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Hi,
I want to pick up a Savage bolt rifle in .270 WSM, but I also would like to get a barrel nut wrench and be able to swap the barrel for a .243. I suppose that I need a bolt with a standard diameter bolt face, can I buy an extra bolt somewhere?

Thanks for your help
Billy

Midway sells the bolts or just the bolt heads. Sure if they do you can get one from Savage if you wanted.

Check out Sharpshooter Supply for parts/pieces also. If you don't want a factory barrel, many custom makers offer pre-chambered barrels - Pac-nor, Lothar Walther, E.R. Shaw among them.

YOu will also want other tools - action wrench, barrel vise, go/no go guages. Then cruise the net for tips on the actual proceedure....

Kaiser Norton

Brownells carries a lot of Savage stuff as well. All you need is a bolt head and a barrel, plus the tools and a little know how.

If you start with the wsm, the barrel will have a large shank. If you order other barrels, make sure you specify a large shank.

Very good point. Totally didn't think of that.

Parts needed: large shank barrel,bolt head,fellower and standard mag box.They come with blind,hinged and clip magazines.I think the sheetmetal boxs,though, interchange.

Tools needed: barrel nut wrench,dead-blow hammer for hitting the wrench, and a vise with a couple of hardwoood blocks.Those women sure put those barrels on tight.

With that,you can do any short action cartridge,22-250 to 350RM

Easy to do. Just take your time. Shilen also has pre-fit Savage barrels. http://shilen.com/savageBarrels.html

The Savage 11s chambered for the WSMs have different barrel threads and diameter specs, a different bolt head, and different magazine box/follower specs. I don't even know if you could buy a ready to install barrel in 243 for the WSM specs receiver. I think that you could probably buy a Stevens 200 in 243 for about the same amount of $$ that you'd spend to do that conversion.

Jeff

I purchased a Savage Precision Target Action with the idea of making up a switch barrel varmint rig. Ordered two Shilen Select Match Savage Replacement Barrels, one 24" in .204 Ruger 1:12 twist, one 26" in 6mm PPC USA with the .262" neck, 1:10 twist to stabilize the 62 grain Varmint Grenade. The Savage PTA uses the 1.125" 1-1/8" 20UN threaded large shank. Bought a Farrel barrel vice, Savage nut wrench and action wrench from Midway. Picked up two headspace gauge sets from Pacific Tool and Gauge. Purchased a PPC bolt head assembly and stock from Sharp Shooters Supply. Also you need a 1/2" torque wrench to set the nut tension 30-40 ft lbs ( I used 40 ft lbs). Also picked up some barrel anti-seize paste.

I only shoot Barnes Varmint Grenades as I shoot in California's lead free zone. The .204 Ruger so far will shoot .50" at 100 yards with the 26 grain bullet, in a still wind, but need to experiment with seating depth, which is critical with V.G. bullets. The 6mm PPC USA shot a .309" 5 shot group fire forming last weekend. Hope it wasn't a fluke. The Savage switch barrel concept seems to work very well. Using a barrel vice makes swapping the barrels easier, and the action wrench works with Remington actions. Swapping bolt heads is a five minute job, but could be eliminated by purchasing a separate bolt. I understand Pac-Nor Barreling will make up a Remington barrel that uses a Savage type nut - now there's an idea! You can get more info at www.switchbarrel.com then go to the Savage FAQ and bolt head change procedure pages.

No all WSM rifles are large shank the first year production were not. Its best to check your gun before you order.