Originally Posted by
msstate56
It depends on the mfg. Some like Rem, Tikka, have the barrel torqued on then the chamber it cut to headspace. Savage uses a prechambered barrel and headspace is set by the barrel nut. Shouldered prechambered barrels are not possible with these factory actions because the tolerances are too variable. That’s why gunsmiths have made a living out of “blueprinting” or truing Remington 700 actions. Also most of the factory barrels are torqued on so tight that you have to grind a relief cut in front of the recoil lug just to get the barrel off, thus destroying the barrel. Otherwise you risk damage to the action by applying too much torque.