DIY Tikka Barrel Swap, By Dioni Amuchastegui

[Dunky]

Yeah, putting the cheap part on the expensive part is..expensive.


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For sure. Luckily it was just a tiny scuff on the bottom that I won’t see. But, a good reminder to get the right tool for the job.

 

[WyldGoose]

Thanks for all the tips in this thread, just got mine apart easy. Got it all clamped down, whacked the Wheeler wrench a couple times with a 4 lb sledge to shock it, then slipped the handle from my Hi-Lift jack over the Wheeler and barely put any weight on it and it loosened right up.

 

[HighCascadeHunter]

Thanks for this thread and the article write up, was a big help.
Working on my first tikka project, a 7mm rem mag converted to .223.
Used the wheeler barrel vice secured in a hydraulic press. OMR action wrench with a 3/4 socket on torque wrench. Broke free at about 120ftpounds. Cleaned it all up, put new anti seize compound on the McGowen 223 barrel and threaded back on. Torqued to 100ftpounds. Checked with go and field gauges, all good.
Excited for the rest of my parts to come in and finish up the build.

 

[Unckebob]

Here is my list:

Wheeler Action Wrench = $79 or Chi-Com version = $40
Viper Barrel vise = $70 or SAC Bravo vise = $275
Drywall tape = $5
Headspace gauge rental = $30 (including shipping both ways) If you buy, just buy the go gauge and use the tape or a shim to get "no-go".

That is the minimum you will need if you don't mind not accurately torquing your new barrel back on. You may need to spend a few $ more to replace the bolts on the action wrench with longer ones in order to flip the head around and still get good thread engagement.

Extras that make the job easier and more precise (in my opinion)

Internal action wrench from Bugholes = $90 from E-bay = $75, SAC modular = $125
Torque Wrench from Amazon = $40 Craftsman = $90

Most chain auto parts stores will let customers borrow tools including big torque wrenches for free.