Feedback Re Criterion Barrels?

[wkdickinson]

I will say up front I did not read all of the posts in this thread. But I bought a new Criterion 6mm Dasher barrel (1:7.5) a year or so ago. It shoots amazingly well!. I could not be more pleased.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Why? If my barrel shoots better at 26, who cares about the 2 inches? What does that do?

PALMA

 

[RCE1]

The only rifles I have with 30" or longer barrels are black powder, but that's just me. If you are shooting iron sights having the extra length can work out well, too.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Why? If my barrel shoots better at 26, who cares about the 2 inches? What does that do?

Many of the top F Class shooters are shooting 32 inch 1.25 straight barrels chambered in 284 or 6.5-7 PRC. I'm shooting a 30 inch 1.25 straight in 6 BRA in midrange and it has shot clean targets at 600 yards quite easily. Didn't do that today but the conditions were challenging. You'll never see anyone shooting a 26 inch barrel in F Class once they learn about the velocity gains associated with a longer barrel. That doesn't mean that I don't shoot 26 and shorter barrels. Just not in competition as a matter of regular practice.

P.S. I am shooting a Criterian 26 inch 6 BRA on a Solus action. It's more of a varmint gun but it does seem to shoot. Barrel came from Northland a couple weeks ago.

P.S.S. by shoot I mean 1/4 to 1/2 MOA in early testing under ideal conditions.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Many of the top F Class shooters are shooting 32 inch 1.25 straight barrels chambered in 284 or 6.5-7 PRC. I'm shooting a 30 inch 1.25 straight in 6 BRA in midrange and it has shot clean targets at 600 yards quite easily. Didn't do that today but the conditions were challenging. You'll never see anyone shooting a 26 inch barrel in F Class once they learn about the velocity gains associated with a longer barrel. That doesn't mean that I don't shoot 26 and shorter barrels. Just not in competition as a matter of regular practice.

P.S. I am shooting a Criterian 26 inch 6 BRA on a Solus action. It's more of a varmint gun but it does seem to shoot. Barrel came from Northland a couple weeks ago.

P.S.S. by shoot I mean 1/4 to 1/2 MOA in early testing under ideal conditions.

One of my customers is the father of the top junior in long range in Palma. He is shooting the same 223 node I shoot in my 26 barrel as he shoots in his 30.

Personally, I think many times those upper nodes are overrated.

That's just me.

 

[ronsatspokane]

One of my customers is the father of the top junior in long range in Palma. He is shooting the same 223 node I shoot in my 26 barrel as he shoots in his 30.

Personally, I think many times those upper nodes are overrated.

That's just me.

223 and long range? What do you consider "long range"?

 

[urbanrifleman]

223 and long range? What do you consider "long range"?

I consider 1000 yards long range.

I think the point was about the node, not the cartridge.

 

[JB10]

I have 2 6.5 creedmoors. One is a 28 inch barrel that i shoot 140 berger vld hunting bullets, H4350 powder. Its shooting 2,730fps with my load. My other one is a 24 inch barrel. Shooting 140 eldm with R16 at 2,831fps. Now dont tell me 4 inch of barrel adds 100 fps.. lol. Having a longer barrel dont always mean crap. These are both factory rifles with factory barrels. If speed is an issue then try another powder thats known to give speed...

 

[HiVelocity]

Why? If my barrel shoots better at 26, who cares about the 2 inches? What does that do?

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

One of my customers is the father of the top junior in long range in Palma. He is shooting the same 223 node I shoot in my 26 barrel as he shoots in his 30.

Personally, I think many times those upper nodes are overrated.

That's just me.

30" is for the site radius also. at 26" the calibration of the iron sights would be off and you could not marry up to your teammates wind calls

 

[ronsatspokane]

I have 2 6.5 creedmoors. One is a 28 inch barrel that i shoot 140 berger vld hunting bullets, H4350 powder. Its shooting 2,730fps with my load. My other one is a 24 inch barrel. Shooting 140 eldm with R16 at 2,831fps. Now dont tell me 4 inch of barrel adds 100 fps.. lol. Having a longer barrel dont always mean crap. These are both factory rifles with factory barrels. If speed is an issue then try another powder thats known to give speed...

OK. we won't tell you.

 

[Fast14riot]

I shot a 26" CBI in 260AI for a few years in F class, it did well for me learning the cartridge and wind reading. Won several club matches with it. I now have a Kreiger 30" 1.25" and I use less powder to reach the same node and its easier on my brass.

I currently have 4 CBI barrels and they're all shooters. Some hunting others are target. Smallest group I ever shot was a .146" with that 260AI CBI barrel I bought used with about 800 rounds on it.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I consider 1000 yards long range.

I think the point was about the node, not the cartridge.

223 at 1000 yards? I've only seen one person doing that in F Class in the last couple of years. I shot 223 at 600 for a number of years (midrange F Class). In the end I was shooting 90 grain bullets in a 30 inch 1-7 twist barrel with the throat extended using a unithroater so they could be seated out. Then I asked the one critical question, why? Still love 223 but no longer shoot it in competition. I do have a gun in reserve in case I need to though.

As far as the upper nodes being overrated, depends on what your goals are. Hunting, no need to push it. In competition where people often clean their 1 MOA targets and the deciding factor is a 1/2 MOA X ring, nothing is off the table. In F Class the nodes are beyond what SAAMI and the "books" would consider an upper node. That is why people are generally reluctant to give you their load. Every gun is different and some may not be able to handle the hot loads used in competition. Most generally load until they see pressure sign then back off to the next lowest accuracy node. In my guns those loads are all above what the books say the upper end is. Maximum speed, maximum precision. And I'm not a national level competitor. Those who are push it even harder than I do.

 

[Old Navy]

Another pissing match that has nothing to do with the OP's topic.

 

[Old Navy]

OP, maybe this will help answer your question. Installed this pre-fit on one of my Model 12s last fall. 284 Win Match chamber.

 

[6MMsteve]

I have a 6xc cbi barrel it shoots well, and a 260 good shooter and a 300winmag good shooter..6xc shot a .095 group and shoots .2 to ..4s pretty regular, a good shooter could prolly make them shoot better small group was with 90gr bergers

 

[Dgd6mm]

First of all I'm not bashing Criterion, but have a concern and looking for wider spread feedback. For a number of years several shooting buds and myself had great performance with these prefits in Fclass. Replacing these within the last year, three guys could not get them to shoot, two in the last few months. After a week of emails and phone calls (leave a message), no response as yet. It took the first guy nine months to get a replacement which is marginal and very temperamental. I've had several CBI which were easy load development and shot great, as did my buds. Always got an answer when I called. Seems like quality and service have fallen off. What is your current experience?

So, is a Criterion barrel starting to be hit or miss? I will be watching out for this possibility. I pretty much have settled on the Wilson's from Urbanrifleman. 26" barrels don't bother me as long as they meet my needs.

 

[CharlieNC]

So, is a Criterion barrel starting to be hit or miss? I will be watching out for this possibility. I pretty much have settled on the Wilson's from Urbanrifleman. 26" barrels don't bother me as long as they meet my needs.

That's my concern, based on the limited experience of guys I shoot with. But three out of three is not good.

 

[AlNyhus]

That's my concern, based on the limited experience of guys I shoot with. But three out of three is not good.

Rifle accuracy is built on the foundation of 'Three B's'
Barrel
Bullets
Bedding

For a real-deal competition rifle, gambling on something as important as the barrel is like trying to sit on a three legged stool that's had one leg removed.

By the time it's determined that the bargain barrel is a mutt, the poor shooter will have wasted more money on components than the price spread between the 'bargain' and an 'excellent' barrel. Not to mention the time and frustration. And at that point, the shooter will still have to step up and put a top shelf barrel on.

For what it's worth. -Al

 

[ronsatspokane]

Hit or miss, I bought my first one in 4 years and as I said above, it seems to be shooting well. In years past I've had good luck with them on Savage and Remington (Remage) actions. The issue with them in my mind is the same as all barrels that use a nut. The largest barrel diameter, in the case of the small shank Savage that the Solus action utilizes, is 1.055. As compared to most barrels with a shoulder that I have used being 1.25. The additional mass and presumably additional rigidity associated with the larger diameter has an advantage in reduction of harmonics. Of course that is only one variable where the quality of the steel, the quality of the hole the gun drill drilled, the quality of the rifling (be it cut or button), the type of stabilization (heat or cryo) employed, the quality of the chambering job, the quality of the crown all factor into how a gun shoots. In addition to other variables of course. I've had hand lapped shoulder cut barrels shoot like shite and I've had prefits that shot lights out (1/4 MOA). It's always a crap shoot. If you haven't tried a Criterian, I suggest you do.