Savage barrel swap tools

S

shelton573

Active member
I have a buddy that bought a Stevens 200 in 300 win mag the other day for a project gun. He is wanting to put new stock, trigger, DBM and barrel on it whenever I go home for Christmas/coyote hunting in December. Might be a dumb question, but he is wondering if there is a place to rent the vice, action wrench, nut wrench, and gauges from? Would it be easier and cheaper to drop it off at a gunsmith and have him do it quick and if so how much does that typically run? Chances are we will just buy the equipment half and half so we have it for the future but he was just curious if there is a way to save a little bit on it. Thanks!

Shelton
 
To only do it one or two times, you'll save quite a bit of money by paying a smith to do it. Can often get Savage barrels installed for $150ish, since they don't have to do any machining. The barrel nut wrench used will usually go $50, new is $100ish. An action vice can be made, but you'll have around $100 into it, plus your time (assumes that you have the tools/equipment to make it), can be bought around the same cost (Midway has barrel vices on sale right now for $55-60, normally $90ish). The go & no-go gauges aren't a necessity for a Savage, but they're a good idea. A full length sized brass and a piece of tape can do in a pinch. For the security, I figure it's money well spent to buy the gauges.

If you were closer, I'd let ya borrow mine, as it sure doesn't get a lot of use anymore. I used to change savage barrels pretty regularly, not as much anymore.

You also have to be sure that you get the right barrel nut wrench, whether you have the old hex notched style or the smooth style nut.
 
Thanks for the info Varminterror! Is the wheeler nut wrench decent enough to do the job? They go for about $20-25 but I wasnt sure of their quality. Will the action ideally spin off the barrel by hand once the barrel nut is removed or will it require the action wrench? Thanks again!

Shelton
 
I use a wheeler nut wrench and it works fine. A barrel vise does come in handy but I have never had the need for an action wrench but I did have to heat a barrel nut once before it would break loose. After that it came apart slicker than eel poop.
 
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I do this all the time here.
All you need is a bench vise, blocks of wood, elect tape and the barrel wrench.
Take a hole saw a tad smaller than your barrel drill through your wood...2x4 works, cut in half, put elect tape around barrel, put blocks over that (helps stop spinning), clamp tight in vice, put barrel wrench on and whap it hard as you can w/mallet or hammer to bust nut loose.
Your go/no go gauge can be done w/a sized case.
 
Call Jim at Northland Shooters Supply. He has a nice set of wrenches.

If you have any buddies that shoot Savages and ever want to change them, you can lend them out. I know mine have taken a trip or two.
 
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