Quote Originally Posted by MrFurious View Post
Plenty of different ways to skin this cat, no one any better or worse than the other. Why some feel speed should be a factor is beyond me, it's not a NASCAR pit stop.
Well, if you are getting paid for a task and have a long list of other tasks to do, then speed is a factor. Time is money. This probably only applies to a few folks.

I think what the OP was asking initially was why it was taking him so long to do this task when others do it so quickly. And the answers provided point out the various tricks used. Such as using wrenches that act on the bolt lugs instead of the main receiver ring, modified wrenches that don't require removal of scope mounts, etc. And, of course the experience of doing the task over and over. Speed is an indicator of "Ease". Whether you take 15 minutes, or 15 hours, is entirely up to the person doing the work.

This argument was one of the principle reasons I transitioned to a barrel nut approach to barreling rifles. Having spent hours on fitting Mausers, M1's, 03's, Remingtons, and Weatherby/Howa barrels, it is rather refreshing to work on one that doesn't take hours to do. If it weren't for the aesthetics of having that big honking nut in front of the receiver, I would do it that way all the time.