Swap P94S varmint barrel?

[spandit]

I have 2 Sako P94S .22LR but one of them has the heavy varmint barrel and I don't tend to take it out much because it is quite a lot heavier, especially with NV on it. From what I can tell, the barrels aren't numbered, just the actions, so if I swapped my heavy barrel (and stock) for a normal barrel with someone, I wouldn't need to apply for a variation, correct?

Reading up, I'd need a headspace gauge to seat the barrel correctly

[Graham M]

You  will need a variation for another barrel but if you swapped your's with someone I don't suppose anyone would know (unless your ticket stated "Varmint barrel"). Head-spacing isn't a problem as you simply push the barrel in as far as it will go as there is more than enough spacing in the head of the bolt face. You can't push the barrel in too far because it simply comes into contact with the front of the bolt. Mine gave me 45 thou headspace  which I thought good for a hunting rifle but I removed the extractor etc and chucked the bolt in the lathe and took 2 thou off the bolt face. I now have 43 thou headspace with the face of the breech touching the face of the bolt. This gives me a bit of a cushion between different brands of ammo.

Not easy for everyone to do this I know but a couple of years ago I made a set of headspace gauges (40 - 49 thou).

You would be amazed at what some RF rifles at my club have been factory head-spaced at.

 

 

Edited April 17, 2018 by Graham M

[fizzbangwhallop]

Much the same as Graham M, when I switch my F’fire’s .22 standard barrel for the .17Mach2 barrel, I simply insert a fired case in the chamber, close the bolt, hold it upright with just the weight of my arm holding the barrel against the bolt and tighten up the 2 clamp bolts. I use Eley subs as these came out best in conjunction with a Sirrocco sm2 mod and the standard length skinny barrel.

Easy peasy...... before the .17M2 barrel came along I had the choice of a standard or a varmint barrel......there was sod all difference in accuracy so the varmint barrel was part-ex’d against the new barrel on a one for one.

 

cheers

fizz