After talking at length with a very well known 2500 (score) ARA shooter about getting a replacement barrel for my MTR (to shoot ARA "unlimited" benchrest), and finding that International Barrels Inc./IBI (British Columbia, Canada) would be willing to do a special order to get me beyond their 22" max length norm, I just placed my order - CZ 457 drop-in, Eley EPS chamber (other chambers available), target crown, finished length of 24". Price well south of Lilja but going up $30-$50 (USD) when their new website comes online shortly. Shipment timing is about 4-6 weeks.
For some perspective, Ultimatum will be using IBI barrels for their upcoming R700-footprint barreled action offering ("Deuce" - https://www.ultimatumprecision.com/...cts/deuce-barreled-action-pre-sale-50-deposit). They note in their website spec, "IBI Olympic Grade Match Barrel...Proprietary DEUCE barrel contour with heavy muzzle, maintaining radial tension to ensure optimal accuracy." That "heavy muzzle" barrel contour is what IBI is using in their current CZ drop-ins - straight cylinder up to the last 2.5" (muzzle end) where it is increased to .925. [BTW, IBI hones their bores on state-of-the-art Sunnen hones, .0001 (on-tenth) variance in bore diameter from breech to muzzle.]
My order is being added to a multi-barrel order going to Australia, where they do not pull blanks from stock (the current blanks for CZ drop-in for Canada and the US are 23", finish at max 22"), so the timing was right for me - should allow me to catch the April match with the new barrel...kiss the current barrel bye-bye at the March match.
So if what I am doing makes sense for others, give Ryan Steacy a call at (604) 674-6972, option 1. Again, the pricing is going up when the new website launches, and the Australian order starts in the shop in the near term.
For some perspective, Ultimatum will be using IBI barrels for their upcoming R700-footprint barreled action offering ("Deuce" - https://www.ultimatumprecision.com/...cts/deuce-barreled-action-pre-sale-50-deposit). They note in their website spec, "IBI Olympic Grade Match Barrel...Proprietary DEUCE barrel contour with heavy muzzle, maintaining radial tension to ensure optimal accuracy." That "heavy muzzle" barrel contour is what IBI is using in their current CZ drop-ins - straight cylinder up to the last 2.5" (muzzle end) where it is increased to .925. [BTW, IBI hones their bores on state-of-the-art Sunnen hones, .0001 (on-tenth) variance in bore diameter from breech to muzzle.]
My order is being added to a multi-barrel order going to Australia, where they do not pull blanks from stock (the current blanks for CZ drop-in for Canada and the US are 23", finish at max 22"), so the timing was right for me - should allow me to catch the April match with the new barrel...kiss the current barrel bye-bye at the March match.
So if what I am doing makes sense for others, give Ryan Steacy a call at (604) 674-6972, option 1. Again, the pricing is going up when the new website launches, and the Australian order starts in the shop in the near term.
