Gunsmithing Remage barrel options

[hotload]

For the budget minded dude, whats the practical difference between a criterion barrel from NSS and a prefit top tier mfg from someone like bugholes?
A prefit criterion is 300 vs 550 or so for a bartlein, from the above shops. Are we talking rougher chamber machining or looser specs, etc?

Im thinking to do a diy based build with bighorn origin, remage barrel, mini chassis stock. Bolt and go type setup. ~10-12lb weight range in a smaller caliber like 223.

 

[Sheldon N]

Main difference is button rifled vs cut rifled blank. The cut rifled blank will typically last a bit longer.

From a cost standpoint, don't rule out something like a shouldered barrel from Keystone. Once you factor the cost of barrel nut, go gauge, wrench for barrel nut the costs get very similar.

 

[Anderson_A]

I just did a nucleus/nss criterion 6+6.5creed and ordered a button rifled Rock creek about a 9momths ago I put on a defiance deviant that I’m just getting up and running and I can say Moving forward I will be going the NSS route it was half the price and the performance precision wise is the same for me with my one sample from a well respected gunsmith and two off the shelf after the expierence I’ve just had with both $408 shipped to my door in 4-5days 2x vs 650$ and 9 months for the same outcome is a no brainer there may be some downside I come across down the road who knows

 

[supercorndogs]

The main difference is the cost of the blank used. It will be 300+ for a top quality cut rifled blank.

 

[3-0-hate]

Main difference is button rifled vs cut rifled blank. The cut rifled blank will typically last a bit longer.

From a cost standpoint, don't rule out something like a shouldered barrel from Keystone. Once you factor the cost of barrel nut, go gauge, wrench for barrel nut the costs get very similar.

This is true until you factor in the cost of each replacement barrel. The nut, wrench and gauges are not consumables (unless you drop and break your go-gauge), so I don't really factor in their costs. By the time you get two barrels in on a Remage setup, your way cheaper than if you just did shouldered barrels. Just my 2¢, which is likely worth half as much.

 

[John Glidewell]

X-Caliber does good work

 

[hotload]

Thanks for the input fellas. So the message is, cut rifled will cost me 200 bucks more. Ive heard many a story of good shooting criterions, so is it safe to say they are not cutting corners with the quality of chambering?

 

[3-0-hate]

Thanks for the input fellas. So the message is, cut rifled will cost me 200 bucks more. Ive heard many a story of good shooting criterions, so is it safe to say they are not cutting corners with the quality of chambering?

My 6CM Criterion is a shooter.. Thats the only experience I have with them, but its a fantastic one in terms of overall fit/finish and perceived quality.

 

[Sheldon N]

This is true until you factor in the cost of each replacement barrel. The nut, wrench and gauges are not consumables (unless you drop and break your go-gauge), so I don't really factor in their costs. By the time you get two barrels in on a Remage setup, your way cheaper than if you just did shouldered barrels. Just my 2¢, which is likely worth half as much.

Cost is about identical on one barrel if you are looking at barrels with muzzle threads ($465 vs $460). Two barrels in you'd save $80 with the savage set ($840 vs $920). Close enough to make them worth considering as options. Takes quite a while for most people to shoot out two 223 barrels.

 

[hotload]

Thanks SV. Thats the direction Im leaning.

 

[steve123]

For the budget minded dude, whats the practical difference between a criterion barrel from NSS and a prefit top tier mfg from someone like bugholes?
A prefit criterion is 300 vs 550 or so for a bartlein, from the above shops. Are we talking rougher chamber machining or looser specs, etc?

Im thinking to do a diy based build with bighorn origin, remage barrel, mini chassis stock. Bolt and go type setup. ~10-12lb weight range in a smaller caliber like 223.

Except a Remage barrel won't fit in a Savage thread pattern.

 

[hotload]

Cost is about identical on one barrel if you are looking at barrels with muzzle threads ($465 vs $460). Two barrels in you'd save $80 with the remage set ($840 vs $920). Close enough to make them worth considering as options. Takes quite a while for most people to shoot out two 223 barrels.

If im looking at this right, it works out to 490 for a criterion with threaded muzzle and tools/nut and 630 for a shouldered bartlein and threaded muzzle from bugholes. So its close, but still a pretty good savings.

 

[3-0-hate]

Cost is about identical on one barrel if you are looking at barrels with muzzle threads ($465 vs $460). Two barrels in you'd save $80 with the savage set ($840 vs $920). Close enough to make them worth considering as options. Takes quite a while for most people to shoot out two 223 barrels.

On a .223 or .308, I completely agree, the cost savings doesn't make a huge difference, but on a fast 6mm, I would say it would be worth the extra initial investment, as it would pay off greatly over the life of the rifle if you shoot it enough.

 

[hotload]

Except a Remage barrel won't fit in a Savage thread pattern.

Good point.

 

[Sheldon N]

If im looking at this right, it works out to 490 for a criterion with threaded muzzle and tools/nut and 630 for a shouldered bartlein and threaded muzzle from bugholes. So its close, but still a pretty good savings.

I'm talking about a threaded, shouldered prefit barrel from Keystone accuracy based on a button rifled blank. Would be $459 + shipping. Screw it onto your Origin action and you're done.

Custom Machining, Rifle Parts, Rifle Barrel | Keystone Accuracy

 

[PAYDIRT]

Northland has awesome cs too. He actually answers the phone and is very helpful. I'm thinking about getting a BAT action from them because I already have the nut and action wrench.

 

[chevy_man]

X-Caliber does good work

My experience also.
I did have to use their customer service and they made it right. It would have been nice if the muzzle threads were cut right the first time but they did everything possible to make me happy.

In the end it's a absolute stellar shooter.

I've used Criterion on savages and had excellent results also.

 

[Maxduty]

KAK Industries has recently started selling Remage barrels. I just picked up an 18" .308 with a nut for 250 bucks. Already painted black and 416SS. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. It's going on a hunting rifle anyway, so as long as it shoots 5-600 I'm happy.

 

[Maxduty]

KAK Industries has recently started selling Remage barrels. I just picked up an 18" .308 with a nut for 250 bucks. Already painted black and 416SS. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. It's going on a hunting rifle anyway, so as long as it shoots 5-600 I'm happy.

Update. so far so good. I'm breaking it in and have shot suppressed out to 200 so far with good results. We'll see how it continues to do.

 

[flyer]

I have a Criterion AR barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor and it's a shooter. If they use the same type of blank for their Savage/Remage pre-fits, they should be very good.

If you're buying a custom action, it doesn't make sense to go with Remage threads. Most barrels that are available in Remage thread are also available in Savage thread but the reverse is not true so Remage limits your choices.

If you want to get a shouldered barrel turned up, a smith can cut 20 tpi threads just as easy as 16 tpi so there is no downside to a custom action with Savage threads.

You can even use Savage take-off barrels if your custom action has Savage threads.

One thing about my Criterion button rifled barrel, upon initial cleaning I noticed that the bore was rougher than I'm used to so I did a careful break in with a few passes with JB bore paste and it wound up nice and smooth, easy to clean, shooting great.

I've heard that Savage take-off barrels can be really rough so I suggest paying a lot of attention to that if you start with a new one.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

NSS is good because he has pretty good inventory. But Xcal has more options and their wait time is spot on.

 

[Surfingsk8r]

For what its worth I have a criterion remage barrel from NSS that shoots better than I am capable of on most days. I have never been one for getting to worked up about groups on paper, but have been able to be sub half moa at 100 yards a few times. At distance is where I have noticed the consistency the most. Being able to consistently place shots on target at 700 yards on an 8 inch plate was awesome. Just one mans opinion, but I dont see how spending more money on a barrel could possibly make this rifle any more accurate.