Criterion or Shilen barrel for 7mm PRC

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

Looking to swap barrels/calipers (7mm rem mag to 7mm prc) and am trying to decide between the 2 barrels. It will be used on a bench/long range rig. I have 2 other Criterion barrels and they shoot great. I've never shot a Shilen so I have no real experience with them. I was just wondering if one is "better" than the other. Also, for the Shilen, does the select match and match "matter" or what the difference is. Besides price.

And 3rd question... if i have a small barrel nut on my 7mm rem mag now, do i need to stick with that or do I need a large barrel nut. Or does that only matter for the barrel and how it's made?

6brshooter · Dec 26, 2024

Small or large nut is determined by action, specifically barrel tenon size. If new barrel is going on this action, keep same size "nut". Ive had both shilen select match and criterion. Both shot good to great and cleaned up nice. I would go with whichever one is available in contour/tw/cal you're looking for. I would definitely stick to select match if going shilen.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

It's a large (edit: long) action and had a small barrel but on there before but it also had a small/thin varmit barrel before.

Is the select better than the regular match? Right now it's a 2 week wait on the criterion and Shilen (idk if reg match or select) is in stock. I still have to order the chassis so I don't need the barrel today no matter which I pick.

memilanuk · Dec 26, 2024

AZIROC said:
It's a large action and had a small barrel but on there before but it also had a small/thin varmit barrel before.

'Large' action, or 'long' action?

So far as I know, the only guns using the larger (1.125") barrel tenon (and nut) are Savage. Everything else uses the original (Savage) smaller tenon (1.062" dia.) and nut.

The easy way to tell is to measure the old nut, if you have one. If it's 5/8" long (front to back), you have a large shank barrel. If it's 7/8", it's a small shank.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

Sorry. I did edit it. I ment long action. And this had a small tenon nut

Dirty D · Dec 26, 2024

I have shot Shilen Select Match and Criterion barrels and they both hammer. On the NSS page they say that Criterion will not make a 7mm PRC in a small shank barrel, Shilen doesn’t specifically say but Jim told me years ago that Shilen won’t make small shank barrels for the WSM and SAUM cartridges because they don’t feel that there is enough material to be safe so it may be worth a phone call. IIRC McGowan will make small shank barrels for the WSM/SAUM chamberings. Another option is Krieger now offers pre fits from the factory.

6brshooter · Dec 26, 2024

Yep dirty d is correct on criterion, they won't do magnums on small shank. Shilen will, or did, as I had a 6.5prc shilen select match on a deadline action. Not any case dia or pressure difference between 6.5 or 7 prc. Fun fact, all savage factory magnums, except 338lm and some of the lazzeroni chamber ins, were all small shank. The 338lm and lazzeroni use large shank, same as target action tenons.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

I apologize, I'm still learning about bolt actions and how things "fit together".

The barrel on my savage now is a 7mm rem mag with a small shank. I'm putting it into a different chassis than the original plastic stock. Can I not put a large shank on a criterion barrel in 7prc with my savage action?

I will be giving NSS a call tomorrow though.

memilanuk · Dec 26, 2024

6brshooter said:
Fun fact, all savage factory magnums, except 338lm and some of the lazzeroni chamber ins, were all small shank. The 338lm and lazzeroni use large shank, same as target action tenons.

Savage started migrating everything over to large shank a while (as in, pre-COVID) back.

Dirty D · Dec 26, 2024

AZIROC said:
I apologize, I'm still learning about bolt actions and how things "fit together".

The barrel on my savage now is a 7mm rem mag with a small shank. I'm putting it into a different chassis than the original plastic stock. Can I not put a large shank on a criterion barrel in 7prc with my savage action?

I will be giving NSS a call tomorrow though.

In short a large (diameter) shank barrel will not fit in a small shank action, they are made to two different specs

memilanuk · Dec 26, 2024

AZIROC said:
Can I not put a large shank on a criterion barrel in 7prc with my savage action?

Nope.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

Aww got it. So I'd need to find a barrel that accepts small shanks. Thanks

memilanuk · Dec 26, 2024

Ah.. no. The receiver you have accepts small shank *barrels*.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

Aww. Ok. I think I got it.

Edit.
So basically criterion is out. it looks like Shilen is an option though to still be able small shank and 7prc. And the select match is $375 ($450 to have it threaded)

Or would it be worth it for a Krieger ($600)

Mike Casselton · Dec 26, 2024

AZIROC said:
I apologize, I'm still learning about bolt actions and how things "fit together".

The barrel on my savage now is a 7mm rem mag with a small shank. I'm putting it into a different chassis than the original plastic stock. Can I not put a large shank on a criterion barrel in 7prc with my savage action?

I will be giving NSS a call tomorrow though.

It's nuts and bolts.
You don't put a 5/6" nut on a 1/4" bolt. It's too big.

Same with the barrel shanks.

Small shank and small nut are smaller diameter than the large/ large.

Mike Casselton · Dec 26, 2024

Your receiver is like a nut.
Your barrel is like a bolt.
Your lock nut acts like a jam nut.

They all have to be the same diameter and thread pitch.

AZIROC · Dec 26, 2024

Awesome. Thanks for that info. It makes since. Like you said, when you break it down to nuts and bolts, I can see why you can't mix a large and small.

I'll still give NSS a call tomorrow. He did say he had some shilen select in stock for 7prc with the small shank. I'm looking at the krieger as well but I think the Shilen would fit the budget.

loveha · Dec 26, 2024

I've built two Savage rifles with Shilen select match barrels. A 30-06 and 300WSM. Both are sub MOA with Hornady ELD-X ammo. Wait time wasn't long on one of them, two weeks maybe. Was three months for the other. Didn't have the profile I wanted on them. I think they are air gauged for select match? Could be wrong on that. Either way, I would not hesitate to order another.

6brshooter · Dec 27, 2024

memilanuk said:
Savage started migrating everything over to large shank a while (as in, pre-COVID) back.

Good yo know, I haven't had a savage in 10yrs so I'm a bit out of the loop.

Dirty D · Dec 27, 2024

AZIROC said:
Aww. Ok. I think I got it.

Edit.
So basically criterion is out. it looks like Shilen is an option though to still be able small shank and 7prc. And the select match is $375 ($450 to have it threaded)

Or would it be worth it for a Krieger ($600)

As many Shilen select match barrels as I have owned and loved the Krieger is on another level

AZIROC · Dec 27, 2024

If I was going to build a custom action type rifles, I'd probably go with the higher end barrel. But since this is my first try with a bolt action rifle, I'll prob go shilen

Schütze · Dec 27, 2024

Dirty D said:
As many Shilen select match barrels as I have owned and loved the Krieger is on another level

Does this mean krieger chambers small shank barrels for you?

Dirty D · Dec 27, 2024

Schütze said:
Does this mean krieger chambers small shank barrels for you?

https://kriegerbarrels.com/savage

Boatninja · Jan 1, 2025

Popcorn

Hi Velocity · Jan 1, 2025

AZIROC said:
Aww. Ok. I think I got it.

Edit.
So basically criterion is out. it looks like Shilen is an option though to still be able small shank and 7prc. And the select match is $375 ($450 to have it threaded)

Or would it be worth it for a Krieger ($600)

I had a new Shilen select match barrel in 6.5 PRC and gave it to a friend. Actually, I put together a rig for him using a long action. I test fired it using Hornady 147 gr ELDM and 143 gr ELDX factory ammo. I shot 10 rounds of each. The match ammo was more accurate. Some holes were touching. It's definitely a keeper.

I don't know how it cleaned up, cause I just left it with him. I looked down the barrel before installing it and it looked like jewelry. I got the barrel from NSS. Always a no hassle experience. Good luck.

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Criterion or Shilen barrel for 7mm PRC

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