ReMage: Criterion vs Mcgowen???

[bradthemarine]

I'm getting ready to order my first ReMage barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor and I've narrowed the choice down to two brands: Criterion and McGowen. Has anyone here shot both and have a recommendation of one over the other? If I go with McGowen I'll probably get the Remington Sendero/Varmint contour, if I go with Criterion I'll probably get the Varmint contour. Right now I'm leaning toward McGowen due to the tapered contour. This rifle will be for shooting steel with 140ish grain projectiles out to 1000.

Also, any twist rate recommendations would be appreciated.

Edit: I plan to hand load for this rifle but I will probably shoot factory ammo though it every once in a while.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[SHMtastic]

Honestly, just go with whichever will get you the barrel quickest. I went with Criterion simply due to it being a month wait from NSS, and McGowan being over two at the time. It's an amazing barrel, shooting very well in under 50 shots. Load dev was a breeze.

I don't really know if you will find either one better than the other, just quicker to the door.

I don't shoot a 6.5 so I can't help with twist.

Good luck.

SHM

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[diverdon]

Brad I don't have an opinion between Criterion and McGowen. In so far as the twist, do you hand load, or intend to hand load? If so look at the recomendation for the bullet you plan to use for the twist. Many of us like Berger bullets. http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/all-bullets/ at 1000 either the 130 or the 140 will work. So if you look at the chart you will see that you need a 1:8.

 

[lash]

Pretty much what SHM and Diver said. Either will do fine. Choose by what you want and what is readily available. Either will shoot very well.

 

[reeljob]

Have had several Criterion barrels and one McGowan. All have been shooters. Like the others get whichever suits you or readily available. 6.5 go with 1-8" and enjoy. Great barrels!

 

[dryfire]

My brother and I have both the Criterion and McGowen barrels. Both shoot excellent and clean easily. The Criterions appear to have a more refined exterior finish but the performance between the two seem about equal. I don't think you can go wrong for the money.


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[bradthemarine]

Thanks for the feedback, I think I'm gonna go with McGowen as I prefer the Remington Sendero contour.

 

[erikc641]

I just ordered a 6.5x47L from The Barrel Outlet (Remington Sendero contour). It shouldn't be too much longer now.

 

[bradthemarine]

I just ordered a 6.5x47L from The Barrel Outlet (Remington Sendero contour). It shouldn't be too much longer now.

Please let me know how it looks/works when it gets in!

 

[erikc641]

Will do

 

[kingzero]

I had a 260 with a Criterion and have an AR 308 with a McGowen. Both were accurate with the 308 being a bit harder to shoot because of the platform. Both barrels seemed to prefer slower velocities.

 

[Bunkin]

Quick question to those that have done the remage swap with a 700 action:

Did you have the action trued / blueprinted before installing the new barrel?


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[dryfire]

Quick question to those that have done the remage swap with a 700 action:

Did you have the action trued / blueprinted before installing the new barrel?


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No

.


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[Dirty D]

Quick question to those that have done the remage swap with a 700 action:

Did you have the action trued / blueprinted before installing the new barrel?


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You can have the action trued just be sure to tell your gunsmith to do everything EXCEPT true the action threads, there is a tight tolerance between the action threads and the pre fit barrel threads and if they true the action threads the fit will be sloppy. Be sure to remind your gunsmith that you will be using a pre fit barrel (and don't let them talk you out of it).

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Quick question to those that have done the remage swap with a 700 action:

Did you have the action trued / blueprinted before installing the new barrel?


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I just lap the lugs and call it a day. Ive done one by single point in a lathe and couldnt tell any benefit over a good lapping job.

 

[kansas]

My son had his action trued. If I was to do it I would lap the lugs and screw the barrel on and call it a day. Actually I think I'd start with a new action instead of a donor action. One thing I would suggest. When we got my son's back from the gunsmith I checked the headspacing and found it to be too long so I loosened the barrel nut and tried to shorten it however I wasn't able to screw the barrel in any farther. I ended up ordering a tap from Brownells to clean the receiver threads up then the barrel screwed in just fine. After pulling factory barrels the receiver threads need the old loctite, or whatever Remington uses, cleaned out of the threads. The rifle shoots. We have a Criterion barrel and am very pleased with it.

 

[Bunkin]

Thanks guys, I may just skip the truing then, the action already has a few thousand rounds through it so I don't know that lapping the lugs will help much with the smoothness of the action, unless I'm miss understanding what lapping the lugs does. kansas FUNCTIONAL Dirty D

 

[Dirty D]

Screw the barrel on and shoot the damn thing BEFORE you decide to do anything else to it, as far as the lugs I bought a new Stevens 200 years ago and it was as smooth as 16 grit so I sat my sorry ass down and wiped the bolt and inside of the action dry then cycled the action for a few hundred cycles each day for about a week and it's gtg now.

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Lapping the lugs just gives you better receiver to lug contact when the bolt is in battery and closed. A quick google should tell you all you need to know with pics.

 

[Sierra770]

I am running multiple Remage set ups and I have tried truing one, lapping just the lugs on another, and just doing nothing on the third. My conclusion is that there isn't enough difference made to justify doing anything but bolting it up and shooting it. There are exceptions to this, of course,

 

[MTSLW]

I've got a Criterion in 6 Dasher and it's an absolute hammer. Haven't shot any McGowans but I've heard good things.

 

[Swfactr6.5]

Anyone have experience with the shouldered McGowen 700’s? Not a big barrel nut fan

 

[shooter65]

Another option

https://shop.mcreesprecision.net/BARREL-SYSTEMS-KITS-PARTS_c491.htm

 

[jzwolen]

Both of my prefit McGowen 6xc barrels have been absolute hammers. Last year they had a 15% off Black Friday sale. If they have the same this year, i'll be ordering 2 more.

 

[m6z]

A few more options.

SPR Bugnut
X caliber - free cerakote special
Mcrees

Personally, I would wait until black friday to place my order.

 

[supercorndogs]

Lapping the lugs just gives you better receiver to lug contact when the bolt is in battery and closed. A quick google should tell you all you need to know with pics.

Lapping the lugs takes one not smooth surface and wears its imperfections into another. Lapping is a final wear in for lugs and abutments that have already been cut square. "Lapping your lugs" as is being discussed is nothing more than action wear. So why waste the time, just go shoot it, and they will end up the same.

 

[Swoodhouse19]

I am thinking of ordering a Criterion in 22creed. Glad I read about not truing the threads....I will get a new action for this build now.