Criterion used in competition

aheppner said:
is anyone using a criterion barrel in competion?

how do they stack up against some of the other more expensive makers?
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Cheaping out on a barrel makes absolutely no sense in my opinion.The odds of getting a dudd are much higher( like my friend and his new Douglas,p.o.s barrel). You can get dudds in all makes but the the cheaper ones have a much higher percentage from my understanding. ANyway, The shipping is the same, the gun smithing is the same.Reloading components are expensive and you can usually find a good load quickly with a good barrel.
In the end the cheap barrel can easily cost you more( just my opinion as I am sure others will disagree).....
 
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I would recommend going with a barrel that is used consistently in the winning circle. These makers usually stand behind their product so if you do get a dudd( which happens) they are more likely to remedy the situation...
 
I usually recommend Krieger but I've also had good luck with Broughton, Shillen and Rock Creek ( ATRS spun on a great Rock Creek barrel that was like a lazer ). Take a look at what the Pro-Shooters use in the PRS series in the South and you will find most use Bartlein followed by Krieger. In my view, you can get great factory barrels ( don't believe me ? Check out a Sako TRG ) but, as someone else mentioned, the percentage chance of a dud rises with factory versus match-grade.
 
I have used Obermeyer, Krieger, McClennan and Bartlien. They all shoot about the same and I really can't say one is any better than the others. However all of them only last about 4 seconds.
 
Canuck525 said:
How many shots are their in 4 seconds? At least a couple of thousand I suppose.....
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Keep in mind "worn out" means "does not provide maximum accuracy anymore". The barrel will not likely meet the common definition of worn out (as in: I think there's some rifling left...) for at least a couple ten-thousand rounds.
 
Blastattack said:
Keep in mind "worn out" means "does not provide maximum accuracy anymore". The barrel will not likely meet the common definition of worn out (as in: I think there's some rifling left...) for at least a couple ten-thousand rounds.
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Yes, absolutely.

When Maynard and I say that a .308W barrel might be shot-out at 4000 or 5000 rounds, we are thinking from the point of view of prone jacket-and-sling iron-sight Target Rifle shooters. In our game, if you can't count on your barrel to give you groups better than 3/4 MOA at 300 yards or meters, and better than 1.5 MOA at 1000 yards, it is probably worthwhile and cost-effective to change to a new barrel.

Even fussier target shooters with higher accuracy needs, such as Benchrest or F-Class shooters, might consider a .308W barrel to be "shot out" (in the sense of no longer being suitable for top-level competition) at 1500 or 2000 rounds. But give that barrel to me or to Maynard, and if we don't win the World Championship of prone iron-sight shooting with it, we will tell you that it was because we did not shoot well enough, not that the barrel kept us from winning.

Even though they would be unsuitable for TR or F-Class top-level compeition at 10,000 rounds, most .308W barrels will be fully functional - while they might show lots of rifling wear, they will still spin the bullets well enough to stabilize them, will continue to produce more or less the same muzzle velocity as when new, and will be able to deliver bullets with enough accuracy (one or two MOA) to be extremely useful for the majority of shooting applications.
 
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Dan, generally true, except that wear in the throat, which is where almost all wear occurs, will reduce MV.

So, is anyone using Criterion?

Regards,

Peter
 
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I keep saying that I will record an accurate round count on my next barrel. My scores were not great this year and the groups were a little bigger than I wanted, but the barrel was the last thing I wanted to blame. Then I started to think back to when I had the barrel installed (time slips away sometimes). Although I have several .308 target rifles I usually just use the one as my main competition rifle and also use it for practice. Looking back I had that barrel put on before Bisley in 2010. Used it for 4 years of practice, 3 DCRA matches, 2 trips to Bisley and one to Barbados. Add in all the ORA Annual Matches and all the smaller matches that I shot the round count adds up in a hurry. I have a new MacLennan barrel that I will have spun on shortly.

I would think that if someone wanted to cut a couple inches off the barrel shank, rethread and rechamber and nip a couple inches off the muzzle, the barrel would make a great barrel for a hunting rifle and would likely last them a life time.
 
peterdobson said:
Dan, generally true, except that wear in the throat, which is where almost all wear occurs, will reduce MV.
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Hi Peter! I thought I used enough weasel-words ("...produce more or less the same muzzle velocity as when new..."),I suppose I should have been a bit more weaselly ;-)

You are right, and I agree with you, that MV generally tends to decline with barrel wear. Whether it is enough to affect a particular application I couldn't really say.
 
JC Custom Barrels, New Brunswick is making barrels that perform very well in benchrest and other demanding disciplines. They are cut-rifled as are Bartlein and Krieger.

Regards,

Peter
 
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