CZ-457 Criterion prefit barrel

[tmwinds]

I have a hard time wondering WHY, anyone would Question Criterion Barrels at, THIS Point ??
They,.. ARE,. PROVEN,.. for,.. Quality & Accuracy and Tested thoroughly, Long Before ever Shipping,.. ANY,.. Out !

Tried to find a reason to disagree with you, but I can’t.. My first Criterion barrel and I’m now a fan.

 

[dusterdave173]

Ordered my Criterion from Whidden on Sunday night-online. Got shipping notice Monday and it arrived yesterday so 48 hours --took longer to get it out of the shipping tube than to install it. My MTR barrel shank was dead on same as the Criterion so headspace went back together .042 1/2 same as before.
Bore scoped fine, exterior finish was scratchy looking could have used a minute more to pretty it up more--I would have done it but did not want to mess up the Whidden logo engraved on it.
Went to my bench wind was whipping 8-10 MPH so terrible test time--slapped some left over Center X in and went to town. Bolt closure felt a little weird about half the time--like I had to push harder--barrel was wanting to shoot but in the wind was so tricky . Came back in pulled the barrel and decided to take mag well loose and just reset the entire deal--snugged barrel then snugged mag well fasteners--it seemed to center all that back up better this time. So...I cleaned it and slept on it all.
Today went to indoor range with concrete bench--took 4 lots of center X and some other misc lots.
Right away the bolt issue was gone--functioned great--ejected just fine--all good. On the second lot it started wanting to show out some. After all said and done it shot some bug holes with a slow 25 speed Center X going avg 1036 and then repeated that shooting some 29 speed that was 1080 ish then shot tight knot holes with some 35 speed Polar Biathlon that is a known great lot. So all in all it was a breeze to clean, shot very nice with a wide range of speeds and at moments shot some really nice tight beautiful groups. It shot inside the ARA factory 10 ring with all lots pretty darn easy--some that you could tell it did not really care for. I shot about 6 tiny one holers that would have made good pictures but...it shot some I would not be bragging with along the way too--
With that slow 25 I think It would impress any shooter
I sold an old rest on the shelf for $375 and bought this barrel for $385 and got it in two days--It fit great and shoots pretty good for day one.
So...all good but it really could have spent one more minute with a finer outside polish and would have made a better impression out of the box
Thanks Whidden!!

 

[tmwinds]

Ordered my Criterion from Whidden on Sunday night-online. Got shipping notice Monday and it arrived yesterday so 48 hours --took longer to get it out of the shipping tube than to install it. My MTR barrel shank was dead on same as the Criterion so headspace went back together .042 1/2 same as before.
Bore scoped fine, exterior finish was scratchy looking could have used a minute more to pretty it up more--I would have done it but did not want to mess up the Whidden logo engraved on it.
Went to my bench wind was whipping 8-10 MPH so terrible test time--slapped some left over Center X in and went to town. Bolt closure felt a little weird about half the time--like I had to push harder--barrel was wanting to shoot but in the wind was so tricky . Came back in pulled the barrel and decided to take mag well loose and just reset the entire deal--snugged barrel then snugged mag well fasteners--it seemed to center all that back up better this time. So...I cleaned it and slept on it all.
Today went to indoor range with concrete bench--took 4 lots of center X and some other misc lots.
Right away the bolt issue was gone--functioned great--ejected just fine--all good. On the second lot it started wanting to show out some. After all said and done it shot some bug holes with a slow 25 speed Center X going avg 1036 and then repeated that shooting some 29 speed that was 1080 ish then shot tight knot holes with some 35 speed Polar Biathlon that is a known great lot. So all in all it was a breeze to clean, shot very nice with a wide range of speeds and at moments shot some really nice tight beautiful groups. It shot inside the ARA factory 10 ring with all lots pretty darn easy--some that you could tell it did not really care for. I shot about 6 tiny one holers that would have made good pictures but...it shot some I would not be bragging with along the way too--
With that slow 25 I think It would impress any shooter
I sold an old rest on the shelf for $375 and bought this barrel for $385 and got it in two days--It fit great and shoots pretty good for day one.
So...all good but it really could have spent one more minute with a finer outside polish and would have made a better impression out of the box
Thanks Whidden!!

I’m having the exact same occasional bolt closure problem. Have to push harder to chamber round and close the bolt. Can you go into a little detail about what you think may be causing it and how you rectified it. I have replaced the plastic mag well with a metal aftermarket model but didn’t have a problem with the original barrel. Thanks

 

[dusterdave173]

So I got to looking and the little silver colored piece that sits down in the bottom of the action that the mag well screws go up into--there is some play there --and the front of that piece goes against the breech of the barrel--it was all a tad out of alignment--the answer is loosen the mag well fasteners--when I seated the barrel I twisted it back and forth a little until it sort of "seated" against the flat spot on that piece--I think the thing to do is have mag well loose then tighten the barrel --Then snug up mag well--
Might take a time or two to get it all to line up and be happy together--It cured my bolt issues
The bolt felt like head space was too tight but I had measured it very carefully and knew that was not it so looked at the rest of the system and found the answer--just take it all loose , leave the mag well loose , tighten the barrel then the mag well--mess with it until it all gets happy together then bolt runs smooth like usual

 

[jaxdave]

So I got to looking and the little silver colored piece that sits down in the bottom of the action that the mag well screws go up into--there is some play there --and the front of that piece goes against the breech of the barrel--it was all a tad out of alignment--the answer is loosen the mag well fasteners--when I seated the barrel I twisted it back and forth a little until it sort of "seated" against the flat spot on that piece--I think the thing to do is have mag well loose then tighten the barrel --Then snug up mag well--
Might take a time or two to get it all to line up and be happy together--It cured my bolt issues
The bolt felt like head space was too tight but I had measured it very carefully and knew that was not it so looked at the rest of the system and found the answer--just take it all loose , leave the mag well loose , tighten the barrel then the mag well--mess with it until it all gets happy together then bolt runs smooth like usual

Thanks for your excellent review. This is my experience as well. Getting the barrel out of the tube was the most difficult part! I had to take the magwell (L3i) out to get the barrel to seat. I shot random SK Rifle Match today and the bolt closure was a little tight. I'll try some Eley Tenex tomorrow and see if it improves. The middle target was my sighter. It seems like it's going to be a good one.

 

[dusterdave173]

Ok on the bench for 3rd time with the new Criterion 26 in CZ barrel
New lot of CX was on the porch last night--got up beautiful perfect weather 53% 59 degrees dead Calm
OK try her again
It has about 100 rounds down it so far and today she went to work--I ripped these off with a bipod and rear bag as fast as I could run the bolt
I LIKE this barrel--Great value--it will go to the match Sat with me no doubt.

BTW this lot had not so great numbers 8.something SD and 30 plus ES--yet also shot like this in my Factory MTR 5 minutes later--so....

 

[J.d. Popkes]

[td] Group of the week ​

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[td]

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[td]

10-shot groups shot at 50 and 100 meters on our Test Range.

Ammo: ELEY match • 06457-1046
Rifle Specs: CZ457 • Criterion Barrel

10-Shot Group Sizes:
50 meters - 11.31mm outside-to-outside (0.206" center-to-center)
100 meters - 20.22mm outside-to-outside (0.526" center-to-center)

40-Shot Group Sizes:
50 meters - 16.02mm outside-to-outside (0.375" center-to-center)
100 meters - 32.01mm outside-to-outside (0.951" center-to-center)
​

[/td]

[/td]

 

[dusterdave173]

Ok
So far the new Criterion has been wanting to shoot--it has been very tolerant of different lots--it seems to shoot well with almost everything I have put in it so far--I still have very few rounds approx 150 so far but at todays local match we shot a two card--ARA Factory targets-50 yds--if you nick it you get it scoring
It shot 18X on each card today for second place--we had great conditions and weather and 20 shooters
It cleans fast and easy--it takes just 2 maybe 3 rounds to resume after cleaning--it is showing a lot of good signs
Another shooter there had just tested his new Criterion CZ barrel the day before and says his is doing really well --we Both commented that the outside finish looks like a 4th grader sanded the barrel with course grit--it just looks awful--a shame they did not take another Minute and make it look a lot better--it would have taken so little to do that step and send a beauty out the door
I would buy another--it is going to be a very good shooter--got it in 48 hours and the price was right
I say try one --they will shoot!
My factory MTR has done 18x many times and 21-22 every now and then BUT it is picky as can be on ammo--not so with the Criterion. I think one would satisfy most any CZ shooter

 

[dusterdave173]

Same match again today and she shot 20 X for second place first was 21X and was a Modacam CZ with Mullerworks barrel--Not bad, not bad at all---This barrel has a little over 225 rounds now and is Really starting to shine
It cleans up Fast n easy--especially compared to a factory MTR barrel
I shot 10 foulers last evening on a super clean barrel--put it in the case for today--pulled it out ONE cold bore shot then dead on X's--what a pleasure to shoot--what a barrel for the $$ I would buy another in a minute!
The best thing is how it likes every lot of ammo I have---it Loves a few but looks like it could do well with everything I have run through it--and...surprising it likes very slow and very fast the same--kind of crazy to me after only shooting factory barrels
As conditions warmed up very fast from a cool start it was not as happy on the second card as the first--so ammo is still the deciding factor but man it is way more forgiving than my factory MTR's--maybe it would have liked a patch between cards--we will see as time goes along

 

[Appalachian]

This isn’t a prefit, but a blank I got from Whidden’s and had Mike Gross mount to my 2500. This is my channel will be posting videos of matches with it, factory CZ and Whidden prefit in ABRA Outlaw light.

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[tmwinds]

My first match with a Whidden Criterion 457 prefit. 5 shots on each bull for a possible 600 score and 60 X’s. I shot a 599 with 45 X’s. I placed second in the 50 yard match I think.

 

[dusterdave173]

Sent Whidden a note thanking them for a great shooting barrel and mentioned the rough exterior finish--they responded quickly and said they would address the finish concerns going forward.
Professional as usual--Thanks Whidden

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Sent Whidden a note thanking them for a great shooting barrel and mentioned the rough exterior finish--they responded quickly and said they would address the finish concerns going forward.
Professional as usual--Thanks Whidden

Now we’re gonna get shiny mirror finish barrels that blind you in the sun, cmon

I got 2 already, doubt I ever shoot them out so no worries.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I’m having the exact same occasional bolt closure problem. Have to push harder to chamber round and close the bolt. Can you go into a little detail about what you think may be causing it and how you rectified it. I have replaced the plastic mag well with a metal aftermarket model but didn’t have a problem with the original barrel. Thanks

You have gone this far go all D.I.P. Metal Parts and Load indicator Rod. then the trigger Jard my call 3oz.
Light but I am F/Class Prone shooter and Small Bore.
Good Luck