barrels helps to get the rifle close to proper headspace when you swap barrels, but headspace is measured to the 1/1000", so you still need to check them with a proper headspace gauge before you shoot them.

That's a good point, but I'm not sure how critical it is. Guys take rifles apart for polishing and blueing all the time and re-install the barrel to the witness mark. I've never heard anyone say you had to remeasure headspace if the mark is lined up. (provided of course that your mark is fine and your eye is good.) Who knows the math to determine how much rotation is equivalent to 1/1000 inch of headspace change?

Depends on how many threads per inch. Need to check my notes . I think on Savage Rifles 1/8th turn is about 4/1000. I could be wrong, have been before. Any way use the gauges thats what they are for.
Slenk

Well, even if that's not exact that gives me enough info to make my point. (by the way, not against re-checking headspace here, just trying to show that if properly lined up any difference should be miniscule...)

If the diameter of the barrel where it butts against the receiver is 1.2", then the circumference is 3.768". Rounded off to 3.8, if you divide by 8, the result is that an 1/8th of a turn is equal to .475" of circumferential travel. (is that even grammatically correct?!)

Dividing that further by 4, we come up with .11875 as the approximate amount of rotation measured at the circumference, where the witness mark would be, to equal 1/1000 of headspace change. That is almost an 1/8th of an inch.

So, how fat is the witness mark and how close are you able to get it lined back up?

A course thread will have more lateral movement than a fine thread.
Slenk