458 SOCOM build on a Ruger American

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MGP

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
16
Location
CT.
What barrel vise and action wrench would you recommend?

The size difference in the Hybrid46 and Bowers are what will allow the Bowers to be quieter. How much? by ear you may not even be able to tell the difference. I went with the Hybrid46 myself because of the Bravo QD mount. Plus, it being a little smaller and lighter
I have used this one for a while works great and very reasonable for how good it works. Don't waste your money on an action wrench.
I will be using this vise and a 1-1/4 crowfoot so I can torque the X-Caliber nut. I used an old Remington 700 action wrench on the factory nut https://www.ebay.com/itm/272286396902
 
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Pauerpilot

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
107
Location
Mesa, Arizona
I just secured my action to my table vise. I used some leather and cardboard to protect my action finish. I used a Dremel with a metal cutting wheel to cut a slit into the OEM barrel nut. I went real slow and steady. Once I got through the nut enough, I used a chisel to widen the slit. The barrel nut split easily. I could then use my fingers to take off the nut and the barrel came off with my fingers. Make sure that the bolt is removed from the action. The bolt in the action will offer resistance on the barrel when you are trying to remove the barrel. I did not need to use very much torque or pressure once I got through the barrel nut. You do not need to wrench down on your action very much. Use the flats of your action to secure the action. Just have the action secure. You will not need a barrel wrench to get the barrel off. Do NOT go crazy securing your action to the vise.
 

southernpew

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
48
Location
The South
Thanks! i thought about clamping the action in a vise and basically just using an 18" pipe wrench to remove the nut.

A friend at work wants me to disassemble his Ruger American so he can have it cerakoted. I guess I can just have him order a nut from X-Caliber
 
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thomasj

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 28, 2022
Messages
26
Location
united states
I took my barrel off yesterday. I took the bolt out of the action and clamped the action into a vice with some rubber type protectors and used a large set of channel lock pliers and was able to remove the nut relatively easily. It took maybe 5 minutes.
 

southernpew

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
48
Location
The South
I took my barrel off yesterday. I took the bolt out of the action and clamped the action into a vice with some rubber type protectors and used a large set of channel lock pliers and was able to remove the nut relatively easily. It took maybe 5 minutes.

Do you plan on reusing the OEM barrel nut?
 

southernpew

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
48
Location
The South
My barrel just shipped out! That was faster than expected IMO

Guess I need to buy the rifle now lol. Already have the chassis and stock

EDIT: Ordered the rifle last night. When I originally looked into doing this conversion the rifles were $350 all day. But like everything else the prices just keep climbing. I found one for $409 shipped, so I cant complain

$575 Xcaliber Barrel (20% off End of Year sale, added flutes)
$409 Rifle
$397 MDT Chassis (Black friday sale)
$198 MDT Stock (Black friday sale)
Now for glass

Not bad considering a rifle built from someone runs $2K plus. Super excited for my first full build
 
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thomasj

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 28, 2022
Messages
26
Location
united states
My barrel just shipped out! That was faster than expected IMO

Guess I need to buy the rifle now lol. Already have the chassis and stock

EDIT: Ordered the rifle last night. When I originally looked into doing this conversion the rifles were $350 all day. But like everything else the prices just keep climbing. I found one for $409 shipped, so I cant complain

$575 Xcaliber Barrel (20% off End of Year sale, added flutes)
$409 Rifle
$397 MDT Chassis (Black friday sale)
$198 MDT Stock (Black friday sale)
Now for glass

Not bad considering a rifle built from someone runs $2K plus. Super excited for my first full build
Lucky mine still hasn't shipped and neither has my MDT chassis
 

southernpew

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
48
Location
The South
Lucky mine still hasn't shipped and neither has my MDT chassis

I may or may not have ordered 2 of the AR chassis and 2 more for another style lol. That Black Friday sale really got me

Wow, X-Caliber must have shipped this priority or overnight. This thing got here quick!

CEAC6721-BDA2-4BBF-A8D2-A26354D62220.jpeg
 
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Smithfielder

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 1, 2018
Messages
3
Thank you. I missed that as I thought it was a mock up for pictures and I should have been more clear as in has anyone used the three round Ruger mag from the .450? The rounds fit. My guess is make a similar Dremel cut as with the Lancer mags. I look forward to your findings with the AICS mags.
 

southernpew

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
48
Location
The South
Thank you. I missed that as I thought it was a mock up for pictures and I should have been more clear as in has anyone used the three round Ruger mag from the .450? The rounds fit. My guess is make a similar Dremel cut as with the Lancer mags. I look forward to your findings with the AICS mags.

Just picked up my rifle. I threw a couple rounds in that mag to see what it looked like. And I don't think the case head protrudes enough above the back of the mag for the bolt to catch it. Now I'm sore a Dremel would fix that. It is possible that it would work though. Maybe I'll try it before putting it all into the MDT chassis? Could be interesting

AED51DF4-9579-4680-85CF-DF3327871F82.jpeg
BA08D5F7-D22D-4B74-9ED5-844950443913.jpeg
 

Smithfielder

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 1, 2018
Messages
3
The .450 rounds sit about the same. I should have used two magazines for a side by side comparison. Wort case it appears a slight mod front and rear should work.
 
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