Remington 700 Barrel swap question

[tnieto2004]

I have an OLD Remington BDL in .243 that I am wanting to swap barrels on. I have a brand new ADL barrel in .243 that I have had for some time. What all does it take to swap the barrel besides the tools. Is there anything special I need to be aware of? Does anyone know what a gunsmith might charge for something like this? Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[TonyAngel]

I was just discussing this in another thread. From what I've gathered, it may or may not headspace. You could do the barrel swap with an action wrench and vice and then check the headspace (go/no go gauges). You might get lucky.

My local gunsmith charged a buddy of mine around $300 to fit a barrel, but it needed to be turned (profiled), chambered, threaded and headspaced.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Swap barrels, it wont work, and it'll be less expensive to buy a new barrel to replace the BDL's barrel.

 

[TonyAngel]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but am really trying to learn. Why wouldn't it work? I mean, the Remington 700 is a mass produced rifle. I don't think that they have a room full of guys sitting on lathes headspacing barrels. I would think that the barrels are cut to a spec, as are the actions. If he throws the other barrel on his rifle and the headspace checks out, what's not to work?

 

[NCsmitty]

If you intend to use the iron sights, and the new barrel is d & t for them, the gunsmith needs to time the barrel threads for them.
If you're not using them, then it's just headspace and finish to deal with.



NCsmitty

 

[tnieto2004]

I will not be using the iron sights at all- scope only.

 

[nastynatesfish]

You'd probally be better off taking it to a machinist and have them face .005 - .0010 from the reciever end you'll need a reamer and go no go gauges. Also if you have it faced you'll have to have them bump the shoulder back for your recoil lug to fit right. You could try and screw it in first and try your guages, if its short no problem just ream it, if its long them start from begining. Not difficult, make sure to check the threads through the front mount screw hole for any marring on the barrel threads before you start to unscrew the barrel or you'll be buying a remington reciever tap also(80 buck) from midway. Good luck.