Pre-fit barrels?

[McKinneyMike]

I was speaking to a gunsmith today and he had reservations about getting the best possible results from a "pre-fit" barrel. This came up as I was inquiring about "truing and timing" my Stevens action while he was installing the new barrel and a new trigger for me. He said that as part of the truing to the action, the threads in the receiver may need to be recut and that might make for some slop with the "pre-fit" barrel threads. He also stated that when truing he would cut the face of the action that threads to the barrel and this may not be a perfect fit with the barrel, as it was already threaded. It all made sense, but I truly do not know enough to know if his concerns are real or just BS. He seems like a truly honest fellow and his work is incredibly articulate and pristine. His forte is world class and Olympic benchrest rifles.
Maybe I am worrying about more than I should be with his concerns, but I do want the very best accuracy possible too.. I would appreciate any input from more experienced builders. Thanks.

[82boy]

I would say he is full of BS.
Pre-fit barrels subject has been brought up in past week or so if you look or do a search you will find it. I can say without a doubt there is not accuracy lost from a pre-fit barrel fit to a properly done T&T action.
I would look for someone else, that deals more with savage rifles.

[savageboy]

They make their money chambering and headspacing barrels. Pre-fit barrels cut into this profit margin. What can they say?

[Smokepole]

There's a whole lot of different definitions/levels of action truing, and floating bolt head actions are a slightly different bird in theory. On a floating bolt head design, it's accepted that everything from the lugs back on the action merely exists to light the fire when the trigger is pulled. W that in mind, all that's needed is to dial in on the threads and face off the lug abutments and the action face. Most feel facing the integral lugs off is not needed on the Savage. Most feel it is true enough to begin with, particularly since the bolt head floats. And the law of diminishing returns applies. Say 100% is perfect, well if you spend 30 min getting 98% done, is that extra 2% that takes 2 hours worth it? Depends on the goals and what your motivations are (hobbiest, doing it for pay, etc.).

On fixed bolt head designs folks generally do a lot more to fully true the action. Instead of dialing in on the threads, they dial in on the bolt bore w a mandrel/rod. Then they face off the lugs, action face, and single point true the threads which oversizes them. This is most likely where your guy fits in. He's probably very used to working on this type of rifle.

Now, the floating head actions can certainly be trued just like the fixed bolt head designs, and the action would be truer dimensionally. But many would argue that it's not needed and is just academic.

[pdog06]

They make their money chambering and headspacing barrels. Pre-fit barrels cut into this profit margin. What can they say?


I agree. Sounds to me like he is trying to make more out of it than what it really is. Tightening the barrel nut removes any slop that the threads may have, so that isnt an issue. Headspacing it takes 5 minutes or less. Not really too much for a gunsmith to do to it.

Kinda like when you take your car in for an oil change, and they come back with a list of other stuff that they say needs done.

I agree with Smokepole though, he is probably just used to working on Non-Savage guns where the other stuff comes into play.

[docsleepy]

Nat Lambeth "rustystud" has posted what he does to true an action.
SSS (advertiser on this site) is well known for time/truing and has their prices posted.

I think both have excellent reputations, but I do not know what their wait time is.
Headspacing and triggger are things that videos/articles exist about and might be worth it for you to study up and try yourself....you would save enough to pay for the trueing....maybe enough to pay for a 2oz trigger! The savage lends itself well to kitchen table gunsmithing, as long as you are willing to go slow, read widely, and be careful.

Have just finished headspacing two barrels. Took me longer than 5 minutes, cause everytime I tightened the nut I slightly altered it, but a few pencil marks on the barrel and I had the lay of the land figured out and pretty soon I had it exactly where I wanted it. One (factory) rifle was fairly sloppy--would admit the no-go; the other was tighter. Not hard to do yourself.

gordon

[geargrinder]

I don't think your smith is trying to rip you off. I just think that he doesn't understand the benefits of the floating bolt head.

It's very common for smiths to think that everything has to be square and true to the bolt raceway. That's just not the case on a Savage.

[pa hog]

Whats a "floating bolt head"

[Tim300wsm]

savage made a video that shows how it works/benifits

[Blue Avenger]

Whats a "floating bolt head"
LOL have you ever noticed your bolt heat wobbles? It self centers on the back of the case when you chamber a round.

[pa hog]

LOL! I know, pretty common sense, how could a smithy not grasp the concept!!

[pphreed1]

I think that smiths are like a lot of us they have a good experience with something and they tend to feel it is the best forever and don't pay a lot of attention to other things. I am sure it is best to stick with people like sss for savages or those that specialize in what ever you need fixed don't take your cadillac to the yugo specialist the same applys with rifles IMHOm the smith I rarely use when I can't do it myself is obviously not a savage fan so I don't take him a savage

[Uncle Jack]

"Pre-fit barrel"........that's kinda like a factory barrel isn't it?

uj

[curlywoods]

"Pre-fit barrel"........that's kinda like a factory barrel isn't it?

uj


Its kind of like a Shilen #7 contour :-)