Ruger American Barrel Nut - Quick change barrel?

[lobo9er]

In the thread about swapping a barrel on the winchester mod 70 there was mention of the Ruger American barrel nut and making the model 70 have the ability to swap barrels easily. So... is it easy to swap out a barrel on a Ruger American? Or did I read that wrong. I didn't want to hi-jack their thread.

 

[Varminterror]

Yes, it is easy to swap out a barrel on a Ruger American. Loosen the barrel nut, thread off the old barrel, screw in the new barrel to headspace on a go gauge, tighten the barrel nut, put the stock back on...

A Win 70 is really no different after the first time it's installed, and is actually easier/faster. The first time it goes on, you have to either set back the shoulder to set the headspace for a long chambered barrel, or finish chamber the barrel for a short chambered barrel. Once that is done, all you must do is screw the old barrel off and the other one back on - I use index marks on the bottom of the receiver to clock/torque my barrels for non-nut style barrels.

The Ruger American, Mossberg, and Remage conversions are all copies of Savage barrel nut style rifles, it all works, if you can tolerate the ugly barrel nut on the shank of your rifle.

 

[lobo9er]

huh so is having a barrel threaded to fit expensive? I guess theres bolt work to... and on an American Ruger it may cost as much if not more than just buying a new rifle I suppose. Again thinking of the 7.62x39 Ruger American.

 

[lobo9er]

I don't mind the nut I actually like pronounced and chunky

 

[Varminterror]

There is no bolt work if you stay within the same rim diameter - i.e. If you convert a .22-250 to a .308win then to a 6.5creedmoor, or convert a .270win to a .35 Whelen to a 6.5-284. Both cases, the bolt remains unchanged. There are effectively only 3 common sizes of bolt faces and rim diameters for many different cartridges: .378" for .223rem, 204ruger type, standard .473" rims for .308/.30-06, 22-250, 284win types, and .532" rims on magnum cases like .300win mag. There are a few odds and ends with different bolt faces, but by and large, pick a .473" or a .532" and you'll have dozens if not hundreds of cartridges from which to choose.

Having barrels finish chambered or finish threaded to headspace is typically ~$100.

 

[Varminterror]

With a Savage action, for extra cost to replace the bolt head ($25 if you wanna rebuild bolts every time, ~$75 ish to just under $100 if you have pre-built heads sitting on the shelf like most of us) and extra cost to replace mag boxes, followers, etc, as long as you have a large shank action, you can swap basically any cartridge for any cartridge, even change cartridge length (starting with a long action). At that point, however, you have a pretty expensive parts inventory, and had to do some custom fab work.

A guy can do the same in a Remington, Ruger M77, Winchester, or Mauser too, but it costs more for complete bolts in these models - a lot more. I figure $200-250 per bolt in this case. This lets me use the same exact rifle to hunt smaller game and practice with using 284win then turn up the juice with a .300rum, all in the same action, stock, trigger, and scope. Two bolts, barrels, mag boxes and followers, and a lot of smithing for feeding.

 

[lobo9er]

my American is 308 I knew 22-250 would obviously work with it as is but what about 7.62x39 same bolt too?

 

[Varminterror]

No, the .308win runs a .473" rim, whereas the x39 runs a .447" rim.

Converting a Ruger American to a dissimilar bolt face is probably a fools' errand - expensive, and not likely worth the time or money. Since Ruger doesn't make an American with a .447" bolt face, you'd need to buy a bolt from an American in .223rem and have it opened up. Since Ruger doesn't sell bolts, and to my knowledge, nobody makes one, you'll have a tough time finding one, and will likely be $200+ into buying the bolt once you do find it, even used. Your fastest, cheapest, and easiest option MIGHT be to buy a used Ruger American in .223rem, send it to Ruger claiming the bolt was lost and have them fit a new bolt to it (would guess this will be $250 or more, plus shipping, then sell the complete rifle when it returns for the cost you have in it, and take the original bolt to a smith to have the boltface opened up, and mate it to your receiver. I've not done this for the American, but I did this for a Ruger M77 MkII I wanted to convert from .30-06 to 300wm after I couldn't find a take-off bolt for over a year. If they HAVE since released a Ruger American in x39, then you'd be able to buy a used one, send the rifle back to get a new bolt, sell the used rifle, and simply keep one of the bolts as is - save on smithing fees. But I'm not sure such an animal exists.

You must not reload?

 

[lobo9er]

no I dont I will someday. This is mostly just for conversation anyways although I do tinker and projects aren't unlike me. I know what your getting at though just load the 308 to x39 levels and that is a very valid point. But I also have an sks and would like a bolt gun to match.

 

[lobo9er]

Thanks for the replies though appreciate the information. I love learning about this stuff.