Quick Change Barrel

[Benjblt]

I'm looking hard at the Seekins M3 Element. I've got the last version of the element and like it. My main draw to the new version is the quick change barrel system. It looks like the rifle comes in a bit heavier. Mostly I want to stay at about 6.5lbs bare rifle. Any other options I should be looking at for a quick change barrel system? I live in Oregon and we're always under threat of firearm purchasing being impossible. . ie Measure 114 if it ever goes in affect. A quick change barrel system would be sweet.

 

[ckleeves]

I guess it depends on what you consider quick change but if you are open to a barrel vise and an action wrench then the list of actions that are pre-fit compatible is huge. 2 minutes with a “quick change” vs maybe 10 with a shouldered prefit doesn’t seem like a big deal imo.

I’m personally a little skeptical of the quick change systems like the Seekins or Zeus as far as zero retention long term. I trust 100 ft lbs of tourque on a shouldered barrel a lot more than 25 inch lbs on a torx screw. I could be completely wrong too.

 

[ElPollo]

Agree on the zero retention and barrel torque. Personally, I’d rather have two separate and dependable rifles that stay the same all the time.

 

[Benjblt]

I guess it depends on what you consider quick change but if you are open to a barrel vise and an action wrench then the list of actions that are pre-fit compatible is huge. 2 minutes with a “quick change” vs maybe 10 with a shouldered prefit doesn’t seem like a big deal imo.

I’m personally a little skeptical of the quick change systems like the Seekins or Zeus as far as zero retention long term. I trust 100 ft lbs of tourque on a shouldered barrel a lot more than 25 inch lbs on a torx screw. I could be completely wrong too.

So get a Tikka, a barrel vise, and an action wrench and order whatever barrel my heart desire? If I want to go from 6.5 creedmoor to 6.5 PRC i need to get new mags (same with Seekins) and a new bolt (only a bolt face with Seekins). I can use the same action wrench, correct? I'd just need to get go/no-go gauges? I know I can use any but Tikka is one of the directions I'd lean. I hear getting their barrels off is difficult.

 

[ckleeves]

So get a Tikka, a barrel vise, and an action wrench and order whatever barrel my heart desire? If I want to go from 6.5 creedmoor to 6.5 PRC i need to get new mags (same with Seekins) and a new bolt (only a bolt face with Seekins). I can use the same action wrench, correct? I'd just need to get go/no-go gauges? I know I can use any but Tikka is one of the directions I'd lean. I hear getting their barrels off is difficult.

Yep. Extra bolts for tikkas are kinda pricey, at that point a guy may be better off to just have two compete rifles. Breaking off factory barrels can be tough but it certainly isn’t out of reason for a DIY guy to do.

All tikkas use the same wrench if you’re using an internal and there are some decent ones on eBay for 50.00. For breaking off factory an external is preferred imo.


Check out a Zermatt Origin too for an easy bolt face change action that lots of prefits are available for. You could buy an Origin and both bolt faces for less then your going to end up in a Tikka with two bolts.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

A quick change barrel is added mechanical complexity that necessarily incurs a weight penalty. At least if you expect any kind of decent accuracy out of the thing. I agree with the others, if you want light weight and the ability to change calibers, buy a normal rifle and an action wrench. Save the quick change for emplaced machine guns.

 

[bnewt3]

I can offer a somewhat experienced perspective on this.

A few years ago I got intrigued by the modularity idea. Sig had the P250 (SA-only hammer-fired version of the P320). They offered X-change kits. You buy one pistol with the serialized fire control group and then buy X-change kits to convert from whatever to whatever. I bought it in .380 but could convert to 9mm, 357 Sig, .40, .45 and also you could get various grip modules like 9mm compact, 9mm full size, 45 compact, 45 full size, and each grip had 3 thicknesses/widths for different hands......whatever they offered. Well first of all it wasnt very popular so they stopped making the P250, which means they stopped making the x-change kits.

T/C also had the Dimension rifle years ago that never got any traction. Cool idea, just didnt take off.

IME it sounds better than it is in reality.

 

[waspocrew]

I have a Zeus with the quick change tenon. I don’t swap cartridges at the range, but barrel swaps are very easy (maybe 2 min tops).

I had a 6 Creed on there for several hundred shots (no issue with zero wandering) before swapping out to my current 22 Creed. For me, it’s nice to not have to pull out the barrel vise, action wrench, etc when wanting to swap.

I also have a Zermatt TL3 and it’s very easy to go from cartridge to cartridge. I got tired of my 22-250 AI, so I picked up a new bolt face and slapped a 300 BLK barrel for the summer/fall. Now I’ll likely be putting a 6 PRC on there soon.

I agree though - the quick change idea is great, but in reality, you probably won’t change that often and may be better served with 2 complete rifles.

 

[Ashy Larry]

So get a Tikka, a barrel vise, and an action wrench and order whatever barrel my heart desire? If I want to go from 6.5 creedmoor to 6.5 PRC i need to get new mags (same with Seekins) and a new bolt (only a bolt face with Seekins). I can use the same action wrench, correct? I'd just need to get go/no-go gauges? I know I can use any but Tikka is one of the directions I'd lean. I hear getting their barrels off is difficult.

I thought the same thing. Ordered a 22 creed Pbb prefit back during the Sale to rebarrel my 7/08. Gun has been at the smith for weeks…he can’t get the factory barrel off. Soaked in Kroil, used heat, called other smiths etc. he thinks he’s going to have put a relief cut in the factory barrel to get it off. I thought this was going to be an easy swap and I’d be able to sell the 7mm after but looks like that isn’t the case. 3-4 year old t3x superlight with maybe 250 down the tube.