Question for CADEX prefit barrel, AIAT and Tikka T3X

A

allenhedk

Member
GunNutz
Rating - 100%
58   0   0
Location
Edmonton, AB
thanks for the gun ban, right now the cadex field competition in 6.5 creedmoor is the only rifle I can take out for shooting. I want to have a rifle to shoot 308, so there are some ideas and questions come into my mind. I need more information to help
1. I saw there are prefit barrels for Impact Precision, Ruger Precision, even Tikka T3. I wonder are there prefit barrel for cadex actions. I do handload, could they stay the same accuracy after I switch barrel back? I have a new Bartlein .30 M24 contour barrel on hand, I can ask a gunsmith to build me one if that's possible.
2. "Upgrade" my cadex. I am thinking about selling my cadex and buy a AIAT since they can switch the barrel easily, shoot accurate and reliable under any conditions, but beside the easy barrel switch function, is it really worth the extra $3000 since the cadex is also accurate and reliable. please correct me if I am wrong.
3. Buy Tikka T3x CTR in 308 and change the stock. does Tikka T3x CTR have the potential to shoot under 0.5 Moa consistently? just talking about the rifle, not the man behind it :)

Thanks. any suggestion will be helpful.
 
Last edited:
Are you asking about prefit barrels or quick-change barrels? Or both?
1) Ask Cadex, if they guarantee the dimensions on their barrels and actions, you might be able to simply buy another barrel from Cadex and have it screwed on. I believe he CDX Kraken is their only quick-change barrel.
2) What rifle do you have? The Cadex Field Competition is a chassis, what is the action you have? How crucial is a quick change barrel for you? You can change a shouldered barrel easily enough, you just need a barrel vice and action wrench.
3) Nothing against Tikka, but a T3x CTR is a definite downgrade versus a complete Cadex rifle. Again, what action do you have?
 
Alpheus said:
Are you asking about prefit barrels or quick-change barrels? Or both?
1) Ask Cadex, if they guarantee the dimensions on their barrels and actions, you might be able to simply buy another barrel from Cadex and have it screwed on. I believe he CDX Kraken is their only quick-change barrel.
2) What rifle do you have? The Cadex Field Competition is a chassis, what is the action you have? How crucial is a quick change barrel for you? You can change a shouldered barrel easily enough, you just need a barrel vice and action wrench.
3) Nothing against Tikka, but a T3x CTR is a definite downgrade versus a complete Cadex rifle. Again, what action do you have?
Click to expand...

thank you so much for your information. I am considering about the prefit that I can change at home with a barrel vise. I have a complete Cadex rifle. they call it field competition. https://www.gobigtactical.ca/online-store-1/?store-page=Cadex-CDX-R7-FCP-SA-fixed-stock-p121075917. quick change is good to have, but not necessary for me if it cost $3000. My concern is after I found the best load the barrel, switching the barrel back will effect the accuracy. I saw the video on you tube, AI quick change can maintain their accuracy.
 
Your rifle is a Cadex CDX-R7 Sheepdog, you just bought the version with the Field Comp chassis. https://www.cadexdefence.com/products/cdx-precision-rifles/

If you have a barrel vise and action wrench, you can either contact Cadex about another barrel, or about getting a gunsmith to thread and chamber your Bartlein blank.
I recall reading something about getting a new barrel from Cadex, something along the lines of you just tell them your serial number, they look up the action specs and make a new barrel for you. I may be mis-remembering, and I don't recall which rifle they were talking about. Best to contact them and find out.

If you are switching between shouldered barrels, the performance of a load previously developed won't change. Also, as long as it is properly re-installed, the point of impact should not noticeably shift either.

Most prefit barrels are not shouldered barrels, as a prefit shouldered barrel requires very consistent dimensional tolerances for the action, bolt and barrel in order to headspace correctly. Although, there are a lot more shouldered prefits coming out recently.

Most prefits use a barrel nut, like Savage, where you can fine-tune the barrel using headspace gauges before tightening the barrel nut. Barrels that use a barrel nut should not show significant change in load performance, but are more likely to show variation in point of impact after re-installation.
 
Alpheus said:
Your rifle is a Cadex CDX-R7 Sheepdog, you just bought the version with the Field Comp chassis. https://www.cadexdefence.com/products/cdx-precision-rifles/

If you have a barrel vise and action wrench, you can either contact Cadex about another barrel, or about getting a gunsmith to thread and chamber your Bartlein blank.
I recall reading something about getting a new barrel from Cadex, something along the lines of you just tell them your serial number, they look up the action specs and make a new barrel for you. I may be mis-remembering, and I don't recall which rifle they were talking about. Best to contact them and find out.

If you are switching between shouldered barrels, the performance of a load previously developed won't change. Also, as long as it is properly re-installed, the point of impact should not noticeably shift either.

Most prefit barrels are not shouldered barrels, as a prefit shouldered barrel requires very consistent dimensional tolerances for the action, bolt and barrel in order to headspace correctly. Although, there are a lot more shouldered prefits coming out recently.

Most prefits use a barrel nut, like Savage, where you can fine-tune the barrel using headspace gauges before tightening the barrel nut. Barrels that use a barrel nut should not show significant change in load performance, but are more likely to show variation in point of impact after re-installation.
Click to expand...

Thank you thank you. Your information is very helpful. I will contact cadex for another barrel
 
I had talked to Patrice about is at Meaford and yes if you have one of their actions you just need to give them your serial number and they will send you a barrel and recoil lug that you have to use with that barrel. They use the recoil lug to fine tune your headspace.
 
allenhedk said:
thanks for the gun ban, right now the cadex field competition in 6.5 creedmoor is the only rifle I can take out for shooting. I want to have a rifle to shoot 308, so there are some ideas and questions come into my mind. I need more information to help
1. I saw there are prefit barrels for Impact Precision, Ruger Precision, even Tikka T3. I wonder are there prefit barrel for cadex actions. I do handload, could they stay the same accuracy after I switch barrel back? I have a new Bartlein .30 M24 contour barrel on hand, I can ask a gunsmith to build me one if that's possible.
2. "Upgrade" my cadex. I am thinking about selling my cadex and buy a AIAT since they can switch the barrel easily, shoot accurate and reliable under any conditions, but beside the easy barrel switch function, is it really worth the extra $3000 since the cadex is also accurate and reliable. please correct me if I am wrong.
3. Buy Tikka T3x CTR in 308 and change the stock. does Tikka T3x CTR have the potential to shoot under 0.5 Moa consistently? just talking about the rifle, not the man behind it :)

Thanks. any suggestion will be helpful.
Click to expand...

Cadex has always offered "prefits" for our action we just never advertised it until last year. The way this works is we keep a record of all pertinent measurements off each action that allows us to chamber a new barrel and install it with perfect head space. Instead of using a barrel nut we control the head space with different thickness's of recoil lugs, so when you order a replacement barrel it will come with the correct lug for the barrel/action combination.
You have 2 different options for instillation, you can send the action to the factory we will install the barrel and test fire it then send back for $185 or you can buy an action wrench and do it your self. In addition to the action wrench you will need a barrel vise, torque wrench and breaker bar. We do offer barrel vise blocks that you can use in conjunction with your bench vise if you do not want to buy an actual barrel vise. For piece of mind I do keep a set of go/no go gauges to check, that being said out of the 3 barrels I have had done they have all head spaced perfectly. If you plan to switch barrels on a regular bases it is a good idea to invest in the tooling for how cheap you can pick up a set of wrenches on sale at Canadian tire for. The complete process only takes a few min and if you want to see a video on it email me and I will send over the one our pro staffer did last year. Feel free to email me at customerservice@cadexinc.com

cheers
Ryan
 
allenhedk said:
thanks for the gun ban, right now the cadex field competition in 6.5 creedmoor is the only rifle I can take out for shooting. I want to have a rifle to shoot 308, so there are some ideas and questions come into my mind. I need more information to help
1. I saw there are prefit barrels for Impact Precision, Ruger Precision, even Tikka T3. I wonder are there prefit barrel for cadex actions. I do handload, could they stay the same accuracy after I switch barrel back? I have a new Bartlein .30 M24 contour barrel on hand, I can ask a gunsmith to build me one if that's possible.
2. "Upgrade" my cadex. I am thinking about selling my cadex and buy a AIAT since they can switch the barrel easily, shoot accurate and reliable under any conditions, but beside the easy barrel switch function, is it really worth the extra $3000 since the cadex is also accurate and reliable. please correct me if I am wrong.
3. Buy Tikka T3x CTR in 308 and change the stock. does Tikka T3x CTR have the potential to shoot under 0.5 Moa consistently? just talking about the rifle, not the man behind it :)

Thanks. any suggestion will be helpful.
Click to expand...

You're not buying an AT simply for a quick change barrel. You're buying it as a combination of the most durable, accurate 7.62 rifle available. The action is sublime. The trigger perfect. The ergonomics (once you get scope height, eye relief and cheek weld sorted) perfect. The only thing is that it's heavy. If you want to hump this around you's better be doing a lot of PT. For me the $6K price tag was worth it. It isn't going anywhere as long as I can carry it and shoot it.
 
Last edited:
The Lorax said:
You're not buying an AT simply for a quick change barrel. You're buying it as a combination of the most durable, accurate 7.62 rifle available. The action is sublime. The trigger perfect. The ergonomics (once you get scope height, eye relief and cheek weld sorted) perfect. The only thing is that it's heavy. If you want to hump this around you's better be doing a lot of PT. For me the $6K price tag was worth it. It isn't going anywhere as long as I can carry it and shoot it.
Click to expand...

Perfect is a relative term.

While I think AI makes a really nice rifle, I have more then a few friends that have them, I wouldn't call them perfect. The ergo's for me are not great, wasn't a huge fan of the trigger and I don't like certain design elements on their chassis'. This is all personal preference of course, I wouldn't ever fault someone for getting an AI.

To the OP, get the tools to do the barrel changes at home. Two barrel changes and the equipment has already paid for itself. The fact that you can get shouldered "prefits" from Cadex is a good plus, though I hear Cadex charges a lot for their barrels.

Another option is to find a good gunsmith you know and trust to spin you up barrels for your Cadex. They only need to see the action once, from there they could go off of saved measurements.

Changing shouldered barrels is easy, easier then most on here think. Arguably easier then changing out barrels with barrel nuts, when you have the correct tools.
 
Cadex Defence said:
Cadex has always offered "prefits" for our action we just never advertised it until last year. The way this works is we keep a record of all pertinent measurements off each action that allows us to chamber a new barrel and install it with perfect head space. Instead of using a barrel nut we control the head space with different thickness's of recoil lugs, so when you order a replacement barrel it will come with the correct lug for the barrel/action combination.
You have 2 different options for instillation, you can send the action to the factory we will install the barrel and test fire it then send back for $185 or you can buy an action wrench and do it your self. In addition to the action wrench you will need a barrel vise, torque wrench and breaker bar. We do offer barrel vise blocks that you can use in conjunction with your bench vise if you do not want to buy an actual barrel vise. For piece of mind I do keep a set of go/no go gauges to check, that being said out of the 3 barrels I have had done they have all head spaced perfectly. If you plan to switch barrels on a regular bases it is a good idea to invest in the tooling for how cheap you can pick up a set of wrenches on sale at Canadian tire for. The complete process only takes a few min and if you want to see a video on it email me and I will send over the one our pro staffer did last year. Feel free to email me at customerservice@cadexinc.com

cheers
Ryan
Click to expand...

Thank you Ryan. I just send the email with my serial number. I will buy all the required tool from you if you carry them. I will try switch barrel at home. Getting hand dirty is fun. Worst case if it doesn't work, i will send it to cadex.to install the barrel :)
Thanks again
Wei
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom