Removing a Rem 700 barrel

[Rikky Lee]

Guys

A little off topic but ...

I am trying to get my factory 700 barrel out of the 300 Win Mag but it will not shift. Seems my hobby smith and a gunsmith in town is having the same problem with the more modern Rem 700s.

The Interweb seems to suggest that Rem uses a thread locker that needs some heat to shift it and also removing the recoil lug helps a lot.

Any real world experience/advice on what works first time/best time?

[BWE Firearms]

First you need a good action wrench and barrel vice with properly fitting bushings that is securly mounted. Use some rosin on the barrel bushings. Tighten everything up and try to remove the barrel. If it doesn't move put a 4'-6' extension on the action wrench. If it still does not move use a propain tourch to ad some heat to the front of the action. If it still doesn't come off leave it alone because there is probably a chip in the threads. and if you take the barrel off you will just trash the threads in the action.

[Hoser]

Take a parting tool and make a cut on the barrel about 0.125 forward of the lug. Go about 0.250 deep.

You trash the barrel, but it comes off.

[Spook]

No shortage of good advice so far Rik They're smearing something red on them now. The last one I did took a hefty cheater bar and a propane torch on the barrel just past the receiver. Good luck
The rear entry action wrench that PTG makes is a nice tool to have if you plan on switching out barrels a lot. The scope doesnt have to be removed to de-barrel.

[Hoser]

Or, dump lots of Kroil in there and let it sit for a while.

[Rikky Lee]

All good advice guys (as always).

I've remove military barrels using the relieving cut method and was very surprised to see how effective it was every time. Seems a shame to do that to a modern gun but lawyer proofing is seeming to make everything hard.