Barrel Swap Complete

**JoeJoe** · 12-06-2019, 04:56 PM

My Criterion swap is complete......though I'm no photo-journalist, I attempted to snap a few photos along the way. I'm fairly mechanical, but have never attempted something of this sort......I'd say this was a fairly easy project, overall, especially when you choose to purchase the proper tools.

Here is the "before" pic. This is a 10 FCP-SR in .308 Win. I've put this rifle in a Bell and Carlson M40. Below the rifle is my Northland Shooters Supply delivery....Criterion 26" bbl with a varmint taper, action wrench, recoil lug, bbl nut, bbl nut wrench and GO-NO/GO gauges.

Here's the package after opening....NSS delivery was quick, and the staff was quite helpful over the phone.

Here's my one and only snag, stuck screws.....T10 screws suck in my opinion.....but, a forum member suggested I give each screw a smack with a flat punch (it worked like a charm). I ended up twisting off 2 bits.

Took only a minimal effort to remove the smooth barrel nut (used a pipe wrench). At the suggestion of NSS, I "tossed that think right in the trash where it belongs".

New bits threaded in nicely.

Here's the finished install. I was a bit unsure on the GO-NO/GO process, so I called NSS and they walked through the process I followed and things look to be correct. Ultimately, I'd describe it like this....moderate pressure on the bolt to close the GO gauge......NO/GO will not close......full-length resized brass allows the bolt to close like a dream.

Finished rifle...... re-installed the scope base, now I just need to decided on a new scope and get to the range.

I really appreciate all the insight and quick responses from everyone here......and I'd really recommend NSS if you decide to do a swap yourself.

**Apollo117** · 12-06-2019, 05:00 PM

Very nice! I'm glad the project went well. Thanks for posting pictures.

What does the rifle weight without ammo and scope?

**JoeJoe** · 12-06-2019, 05:33 PM

10 lbs 13oz

**Bill2905** · 12-06-2019, 06:26 PM

That's a nice looking rifle! It feels good when you accomplish something that seemed a bit overwhelming when you first approached it.

**Orezona** · 12-06-2019, 08:53 PM

Great work sir!

**JoeJoe** · 12-07-2019, 01:42 PM

Got out to the range this morning.....was hoping the 26-degree temp would keep a few folks away (didn't work). Anyway, the 100 yd range was free, so after a quick bore-sight and a few shots to get zero, I put about 25 rounds through the tube. All functioned well, and no signs of pressure....I'm thinking this all went really well. One thing I did notice, this barrel currently doesn't appear to like 150gr or 155 gr Hornady ammo. I have a couple boxes of SMK 168s for handloads, so hopefully I can work up a load with those.

Anyhow, I put an older Crossfire II on this rifle to get some shooting in, I'm currently trying to decide on a new optic. I call this a 1 MOA rifle at the present, with potential to be better.