Switching Barrels/Accuracy?

[BobT]

I'm currently on a mission to have a frame dedicated to each barrel, that said I have never noticed a difference in the raw accuracy of a particular barrel when it was switched from one frame to another if everything else remained the same. A point of impact shift has been the norm for me though and as Chris mentioned, a zero verification is a must!

[atmtc]

Anymore, I just use two frames. One for pistol & one for carbine bbls. I stick with the same forends & have had no problem w/POI shift.

[J A XSP]

Anymore, I just use two frames. One for pistol & one for carbine bbls. I stick with the same forends & have had no problem w/POI shift.

That's interesting to note...I wonder if keeping the forend with the barrel and trying it on different frames would show any effect.

I've been comparing a couple of 44 mag barrels recently and switching them out using the same frame and stock set. Seems like they've held fairly well but I haven't really checked to see how close they stay. I'm thinking that a torque screwdriver is in order. :)

[atmtc]

"That's interesting to note...I wonder if keeping the forend with the barrel and trying it on different frames would show any effect."

I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing that it would, due to the change in headspace if for no other reason. I'll bet your .44 Mag bbls (or any other case that headspaces on the rim) would probably not change a great deal.

[J A XSP]

"That's interesting to note...I wonder if keeping the forend with the barrel and trying it on different frames would show any effect."

I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing that it would, due to the change in headspace if for no other reason. I'll bet your .44 Mag bbls (or any other case that headspaces on the rim) would probably not change a great deal.

I'll have an opportunity to check that out...I've had my 25-45 barrel on a Contender frame, set up as a pistol with my wide target forend on it. I'm (finally) getting a new SSK frame and that barrel is destined to live on it. I've got a pic of the last target I shot with it, testing some loads. I'll duplicate those loads, or at least the best of them, and try them with the new frame. I'll know right away whether the POI suffers a big shift or whether the loads that showed the best accuracy with the older frame are also accurate with the new one. :)

[atmtc]

I'm waiting for the results with baited breath. Also wondering how much the locking bolt/locking table interface would have to do with it. When you get right down to it, there's certainly not much holding these little guns together. From an engineering perspective I'm constantly amazed at the accuracy that we get with these things.

I'll have an opportunity to check that out...I've had my 25-45 barrel on a Contender frame, set up as a pistol with my wide target forend on it. I'm (finally) getting a new SSK frame and that barrel is destined to live on it. I've got a pic of the last target I shot with it, testing some loads. I'll duplicate those loads, or at least the best of them, and try them with the new frame. I'll know right away whether the POI suffers a big shift or whether the loads that showed the best accuracy with the older frame are also accurate with the new one. :)

[J A XSP]

I'm waiting for the results with baited breath. Also wondering how much the locking bolt/locking table interface would have to do with it. When you get right down to it, there's certainly not much holding these little guns together. From an engineering perspective I'm constantly amazed at the accuracy that we get with these things.

Headspace and consistent lockup is definitely requisite. I've had instances where I was having to slam the action a little too much to get lockup with a particular barrel and getting lousy accuracy. Same barrel on a frame that allowed for easier lockup and obviously, more consistent full engagement of the lugs and things tightened up very nicely.
It's true that design-wise, they're not particularly robust. :)