If you want to do a swap on a Savage I'd advise you to buy the tools. They are not "cheap" but not all that much either..
Look here:
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...enches/barrel-nut-wrench-prod129691.aspxhttps://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...savage-barrel-nut-wrench-prod122932.aspxhttps://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...10-110-barrel-nut-wrench-prod105086.aspxOn the Savage action for your own use, you need no headspace gauge. You simply need a loaded round of the ammo you shoot, or better yet a sized and empty piece of brass that you will load later. An empty, sized case is most safe, but if you set up your bench and vice for this work using a loaded round can be safe too. No less safe then loading the rifle when you are going hunting. "Rule #4 is to be observed at all times is you use a loaded round.
You'll need a good sturdy bench with a heavy vice, but you may have a work bench already.
I helped a friend install a muzzle break on his daughters 7-08 Savage just last week. Time for the entire job
including cuttings threads (which you will not be doing) and re-assembly AND zeroing the rifle at 200 yards was 45 minutes.
If I only needed to swap a barrel out it takes me about 10 minutes. From start to finish it will go like this:
Remove Scope. (1 minute)
Remove front scope base (1 minute)
Remove barreled action from stock. (1 minute)
Clamp either the action or the barrel in a set of blocks in your vice. (1-3 minutes) (note, you can make either or even both from blocks of Oak and they work just fine for Savage actions. If you clamp the action in a set of blocks the job is even easier then if you use a barrel vice and clamp the barrel. But either way is fine.
Use the nut wrench to loosen the barrel nut and then simply unscrew the barrel by hand. Take it off and screw the nut on the new barrel as far down the treads as it will go to be sure it's out of the way when you put that 2nd barrel on the action. (10 seconds)
Take the piece of sized brass or a loaded round and place it in the camber of the new barrel. If using a loaded round be SURE the safety is locked in the ON position and muzzle is pointing at something that would
safely stop the bullet if you had a mishap. (like a sear breaking of some other event. Remember, Murphy's law. If it can go wrong it will some time, so be sure it CAN'T go wrong) (10 seconds)
Screw the barrel (with the case or round in it's chamber) into the action until the extractor clips over the rim and the head of the shell runs up hard against the bolt face, and then back it off about 1/16 of a turn for about .003 headspace, or about 1/32 turn for 16 tenths headspace (1-2 minutes)
Lock down the barrel nut. (10 seconds)
Place safety in the mid position and open the action to eject the case or round. (5 seconds)
Install your barreled action back into the stock. (2-3 minutes , from action/barrel blocks to being back in the stock)
Install your front scope base. (1 minute)
Install you scope. (30 seconds)
Go zero it in.
The 1st time will take you more time because you may have to make a set of barrel or action blocks. But once you buy the nut wrench and have a set of blocks made or bought the whole job is about 10 minutes just going slow and easy.
So doing a barrel swap on a Savage with a fully machined barrel is NOT very time consuming and is NOT difficult. Smiths that ask high prices are just trying to rip you off