is an action wrench necessary?

[jb45]

is an action wrench necessary for a barrel swap? if so, the #2 wrench from midway says it works for round bottom receivers. if i'm buying a used rifle as a donor how would i know without taking it out of the stock?

[helotaxi]

The #2 wrench worked on both my brand new M10 and my nearly 20 year old M110. Unless your donor is some oddball, that is the wrench.

[82boy]

is an action wrench necessary for a barrel swap?

Nope, I have never used one.
Sharp Shooters Supply has removed and installed more barrels than about all the members on this site have put together, and they don't use one. Just a barrel vice, and a nut wrench is all you need.

[Cover Dog]

I have never used one. I use an barrel vise, nut wrench and I do use a rear entry action wrench. Never had a problem even removing 30 year old factory barrels with this combo.

[bootsmcguire]

I have yet to buy one.

Barrel Nut Wrench + Wood Blocks + Bench Vice + Rubber or Plastic Faced Mallet (if needed) = Good to GO

[dcloco]

I have yet to buy one.

Barrel Nut Wrench + Wood Blocks + Bench Vice + Rubber or Plastic Faced Mallet (if needed) = Good to GO


+1

[jb45]

thanks for the info. ill keep you posted as the build starts/continues.

[319]

I use a bench vise and the action wrench instead of the barrel vise, since I already had the bench vise. It works very well. Although I have only done 5 barrel changes so I definately don't have the experience these folks do.

[efm77]

I think the wrench can help keep the action from wanting to turn back off of the barrel. I've had the receiver want to turn back when tightening the nut against the recoil lug which could alter your headspace. For that reason I bought an action wrench for future builds.

[WYcoyote]

I made a homemade barrel vise and it worked great.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo121/mjkbpics/barrelvise001.jpg

[geargrinder]

I think it is necessary. Barrel vises suck. Especially when you've got a very stubborn nut.

There is a bunch more surface area on the action for the vise to grab a hold of.

Barrel vises are for remingtons. ;D

[darrelw]

the home made barrel vise above is almost like mine and it works like a charm. instead of having wood i have bearing caps off of a engine that had a small crank and i use copper in the area where it grabs the barrel so it doesn't damage the finish or leave a deep scratch.

[khuff]

No, it's not needed, depends on what you want to do.

I made an action vice from scrap white oak, all thread and junk, works great and it centers/indexes the recoil lug so you don't need an indexing pin (on or off). I use Callahan lugs (CM) and they don't have a pin.

[Blue Avenger]

nope, neither are trucks, bandages and beer. do they make life easier?