Just to make sure, but you are pushing back on the slide when you’re trying to twist them apart? If that’s not it the only other things I can think of doing is giving it a good soaking with a good penetrating oil and if necessary you might get a couple of rubber strap wrenches from Lowe’s, one to go around the receiver and one to go around the barrel to give you a little more leverage without damaging anything.
That’s all I got, but I hope something helps.

 

Make sure the barrel latch is disengaged.
Make sure you're retracting the breechblock as you turn the receiver.
Beyond that, remove the forearm wood, and try to loosen the barrel adjustment collar.

 

This sounds like a disaster just waiting to happen. Many times owners put these together really TIGHT. I'd suggest that you take the rifle to a gun shop or Cabellas and have them separate the rifle. Better than having the stock split.

 

 

Yes the barrel latch is disengaged and the bolt pulled back.
I'll try removing the fore arm and some kroil. If none of that works its on its way to Midwest Gun works.
It's a very nice Bee engraved grade II so hopefully a disaster is not in its future.
Thanks to all for the input.
Bob

 

The solution is, if anyone has the same problem in the future;
1. remove the fore-end
2., remove the fore end receiver lock being careful not to lose the spring and detent.
3. with a plastic mallet carefully tap the part which protrudes from the barrel that contains the lock.
4. and presto it comes apart with no damage.
Bob

 

In addition to torquing the barrel rather tightly, some even use thread locker on the threads, since they do tend to shoot loose over time, and the take-down feature is not needed. I did that on one I owned, because the scope was mounted on the grooved receiver, not the barrel. There were also some non-take-down rifles made, but they are pretty rare. Some Kroil (at least one day soaking) and a little patience should fix you up.

 

They made some non takedown for the “Shot” show last year. Big bull barrel with a compensator. Mine shoots bug holes,horsefly 😄

 

I have one of the Challenges as well, and they do shoot really well with the ammo that it likes. The barrel looks almost identical to my T-bolt target that I got about a month ago, and it shoots even better. The only thing I can fault on both of them is the crappy triggers that they came with. Once you fix that issue they are outstanding. Lots of the Sa-22 purest dislike them, but they ain’t ever shot one either or their minds would change very quickly.

 

I was actually thinking of the non-takedown Belgian rifles. I do remember some heavy-barreled rifles used in various competitions years ago. I guess I need to go to the SHOT show one of these days.

 

Kent, this is what we were talking about.

 

The barrel locking system of the SA-22 is its Achilles heel. The main problem is people will push the tab too far forward when locking in the barrel. This causes the spring and follower to disconnect from the tab and come loose. I wrote a lengthy explanation of how to get it all back together here:

Browning SA22 barrel lock reassembly made easy

It is a common problem with the Browning SA22 rifle that when removing the barrel from the receiver or fiddling with the barrel tightening ring, the spring and follower in the barrel lock mechanism will fall out of the assembly. If that happens, many folks have a heck of a time getting it all...

www.rimfirecentral.com

 

The problem is moving the tab when the barrel isn't mounted to the receiver.