My .260 Criterion Rem-age

[sbhooper]

Last Friday I got my re-barreled rifle back. It is a Criterion Rem-age barrel on a older Remington 700 short action.

This barrel is phenomenal. I have tried several different powders and three different bullets and every load has shot less than moa at 200 yards-even with me shooting!

I have settled on a couple of loads for my go-to deer loads. 44 grains of Re17 under a 129 Interlock. got me 1/2-3/4 moa @ 200 yards. Velocity is 3010 with a 19 fps spread.

The other is 44.7 grains of IMR 4350 under the 129 Interlock for 2990 fps. These loads are virtually interchangeable.

It also did well with 120 Speers and 143 ELD-X.

I think that I will keep it!

 

[284winner]

Last Friday I got my re-barreled rifle back. It is a Criterion Rem-age barrel on a older Remington 700 short action.

This barrel is phenomenal. I have tried several different powders and three different bullets and every load has shot less than moa at 200 yards-even with me shooting!

I have settled on a couple of loads for my go-to deer loads. 44 grains of Re17 under a 129 Interlock. got me 1/2-3/4 moa @ 200 yards. Velocity is 3010 with a 19 fps spread.

The other is 44.7 grains of IMR 4350 under the 129 Interlock for 2990 fps. These loads are virtually interchangeable.

It also did well with 1230 Speers and 143 ElD-X.

I think that I will keep it!

Great to hear good things about barrels. Gives as all good info for future builds. Thanks

 

[sbhooper]

I was kind of rushed on my first post and so shall continue. I have only had two re-barrels and both were Criterion. If I ever have another, it will most certainly be a Criterion, as long as they keep the same quality control. It took a couple months to get the barrel, but it was worth it.

I don't think that I ever had a rifle that literally shot every load well that I put through it. My 7 mag Criterion barrel is pretty much the same. It makes my reloading look pretty good!

My buddy looked down that barrel with his scope and said it was the best barrel that he had looked at with the scope..

 

[Hondo64d]

I was kind of rushed on my first post and so shall continue. I have only had two re-barrels and both were Criterion. If I ever have another, it will most certainly be a Criterion, as long as they keep the same quality control. It took a couple months to get the barrel, but it was worth it.

I don't think that I ever had a rifle that literally shot every load well that I put through it. My 7 mag Criterion barrel is pretty much the same. It makes my reloading look pretty good!

My buddy looked down that barrel with his scope and said it was the best barrel that he had looked at with the scope..

I recently completed a DIY build using a Criterion barrel. It is the best shooting rig I've ever used and that includes several from some of the top name 'smiths in the industry.

When I get more barrels for this same rig, they will certainly be a Criterion!

John

 

[Riesel]

Last Friday I got my re-barreled rifle back. It is a Criterion Rem-age barrel on a older Remington 700 short action.

This barrel is phenomenal. I have tried several different powders and three different bullets and every load has shot less than moa at 200 yards-even with me shooting!

I have settled on a couple of loads for my go-to deer loads. 44 grains of Re17 under a 129 Interlock. got me 1/2-3/4 moa @ 200 yards. Velocity is 3010 with a 19 fps spread.

The other is 44.7 grains of IMR 4350 under the 129 Interlock for 2990 fps. These loads are virtually interchangeable.

It also did well with 120 Speers and 143 ELD-X.

I think that I will keep it!

That go to deer load with the Re17 and 129 Interlock is about as good as it gets...................IMO

 

[sbhooper]

That go to deer load with the Re17 and 129 Interlock is about as good as it gets...................IMO

That was my thinking.

 

[Spike A]

Early summer my buddy and I built identical rigs... only difference was my criterion barrel and his has a shilen.. same length throats everything .... my criterion always has a slight edge over his.... he gets irritated about it pretty easily while we are shooting he keeps threatening to torch it and buy a criterion even though his only has 5-600 down the tube...

 

[CacheCropp]

This is good info. I'm working on a Rem LTR build and am planning on ordering a Criterion from NW Shooting, but I am also considering a Remage barrel and nut from Pacnor. Think I'll stick with the Criterion.

I'm leaning towards 6.5x47 and intend to hunt with it, so your load data might be helpful too.

I'll add that when I asked about a chambering not on the Criterion list, NW Shooting told me no problem. I could send them my own reamer and they'd do it. Pretty cool.

 

[sbhooper]

This is good info. I'm working on a Rem LTR build and am planning on ordering a Criterion from NW Shooting, but I am also considering a Remage barrel and nut from Pacnor. Think I'll stick with the Criterion.

I'm leaning towards 6.5x47 and intend to hunt with it, so your load data might be helpful too.

I'll add that when I asked about a chambering not on the Criterion list, NW Shooting told me no problem. I could send them my own reamer and they'd do it. Pretty cool.

This is correct. That is what they told me, when I asked about a 6 mm Remington. Instead, I went with what they listed and sold out of my 6 rem stuff. I figured that it was time to try the caliber that I had wanted for years and sure don't regret it at this point.

My main reason for going with the .260, is that I have almost unlimited access to Hornady Match .308 brass. The rifle will have a chance to draw blood for the first time tomorrow morning.

 

[sbhooper]

I punched one of the 129 Interlocks through the shoulders of a four-year-old white-tail buck at about 200 yards a couple days ago. The bullet blew through both front quarters and came to rest on the off side. It retained 72 grains and looked like an ad picture. Here is a pic of the bullet.

 

[Hoosier]

I have used Criterion barrels on five different rifles. Two 700s and two model 12 Savages and one 110 Savage. The barrels consistently amaze me with their accuracy. I am still working on a load for my 6.5 x 55. The 260 I have hit targets out to 1260 yds. Like you, I load IMR4350 powder in my 260. I can get half inch groups at 200yds if I do my part. The most surprising parts is the projectiles can be Hornady, Sierra, Berger, or Lapua.

 

[newbie_nick]

I just ordered a Criterion barrel in 260 from NSS, and it should be here in January. It's my first Remage build, and this thread gives me a lot of hope!

For the hunters in this thread, I loaded 120gr Barnes T-TSX in my Savage hunting rifle in 260, driving them around 2925fps. This load took down a mule deer and antelope with ease this fall. That 260 is my go-to for deer hunting now!

 

[sbhooper]

I just ordered a Criterion barrel in 260 from NSS, and it should be here in January. It's my first Remage build, and this thread gives me a lot of hope!

For the hunters in this thread, I loaded 120gr Barnes T-TSX in my Savage hunting rifle in 260, driving them around 2925fps. This load took down a mule deer and antelope with ease this fall. That 260 is my go-to for deer hunting now!

Based on what I have seen so far with mine, you will love the Criterion. I would say try to get a bit more velocity from that Barnes, to make sure that it expands reliably at distance.

 

[newbie_nick]

Based on what I have seen so far with mine, you will love the Criterion. I would say try to get a bit more velocity from that Barnes, to make sure that it expands reliably at distance.

If I remember right, I was pushing near book maximum of H4350 (46 gr?). It was one of the faster published loads on Hodgdon's website. I try not to go too far from the published numbers. Call me chicken!

 

[sbhooper]

I got a bit better velocity from IMR 4350 with mine, than I did with the H. If that load is tight, then I stand corrected. Choot it!

 

[beartrack]

Question on the Criterion. I can't find out any specs on their tolerances. It's great that you've had good luck with them (and I'm not trying to be a stickler here), but tolerances are what provides consistent accuracy from one barrel to another. The way my luck goes, I can't depend on luck for ordering at accurate barrel. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[sbhooper]

Get ahold of Northland-the distributor-and see what they have to say about it.