I can't understand why everyone seems to think the addition of a barrel nut is necessary to facilitate barrel swapping. The truth is, the barrel nut complicates things. Without the nut, headspace is fixed and you don't need to rely on a gauge. The advantage of the nut is only in play when chambering since there is no need to chamber to a precise depth. GD
Helloooo????
You don't need to rely on a gauge with set (nut-less) barrels??? And it "complicates things". Or when swapping nut-barrels? What do you think that nut does, other than "chamber" to the gauge or cartridge? Really?????
Damn, I sure did waste a lot of money on all those Go/No/Go gauges for fixed barrels then... same ones used for the barrel nut types, by the way. Which could be set by using a cartridge. ( I wouldn't, but it could). And the nut-jobs are SO much easier than machining to fit.... if my experience of many fixed fittings vs one nut is any indication! By the way- I hate Savages....but that fitting system is great! A couple minutes vs an hour or more on the lathe.... It even works!
Furthermore, swapping "fixed" barrels (once fitted) requires more tools (, barrel clamps/ vises /wrenches) than does that Savage system (wrench). Sure, once you set a "fixed" barrel, you can index mark it to the receiver and get it close (within tolerance) without a gauge, I suppose. I wouldn't.
Yer talking out yer ass., not to make too big a point of it....