Rem 700 Police barrel removal

[paquo]

Hi,

This is my first thread in this well known forum, because I need to remove the barrel from my Rem700 Police and it seems that will be impossible!

I have used the classic and effective bench vise and lever successfully used with lots of other Rem actions, but this model (Police) seems to be "special" because at least three different persons (two gunsmiths and myself) have tried to unlock this threads, without success.

One of the gunsmiths suggested that maybe could be that Remington has parkerized both the action and barrel after assembly them in the manufacturing process, probably filling the space between the threads with manganese phospate and "chemically soldering" the joint.

Do you have any similar experience and could help with tips or clues about how to proceed? Heat? Chemicals?

Awaiting for your news...

 

[Howard Roark]

Factory barrels can be tough to unscrew without damage. While in the vise I will heat the action over the threads with a torch in these cases. Take care to use as little heat as possible to get it to pop loose. A second person pulling while one heats is a good idea. I've never put enough heat on an action to discolor the metal.

Hope this helps.

 

[rcmodel]

A five pound hammer on the action wrench will normally pop anything loose.

rc

 

[Chawbaccer]

I agree with RC. Also you are less likely to tear your bench apart if you use a hammer instead of a lever.
You may have to make a relief cut to get the barrel off.

 

[Pokyman]

If you don't want to save the barrel, put the barreled receiver in a lathe and use a parting tool to cut into the barrel just ahead of the receiver to relieve some pressure between the barrel shoulder and the receiver. Should make it easier to remove the barrel.

 

[nicholst55]

Some Remington factory barrels are extremely tight. Ridiculously so, in some cases. My gunsmith broke both an action wrench and a barrel vise trying to remove one of mine; then he bought better quality tools and hasn't had a problem since.

I would recommend one of the action wrenches that insert into the bolt raceway and lock into the locking lug recesses like the Cherry Corners or Surgeon wrenches. As mentioned above, a smart rap with a BFH will often move things. A lever will often distort the action, where a hammer will loosen a tight barrel.