Quick review of 16" Criterion Hybrid 416R Nitrided barrel, 1:8" twist, .223 Wylde, midlength

[matt33]

I've been meaning to post a range report for this barrel, a .223 Wylde 1:8" 16" Criterion Hybrid 416r stainless steel mid-length barrel that is factory nitrided. I've had this set up for well over a year, I'm somewhere between 600 and 1,000 rounds down range.

I've experimented with a lot of different barrels, this one I'm extremely impressed with. I like a practical weight 16" barrel that is as accurate as possible and gassed well for both suppressed and unsuppressed. I shoot mostly between 100 and 600 yards, but I do train up close with this rifle from time to time. Basically it is the stereotypical do it all carbine for me.

Sample size of one, but I am extremely impressed with this barrel. It continues to be an honest and consistent sub MOA performer. It is also gassed absolutely perfectly for my needs. Not too overgassed with a Surefire 556 rc2, and more than enough gas with hand loads in the cold unsuppressed.

I shot a few different rifles today, this one performed as it typically does. Both AAC 77 SMK'S and handloaded 77SMK with 23.5 grains of IMR 8208 XBR performed as they typically do, .8's at 100 yards, MV around 2,640 FPS with respectable SD and extreme spread.

I also bought a box of 73 grain Berger hybrid bullets, I loaded up 10 rounds with a generic 23.0 grains of 8208, those also shot pretty well considering there was absolutely no load development. 10 shots into 1 MOA and I pulled one of them toward the end, it's also challenging to shoot tiny groups with this Vortex 1-10 optic (right side target in photo)

I can usually tighten things up if I put a 32x scope on for load development testing, but everything shot today was with a Vortex gen 3 razor 1-10.

I wanted to post a quick review of this barrel in case anyone was considering, I could not find any first-hand reviews when I bought this from Brownells for approximately $300. Money well spent, I will buy more of these.

 

[tekmann2377]

Really appreciate the review. I also recently picked up a 12.5" Criterion Hybrid and am hoping it is a shooter too.

 

[matt33]

Just a quick update, this Barrel continues to amaze me. I switched to a Nightforce NX8 1-8x, what an outstanding scope for my purposes.
I've read some iffy online reviews regarding this particular scope, but I was incredibly impressed shooting it for the first time today. The reticle is my favorite that I've ever used on any lpvo. I'm sure some luck was involved, but zeroing this thing tonight, I shot one of the smallest 5 round groups I've ever shot with a semi-automatic rifle

 

[TonyAngel]

Just a quick update, this Barrel continues to amaze me. I switched to a Nightforce NX8 1-8x, what an outstanding scope for my purposes.
I've read some iffy online reviews regarding this particular scope, but I was incredibly impressed shooting it for the first time today. The reticle is my favorite that I've ever used on any lpvo. I'm sure some luck was involved, but zeroing this thing tonight, I shot one of the smallest 5 round groups I've ever shot with a semi-automatic rifle

View attachment 8643062View attachment 8643063

Hey man, good shooting. My SPRish rig is also a Criterion Hybrid, but mine is a chromelined version. Yeah, it shoots very well. It'll even do 1.5 to 2 MOA with GGG M193.

If you ever get in the mood to get stupid with a bit of money, try out some of the ammo from Black Arc. The stuff in the NAS3 cases. With the 77s, I got around 2800 fps and with the 53gr V-Max load, I got 3200 fps. Shoot, with the 53gr rounds, I got 2900 fps out of my 11.5. The ammo shot very well too. All rounds landed within a 1.5" paster at 100.

I like your choice of scopes as well. I love my NX8. I really don't know how the web got so flooded with so much negative information about the NX8, while everyone is touting the PLXc. I followed the hype and bought a PLXc, but wound up selling it after getting my hands on the NX8.

 

[matt33]

Hey man, good shooting. My SPRish rig is also a Criterion Hybrid, but mine is a chromelined version. Yeah, it shoots very well. It'll even do 1.5 to 2 MOA with GGG M193.

If you ever get in the mood to get stupid with a bit of money, try out some of the ammo from Black Arc. The stuff in the NAS3 cases. With the 77s, I got around 2800 fps and with the 53gr V-Max load, I got 3200 fps. Shoot, with the 53gr rounds, I got 2900 fps out of my 11.5. The ammo shot very well too. All rounds landed within a 1.5" paster at 100.

I like your choice of scopes as well. I love my NX8. I really don't know how the web got so flooded with so much negative information about the NX8, while everyone is touting the PLXc. I followed the hype and bought a PLXc, but wound up selling it after getting my hands on the NX8.

I keep meaning to try out that Black Arc ammo, I've read a lot about it.

The internet is a funny place for sure. I couldn't believe all the bad reviews I was reading about both the NX8 1-8 and the Vortex Razor 1-10. I have one of each, and believe me I would not keep them if I thought they sucked. They are incredibly versatile and well done optics for my use case. I think the internet is filled with groupthink and people who parrot stuff they read online, rather than firsthand experience.

 

[Ronin22]

Great shooting!

 

[TonyAngel]

I keep meaning to try out that Black Arc ammo, I've read a lot about it.

The internet is a funny place for sure. I couldn't believe all the bad reviews I was reading about both the NX8 1-8 and the Vortex Razor 1-10. I have one of each, and believe me I would not keep them if I thought they sucked. They are incredibly versatile and well done optics for my use case. I think the internet is filled with groupthink and people who parrot stuff they read online, rather than firsthand experience.

Have you ever tried the 55gr Blitzking? If you wanna just run some without diving in, look for the ADI load. They're cheap compared to Black Arc and the like and they are great for 100 yard group shooting. I get good results with them out to 300 or 400 before physics starts to kick in hard.

 

[matt33]

I have not tried those bullets. I used to experiment a lot, now I just load up a bunch of 77 SMK'S with healthy dose of IMR 8208 XBR set at 2.250" COL and enjoy getting out there and shooting. That particular load shoots pretty well in every AR I have, and it's pretty fast with good velocity consistency, SD'S are always under 20 which is good enough for me out to 600.

I used to try to squeak out every bit of precision I possibly could by fine-tuning different loads for different rifles, but it was just too time-consuming.

 

[TonyAngel]

I have not tried those bullets. I used to experiment a lot, now I just load up a bunch of 77 SMK'S with healthy dose of IMR 8208 XBR set at 2.250" COL and enjoy getting out there and shooting. That particular load shoots pretty well in every AR I have, and it's pretty fast with good velocity consistency, SD'S are always under 20 which is good enough for me out to 600.

I used to try to squeak out every bit of precision I possibly could by fine-tuning different loads for different rifles, but it was just too time-consuming.

I hear ya man. Stick with what works. I was crunching some numbers in my head, mostly due to the performance I got out of the 53gr Black Arc ammo I tried and came to the realization that regardless of how impressive the velocity numbers are, it still doesn't get you much in terms of practical performance. Really, what does an extra 125 fps get you down range? An extra 25 yards or so? Still, the stuff shot very well. In my post above, I failed to mention that I was shooting through 35 mph winds that kept varying in direction. At $1 a round, I can see keeping a small stock of the 53gr stuff.

As for the 77s, at about $1.50 a round, I don't think so.

In hind sight, I'd say stick to what you're doing and wonder about how well a Criterion HBar would shoot. With what .308 costs these days, even if you roll your own, I find myself stretching 5.56 more and more.

 

[matt33]

I hear ya man. Stick with what works. I was crunching some numbers in my head, mostly due to the performance I got out of the 53gr Black Arc ammo I tried and came to the realization that regardless of how impressive the velocity numbers are, it still doesn't get you much in terms of practical performance. Really, what does an extra 125 fps get you down range? An extra 25 yards or so? Still, the stuff shot very well. In my post above, I failed to mention that I was shooting through 35 mph winds that kept varying in direction. At $1 a round, I can see keeping a small stock of the 53gr stuff.

As for the 77s, at about $1.50 a round, I don't think so.

In hind sight, I'd say stick to what you're doing and wonder about how well a Criterion HBar would shoot. With what .308 costs these days, even if you roll your own, I find myself stretching 5.56 more and more.

I had been shooting a lot of larger calibers long range, but like you said, when components started drying up and skyrocketing in price, I found myself gravitating back toward
223. I also love the AR platform, I recognize that heavy bolt action rifles are generally more precise, but I really enjoy the challenge of making hits at distance and shooting small groups with a practical weight fighting carbine.

I have an Accuracy International AT-X in 6.5 CM, and while I love shooting it and I will never get rid of it, I don't shoot it nearly as often now. I can only get to about 630 yards on my own property, it's simply too easy to lay prone with that thing and make hits on steel. A 223 AR is so much more of a challenge, it keeps it interesting

 

[TonyAngel]

I had been shooting a lot of larger calibers long range, but like you said, when components started drying up and skyrocketing in price, I found myself gravitating back toward
223. I also love the AR platform, I recognize that heavy bolt action rifles are generally more precise, but I really enjoy the challenge of making hits at distance and shooting small groups with a practical weight fighting carbine.

I have an Accuracy International AT-X in 6.5 CM, and while I love shooting it and I will never get rid of it, I don't shoot it nearly as often now. I can only get to about 630 yards on my own property, it's simply too easy to lay prone with that thing and make hits on steel. A 223 AR is so much more of a challenge, it keeps it interesting

Bud, same boat. I have access to 800 yards and its fun banging steel with the smaller caliber.

It's unclear from your posts, but if you're a tinkerer, check out the thread here. Something about a great deal on Armalite barrels.

I grabbed an 11.5" Armalite HBar for $80 to my door. I liked it so much that me and a buddy have purchased 4 more of them from everygunpart.com

With GGG M193, my average velocity has been 2763 and the barrel is as accurate as any other that I have while being short and easy to handle. That rig has been a load of fun out to 500. I wasn't looking for another barrel, but the price was too good to pass up. I have a couple as backups I liked it so much.