AusVarmint

Hey all. Just been thinking over the last few days that a potential future project rifle should be as flexible as possible as to being able to use it for several different targets. Iwas thinking about the possibility of having one reciever and stock etc and a couple of barrels in different calibres that would allow me to change a barrel to suit the shooting I would be doing. (ie a goat and above round and a dog a below round) This would allow me to have one shit hot scope, stock etc and be able to use it for all of my hunting. Of course there would be magazines, bolts etc to go with them but you get the idea. IMO having one rifle for all your shooting needs would result in you being a better shooter as you would not be taking time to get used to a different feeling trigger, stock etc and with the scope adjusted you could be shooting just like normal/

Does anybody know of an action that could do this? I know accuracy international does them but I am not sure of the system they use can use custom barrels. Love the look of those rifles but scared to find out about the price. Would love it if my Tikka would do it but don't think it would.

So am I the only one that would do this?

Mate
You can build one of a Rem 700 action as well. All you need is a barrel vise and an action wrench. Have your gunsmith pin your recoil lug and then set up both barrels and away you guy.

Shane is doing my 700 as we speak, 20 practical and 223 rem.

Im thinking along the same lines you are but in a single rifle/cartridge combo something that will handle varmints to pigs and have pretty much settled on either 6.5 creedmoor or 6.5x47lapua there is merit in this thinking.

Blaser rifles are an option, can change bbl + caliber in 45 seconds, I've seen it done, you can run from .22lr through to 375 H&H. POI shift is almost undetectable. Unfortunately they are $$$

Trev wrote:Mate
You can build one of a Rem 700 action as well. All you need is a barrel vise and an action wrench. Have your gunsmith pin your recoil lug and then set up both barrels and away you guy.

Shane is doing my 700 as we speak, 20 practical and 223 rem.

Oh OK cool I was thinking that it would be a specialised action but Rem 700 is pretty widespread. I reckon that would be the go and would allow for having the perfect calibre for a certain application and not have to spend huge amounts of money on several guns.

BTW what are the legal regs for this type of rifle? PTA for each barrel or what? Storage would be a snap! barrels do not require a locked safe do they? Will have to ask Shane if a Tikka T3 can be interchangable..... Then the stock would be getting piffed and a custom thumhole(look like a accuracy international) stock put on.

Cheers!

I am sure you could use a tikka. But the good thing about the remington 700 is you can get bolts from pacific tools and gauges for around $150US+shipping. This allows you to go from 17rem to 300WSM on the one action. You can't get spare tikka bolts.

What calibres do you want to have. Buy a second hand one in one of the calibres you want from used guns, then order your barrel and have the smith fit it. I would also go with the Rem 700 as you can go to brownells or Sinclairs and get your barrel tools.

OK sounds like the Rem is the go. No use doing all of that and not being able to go up if I want. Plus that would allow me to eventually get the accuracy international stock that I love!

Not sure what calibre I would want but it would be for larger game ie goat to pigs etc, so would be looking at something like a .270 or bigger. I am keen on having either a .19/20cal aswell for a dedicated varminter. But really as long as you have a good solid platform to start with, there is no need to limit yourself to a chosen few calibres. I might even go as far to say that if they are made to very exacting standard, one could swap/sell barrels to people with the same setup......

Easiest (cheap) action to do that kind of thing on is the Savage rifles. The barrel nut makes changing barrels dead simple. Google it yourself.

If I was going to go that way, I'd consider something like a 243 for small to medium game, and something like 30/06 for larger.

Same bolt head size, and who cares if the action is longer than needed for 243?

QD mounts for quick scope swaps. Too easy.

Well I reckon why bother to compromise when all that is required is barrel and bolt?? one bolt for larger rounds and one for varmint rounds. Far cheaper than a whole rifle and the spare cash could be spent either on more ammo, more barrels or better scopes! I would probably go for a .243 as the start but then the fun begins!

Priced a bolt lately?

The only ones that are cheap are those for Rem700 rifles.

Plowboy wrote: BTW what are the legal regs for this type of rifle? PTA for each barrel or what?

Over here I believe it is, my lgs said: "sure you can pick up the spare barrel, just need to bring the PTA in". Less heartache to leave it in their care but sort of defeats the purpose in your case I guess.

From what I heard about WA laws, they seem worse than here. Will ask LGS next time I see him. not a huge deal but you would wonder why you need a PTA when you need an action to shoot anything... unless you plan to blow them out blowdart style! Would be needing to give up the darts to get to 4000fps!!!

Actions, fair enough but barrels.....hmmm

Plowboy

What is the intended use, 270 is a big round, what would be your other calibre