Rifle with swappable barrels in .243 and .308???

D

Dagny

New member
Since the .243 is a necked down .308 cartridge, wouldn't the actions be the same? Wouldn't one only have to have a second barrel to have the best of both a light flat-shooting varmint round and a sniper-accurate round for precision shooting or elk hunting?

Do shooters here have any recommendations on brand? Could I get a Ruger or Remington or Winchester or Browning or other brand in both calibers (with interchangeable barrels)?
 
I'm not 100 percent sure

but I heard that the old Remington 600 (discontinued) had interchangeable barrels. I'm not exactly certain because I have never handled one but I remember a friend telling me that this series was short action only and could swap barrels (I think he said by screwing and unscrewing the barrel out of the receiver). I don't know if this is true or not but this is the only rifle that I have heard of that could swap barrels short of a custom gun. As well, I don't know how accurate it would be with interchangeable barrels. But I suppose it would be nice to have a rifle that could swap calibers - the .243, 7mm-08 and .308 would give you a lot of variety.
 
Take a look at the T/C Encore rifles.. they have interchangable barrels, and 243 and 308 are among the choices. I am seriously looking at one in 223. :D
 
You also might check out the Sig SHR970. It is interchangeable among both standard and some standard length magnums. I don't know anything about them, just that they have convertable barrels and bolts.

MFH
 
The cost of a limited production "Take-down" rifle and a second barrel is commonly such that it's cheaper to have two rifles.

You could go high-dollar on one scope to move back and forth between the two rifles, of course. A written record of the different points of aim would keep re-sighting from being onerous.

And, commonly, varminting and "serious" hunting seasons don't overlap...

:), Art
 
MFH,
thanks for the referral to Sig. In checking their site their SHR970 indeed as the option I'm looking for...
"you can quickly and easily switch barrels to change caliber with no loss of accuracy. This makes the SHR 970 a truly versatile, multi-caliber rifle - perfect for any hunter who wants to keep his options open at a reasonable cost."
The scope goes on the receive but alas, the calibers do not include a .243. But they do include a 25-06 and .308
http://sigarms.com/products/sanswiss-shr970.asp

NINE,
The Thompson Center Encore single shot does indeed permit barrel swapping, but the scope goes on the barrel rather than the receiver. Yet it likely is cheaper than the Sig.
http://www.tcarms.com/encrifle/index.html
 
The armalite AR10 308 and 243 barrels are interchangeable without changing anything else...mags are even the same

Swapping the entire upper is a little easier though...
 
I know a couple of guys at work who've built Mauser actions using barrels from Midway. They hand-tighten the barrels and can unscrew them any time. The accuracy I've seen from them is impressive, bordering on phenomenal, considering how "crude" it is. You might consider that.
 
The right way...

Gitcherself a Remington 700 action, and send it off to a good smith to have it trued up. I'd recommend Speedy Gonzales, Paul Dorsey, or any of several others...

To remove or screw the barrels in, you basically will need an action wrench and a barrel vise. That'll sent you back about $100. Different barrels are about $400 (assuming you're buying match quality, and having 'em chambered by a match quality smith - You may be able to drop as low as $250 or so, but you get what you pay for). Take-off barrels are also sometimes available, but headspace will need to be verified. If your action is straight and the barrels are done well, you won't need a lot of adjusting to rezero your scope when changing barrels...
 
Savage

I have a Savage 11FC in .243. Since the barrel attaches by means of a barrel nut, it is a relatively simple operation to exchange barrels and headspace them. All you need is a barrel nut wrench from Brownell's and a set of headspace gauges. You don't need the services of a gun smith to turn down the barrel face to set headspace as you must do on other brands. Sharpshooter Supply can sell you a chambered barrel for about $160. I have considered getting a .308 barrel for it, but so far I haven't needed that large of a caliber for anything I'm doing. That .243 is sweet to shoot for target practice and has earned me two deer so far.
 
Thanks all - for the suggestions. Going the Remington 700 route with an action job and match barrels would be nice, but expensive. Then again, a SHR970 may be expensive too.
The Midway route seems less complicated.
I've read that a few thousand rounds of .243 may burn out a barrel because of the .308 amount of powder in the smaller caliber. Being able to swap barrels would be nice - even if its only for another 243 barrel.
Thanks again for the leads.
 
The Savage rifle with the two barrels might be the better route. I've talked to a few guys that are planning to do this also. Why not just buy two Savage rifles? It would only run about $300-400 each. But Savage makes a good rifle and just buying one and a different barrel wouldn't be a bad idea either and not to expensive.
 
As yorick suggested,

The AR-10 route, while expensive (though you could probably go with a Eagle Arms AR-10 to save $500), is your easiest bet. Just get a .243 upper and you only need to pop two pins. Heck, you can do *that* at the range... it takes 30 seconds. All you have to do at that point is just buy .243 and .308 ammo.
 
Dagny, I have seen the SIG 970 for under $500, $470 was the cheapest I think. I think the barrel price was around $200, but don't bet the bank on that. Real good reviews on the rifle, and more importantly, I have talked to 2 differnt fellows that own the gun and were getting sub MOA groups.
 
xraymongral

Thanks for the really great news on the prices of the Sig SHR970. Those prices are well within reason - especially for a quick switch barrel and sub MOA accuracy and Sig quality. I guess the name SIG was equated in my mind with pricey.
 
New England Firearms Handi-rifle. Under $200 in practically any calibre & extra barrels in any caliber are $75 + $10 shipping.

Single shot, however.
 
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