I am not sure you are clear on the fundamentals of the Savage system and differences with more traditional makes such as Remington. Forgive me if I show my own ignorance here.
All "prefits" are designed to work on one of two different savage actions, LARGE and SMALL shanks, using a barrel nut as a lock nut to adjust and set the HEAD SPACE. Using this technique, you can set the headspace without the need for additional tooling/cutting/grinding etc. The shank threads are simply threaded further down the barrel so that the barrel and nut can be spun as deep as necessary to set the headspace against a "GO GAGE", and then locked into place by tightening the barrel nut against the face of the action. There is no shoulder cut into the barrel itself. Instead, the nut acts as a moveable/adjustable shoulder.
THe difference between LARGE and SMALL shank is just the outside diameter of the cut threads. Most actions call for SMALL (standard) shank. It's not an option. The action is either built from the factory with a large opening for the barrel or a small opening. Typically, only TARGET actions are large or certain MAGNUM calibers, such as 270 WSM. The rest are considered SMALL or standard shank.
Beyond that, a shooter may choose to have the THROAT reamed long or short so as to match whatever length of bullet seating he wants. For example, if you want to shoot longer than standard .223 cartridges, you will ask the barrel maker to ream the throat a bit longer (whatever your specs might be) to allow the longer bullet. Do not confuse LONG THROAT with LARGE or SMALL SHANK. Those are two different things.
IF you want a more traditional barrel that has a shoulder (no nut), THEN you would have the barrel threaded and contoured in such a way that you do not use a nut. It is threaded up to the shoulder and then custom reamed to for the proper head spacing. I do not know anyone who does this with the Savage rifle. It is too easy to simply get "pre-fits" and use a barrel nut to set your headspace yourself without machining tools.
Bookmarks