Barrel Replacement on No. 4 |
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Posted: May 05 2019 at 5:50am |
I bought a used No. 4 barrel from Sarco a few months back. Advertised as “excellent condition”. I cleaned it well and my .3030 gage will not enter the muzzle nor the rifling past the throat from the chamber end.
Thinking $125 is a good price for a practically new barrel, I ordered another one. The second barrel was not so good. Bad pull thru cord wear on the muzzle crown, the protruding muzzle end looked very worn and dinged, and bad wear marks from the forend cap. I slugged the bore, measures over .305. I doubt this barrel will shoot. I emailed Sarco that I was not happy with this barrel and they are sending me another. I’ve got two No. 4 Mk 2 rifles with a 7.62 NATO SAL (Long Branch) barrel. I’d like to return one of these to .303 using the barrel from SARCO. I need to either find the tools or get them made. I could send the barreled action out to change the barrel, but I would rather do this myself. Brownell’s has a SMLE action wrench, has anyone used this wrench? I’ve not found a barrel vice, the barrel is tapered, so not sure best way to hold on to it. |
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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Brit,
All I can say is I made my rig for changing barrels. It worked on the one and only barrel I had to swap. (Long Lee) it went so easily it was a bit of an anticlimax! I think the No 4 will be a good bit tighter. My barrel vise was made from blocks of hard wood, (Maple) and bolted together. Forms cut to fit barrel and knox form. These were just tapered 'Vees". I learned from the late great Ron Ehlert to use a wrap of brown grocery paper around the barrel to give it grip.
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Pukka, does the wrench just bear up on the main screw lug? I’d be worried it would deform or damage that lug.
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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Double post.
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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Brit,
I found we shouldn't tighten the action wrench against the action body, so made this one solid. If you look at it closely, you will see that it flares out at the base where it touches the main screw area. This means it only contacts the base of the lug, not the outer threaded end. The base is very strong, and no damage can occur. Mustn't touch the open threaded end though! Like I said, it worked for the Long Lee so easily, but the No 4 is a tougher nut. Not as bad as a M-Nagant though! Photo of contact area. Best, R. |
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Thanks Pukka. Makes sense now. I assume this lug is machined into the action body and is not welded on.
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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You might need to use a cheater bar on the action wrench with your No4 *. I have noticed with just the LB and Savage rifles that barrel removal is a tad bit more tedious then with the F,BSA,or Maltby variants.
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Canuck
Special Member Donating Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Agassiz BC Status: Online Points: 3535 |
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I have similar tools for barrel removal. Replacement is for me more of a concern for getting the front sight and extractor claw slot to get lined up properly. I've read about shims needing to be used, sounds to me like an experienced LE gunsmith is the ticket there. $125 for a good barrel sounds about right but I think that an excellent barrel with little to negligible wear would cost quite a bit more?
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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually
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Pukka Bundook
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
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Canuck,
I think they should index Ok. Shouldn't need shims.
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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If you didn't live so far away I would do it for no charge at all.
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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I appreciate that offer Goosic. We have a D-Day match on 8 June in Talladega, you could shoot your Savage No. 4 in the Vintage Military Match with scope removed and the Vintage Sniper Match with scope fitted.
Did you also make your own barrel removal tools?
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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There is a guy making them and selling them on eBay. That is where I received mine from. It is almost identical to the Brownell's version.
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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Goosic, does it look like this?
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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That is the barrel vice. He also sells the action wrench.
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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It’s actually both if you scroll thru the pictures.
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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I have been using my set for almost two years now. You will end up modifying it to fit your needs once you get used to it.
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