Feedback Re Criterion Barrels?

[urbanrifleman]

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.

Nut or shoulder, shoots the same.... Or at least in the test from Jackie.

And from the few dozen times I said it.

There's about 8 pages on it hahaha

 

[AlNyhus]

Nut or shoulder, shoots the same.... Or at least in the test from Jackie.

And from the few dozen times I said it.

There's about 8 pages on it hahaha

In fairness to the test, it should be noted that Jackie's barrel shank and nut was 1.250, not the 'standard' 1.055 of most pre fits.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Uhhh?

Those inches do count .
F/Class Game 30" is Standard. I am seeing 31,32,33 and 34" Barrels?
I have a 32" in the Vault. Soon to get fitted.

It does take New or Up-dated Machines to make longer barrels ?

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Those inches do count .
F/Class Game 30" is Standard. I am seeing 31,32,33 and 34" Barrels?
I have a 32" in the Vault. Soon to get fitted.

It does take New or Up-dated Machines to make longer barrels ?

Length and girth, yes. If I can gain velocity I will.

 

[Old Navy]

In fairness to the test, it should be noted that Jackie's barrel shank and nut was 1.250, not the 'standard' 1.055 of most pre fits.

My 22XC Remage barrel I just bought from Brad came with a 1.250" nut. My large shank Savages are bigger at 1.308".

That is my quote above. Old Navy

 

[ronsatspokane]

Nut or shoulder, shoots the same.... Or at least in the test from Jackie.

And from the few dozen times I said it.

There's about 8 pages on it hahaha

As has been pointed out, Jackies nut was 1.25. But if 1.055 shoot as well I guess we'll see them showing up at the top of the nationals leader boards soon enough.

 

[memilanuk]

Well this should be interesting... I ordered a Criterion barrel back in December to replace a factory tube that had frankly, never been all that I'd hoped for. The new one just showed up the day before yesterday. 20" Heavy Palma, Savage large shank .308 Win (M118LR chamber), threaded 5/8-24 tpi @ the muzzle, Cerakoted 'graphite black'. Might be a while before I get to screwing it on - I'm in the middle of a pile of "honey-do" projects at the moment

 

[CharlieNC]

After two weeks of several emails and calls my bud still has not heard back from CBI. As said many of us had great results with their barrels amid wide scale positive reviews, but it appears things have deteriorated.

 

[Old Navy]

Never dealt with CBI direct. Northland Shooters always had what I needed on the shelf. If they don't the next time, I will order through them.

 

[CharlieNC]

Well it's 1.5 months later and after more phone and email messages my bud still has not heard back from Criterion. What do you call NO customer service?

During this period I suggested he get a barrel from @urbanrifleman; he did and old leftover loads are shooting well prior to any workup! All this in two weeks.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Well it's 1.5 months later and after more phone and email messages my bud still has not heard back from Criterion. What do you call NO customer service?

During this period I suggested he get a barrel from @urbanrifleman; he did and old leftover loads are shooting well prior to any workup! All this in two weeks.

What I like to hear!

 

[Dgd6mm]

I ordered 2 barrels form NSS. Both were a twist I wanted and Criterion has to chamber them for me. My .308 took close to 3 months and my 6br was 9 weeks. They came in a little under the time line I was quoted.
I've had Bradley do 2 barrels for me and both were here promptly, under 2 weeks. Bradley quoted 2 weeks.
Simply because of the quality of Urbanrifleman's work and his prompt service my barrels will come from him, unless I'm looking for a 30" something or aother and it's not possible to get it from Bradley.
I like my Criterion barrels but Wilson barrels are starting to win my heart over.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I ordered 2 barrels form NSS. Both were a twist I wanted and Criterion has to chamber them for me. My .308 took close to 3 months and my 6br was 9 weeks. They came in a little under the time line I was quoted.
I've had Bradley do 2 barrels for me and both were here promptly, under 2 weeks. Bradley quoted 2 weeks.
Simply because of the quality of Urbanrifleman's work and his prompt service my barrels will come from him, unless I'm looking for a 30" something or aother and it's not possible to get it from Bradley.
I like my Criterion barrels but Wilson barrels are starting to win my heart over.

I plan on making 30-in barrels in the coming year.

 

[Sniperhandle]

I plan on making 30-in barrels in the coming year.

I have a question for you, On another vendor's site, It says the Wilson barrels they sell are lapped. On Wilsons site there is limited info. Are these barrels machine lapped?

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have a question for you, On another vendor's site, It says the Wilson barrels they sell are lapped. On Wilsons site there is limited info. Are these barrels machine lapped?

They are lapped. Wilson barrels have a very nice finish on the inside probably equal or better than criterion and certainly superior to some of the so-called premium barrel makers.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Thanks, I bought one last year and just got around to threading and chambering last week in 300 PRC, Hoping it shoots good.

 

[Old Navy]

I plan on making 30-in barrels in the coming year.

Did you talk Wilson into making them or are you going with someone else?

 

[rangertim]

I just purchased a 260 Remington remage from northland shooting supply and it shoots 1/2 moa with Berger factry ammo at 500 meters. Good enough for what i do, working on load development...

My friend used a same barrel different caliber, and just scored a 40 at bench rest silhouette with it, so they shoot.

​

I have a 6.5 that’s as crooked as a dogs leg ! My Wilson 243 is good !

 

[CharlieNC]

Update. This summer a friend with a new CBI could not find a sub moa load for FClass, which spells failure, so I checked it out for him as he didn't have a borescope. I found a heavy carbon ring, and a strange carbon pattern along and between the leades. So thinking cleaning this would get him back on track (after approx 200 rounds), then I observed the cause; "heavy" radial grooves apparently from the reamer. CBI checked and offered to polish it, but agreed to replace it. In around six weeks a new barrel arrives, and it has the same radial grooves on the leades and down into the grooves. The rest of the barrel is beautiful, but whoever does the chambering now has issues. I never saw such a mess on their barrels in the past, or any other for that matter.

Does it matter? It can't help and is not worth the cost and risk, so no more CBI for me.

 

[DR_2297]

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.

I shoot palma rifle pretty much exclusively and for the last 5 years or so I shoot 223 the majority of the matches I attend for long range and all mid range.

For most of us though, 223 is like a psycho girlfriend who loves you one day and wants to cut you for no reason the next.

Think long freebore and 85-90 grain bullets at 2800 +/-. For me I finish all of the barrels I do for myself and others @ 32”.

Ugh, didn’t read the time stamp before replying… necro thread…