Christiansen Arms 204 Ruger

[Mark M.]

Anybody have any insight on a Christiansen arms in a 204 ruger with a carbon fiber barrel, gun is about 15 years old, wondered what the accuracy and quality was like, I just don't know that much about them, thanks

 

[3Ackleys]

I think back then they were taking heavy barreled factory remingtons and turning down the barrel then putting the carbon on. I have a buddy that bought a 220 swift like that. Good shooting gun.

 

[varget204]

If it's 15 yrs old,think i would borescope barrel to see what kind of shape it is in

 

[boltfluter]

I would be very cautious, as carbon barrel technology has come a long way in the last 5 yrs or so. Buyer beware .

Paul

 

[B23]

Up until a few years ago CA rifles were well known for being pretty light weight, but accuracy, not so much. The current production CA rifles the last few years have been much better though.

Purchasing used hot rod chamberings is always kind of a buyer beware thing and unless you get it realllllly cheap or you have first hand knowledge of how the gun was cared for, things can go from being a good deal to a really bad deal, in a hurry.

 

[searcher]

I have done load development on two of their rifles- if you are planning on using it for ANY kind of varmint hunting situation where the rifle will be fired to the point of getting hot - like prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rats, etc. - I'd pass on this rifle. The carbon fiber barrels have what amounts to little more than a metal liner inside the fiber wrap. These things get HOT very quickly inside the liner, though you can't tell to the touch of the barrel - which actually dissipates the heat from the barrel quite quickly. The problem is that because they get hotter inside the tube faster than a regular all-steel varmint tube - the throat wears more rapidly, despite the quick heat transfer after-the-fact. Also - on the guns I tested (about three or four years ago), they both shot "fair" groups, though if more than three shots were fired in rapid succession - the groups widened terribly and there was nothing to be done about it. It was the barrels. If hunting coyotes or other varmints requiring only a few shots at a time - you "might" be O.K.. If you don't know how the prior owner used it - I'd pass on it. Those are great for mountain hunting and those not liking weight. In all other aspects - the technology is beyond over-hyped - and worthless for accurate high-volume varmint hunting. Of course - maybe I got ahold of the only two bad new ones...….

 

[Calgary Bill]

I have done load development on two of their rifles- if you are planning on using it for ANY kind of varmint hunting situation where the rifle will be fired to the point of getting hot - like prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rats, etc. - I'd pass on this rifle. The carbon fiber barrels have what amounts to little more than a metal liner inside the fiber wrap. These things get HOT very quickly inside the liner, though you can't tell to the touch of the barrel - which actually dissipates the heat from the barrel quite quickly. The problem is that because they get hotter inside the tube faster than a regular all-steel varmint tube - the throat wears more rapidly, despite the quick heat transfer after-the-fact. Also - on the guns I tested (about three or four years ago), they both shot "fair" groups, though if more than three shots were fired in rapid succession - the groups widened terribly and there was nothing to be done about it. It was the barrels. If hunting coyotes or other varmints requiring only a few shots at a time - you "might" be O.K.. If you don't know how the prior owner used it - I'd pass on it. Those are great for mountain hunting and those not liking weight. In all other aspects - the technology is beyond over-hyped - and worthless for accurate high-volume varmint hunting. Of course - maybe I got ahold of the only two bad new ones...….

Thanks for your very informative comments. I had been thinking of a carbon wrapped barrel for prairie dogging---but, no more.