Swapping barrels on Ruger MKII

hoytinak · September 15, 2008, 12:59 PM

How hard it is to swap barrels on the Ruger MKII. Looks like the old barrel just screws off the upper and the new one screws on. Is it more complicated than that? Any special tools I need? What's the torque spec on the barrel? Thanks for any help on this.

James K · September 15, 2008, 01:52 PM

Getting the alignment right may be tricky, but if you have the right tools, it should be no problem. You would need both a barrel vise and a receiver wrench with the right bushings. Those barrels are in tight, though, so it won't be easy.

Note, Ruger makes the barrel, complete with front sight base and feed ramp, then screws it into a piece of threaded tubing. After that, they use the feed ramp as a reference point to cut the ejection port and do the other machining on the tubing which then becomes the receiver.

Buying the tools would cost quite a bit unless you plan to do a bunch of them, and the chances of doing damage are pretty high. Unless you have some experience in barrel installation, I suggest giving Ruger a call and see if they will do the job.

Jim

hoytinak · September 15, 2008, 02:59 PM

Yeah the only barrel swaps I've done is on ARs and M14s but those were pretty easy. I'll just send it to Ruger..thanks for the advice.

September 15, 2008, 12:59 PM	#1
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	Swapping barrels on Ruger MKII How hard it is to swap barrels on the Ruger MKII. Looks like the old barrel just screws off the upper and the new one screws on. Is it more complicated than that? Any special tools I need? What's the torque spec on the barrel? Thanks for any help on this.

September 15, 2008, 01:52 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Getting the alignment right may be tricky, but if you have the right tools, it should be no problem. You would need both a barrel vise and a receiver wrench with the right bushings. Those barrels are in tight, though, so it won't be easy. Note, Ruger makes the barrel, complete with front sight base and feed ramp, then screws it into a piece of threaded tubing. After that, they use the feed ramp as a reference point to cut the ejection port and do the other machining on the tubing which then becomes the receiver. Buying the tools would cost quite a bit unless you plan to do a bunch of them, and the chances of doing damage are pretty high. Unless you have some experience in barrel installation, I suggest giving Ruger a call and see if they will do the job. Jim

September 15, 2008, 02:59 PM	#3
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	Yeah the only barrel swaps I've done is on ARs and M14s but those were pretty easy. I'll just send it to Ruger..thanks for the advice.