Criterion Barrels

[Boogeyman]

Hi. I am very happy to announce my experience with a new 308 criterion 24" varmint contour barrel for a small shank savage action along with a heavy stainless barrel nut and a heavy barrel lug that I purchased from Jim Briggs, Northland Shooters Supply. Friday the March 21 2014 I went to the range to sight in a new Shepherd V2 scope it only took 3 shots to zero the next five shots formed a group of no more than 3/8s of an inch. The ammo was 308 168gr Fed GMM. Thank you very much criterion. Good shooting everyone.

[bootsmcguire]

That seems to be the typical performance of Criterion Savage barrels. My 6BR Criterion gives me similar results, glad to hear yours does well also.

[Joetinva]

Still waiting for a .308 bull from Jim, the 6.5 Creedmoor I got is a very accurate barrel.

[markb317]

I think they are probably the best pre-fit barrels made for the Savage rifles.

[cookiemonster]

I to am looking at the criterion .308 but i have to wait until end of May/June. So Boogeyman you recommend the criterion. I too was talking to Jim at Northland. i think i'll give it a shot, I hope your right. Shilen's he doesn't know when they'll be in but he has em on order.

[scooterf79]

Thats the news I like to hear. Im waiting on my Criterion in 280 AI. (Supposed to be around June) Itll be my first build, cant wait to see how it shoots...hopefully it will be a shooter like yours

[sc1911cwp]

So is a refit barrel a drop in replacement for what it is replacing?

[aubie515]

I just put on my CBI barrel for my 300WM. I had to special order it since I needed it threaded a certain pitch and I had it bead blasted.

I'm excited to see what this rifle will do with TBAC. From all of the Criterion owners...sounds like I made a great choice in barrel selection. I hope I like it as much as the Shilen select match that I owned.

[rdog52]

Thats the news I like to hear. Im waiting on my Criterion in 280 AI. (Supposed to be around June) Itll be my first build, cant wait to see how it shoots...hopefully it will be a shooter like yours

Scooter, what barrel length and contour did you order on your 280 AI? I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on one myself.

[rdog52]

Thats the news I like to hear. Im waiting on my Criterion in 280 AI. (Supposed to be around June) Itll be my first build, cant wait to see how it shoots...hopefully it will be a shooter like yours

Scooter - what barrel length and contour did you order for your 280 AI? You say it should be here in June - when did you order it? I'm close to ordering one myself.

[scooterf79]

Sc1911....that somewhat depends on your idea of drop in fit...but pretty much the answer to your question is yes....provided you get the same barrel contour....and the appropriate headspace gauges.

Rddog...I ordered a 24in, "light varmint" contour, bead blasted. I plan on hunting with so I didnt want a real heavy barrel but I wanted a little heavier than sporter. Jim from Northland was great to deal with, and explained everything in detail.

[sc1911cwp]

Scooterf79,
TNX for the reply. New to the LR game and have a Savage Palma in 308 that was hardly shot for a very good price. I now have all I need to shoot and reload. Although I have been reloading for years, never for a rifle. My original plan was to shoot the .260 Remington and since I have a lot of supplies for that I want to duplicate the barrel contour and such in that caliber and change it over. I will get another rifle/pistol in 308.

[Rooster 50]

Just received a Criterion barrel from Northland. The finish inside and out is very nice. I ordered it un chambered and threaded for my large shank 300WSM action. It did come threaded so I thought I would try it on my action.
Perhaps I did something wrong but I assumed that it would just screw on without a problem. I was wrong. Got it screwed in about 2/3's of the way and it just plain stuck. Tried putting some oil on it to get it loose and it turned back about 1/2 way before it stuck again. Finally succeeded in getting it off by hand but it took all I had. Now the threads seem to be galled and the barrel nut will not screw off.

I have never seen this before. Wondering what I did wrong.

[JackinSD]

I'll bet you are using your "old barrel nut"?

[Rooster 50]

I'll bet you are using your "old barrel nut"?

It had nothing to do with the barrel nut. The barrel nut is on the barrel from Criterion and it was screwed all the way out. I am talking about the threads sticking about 2/3's of the way into the action. It wasn't even screwed all the way in when it stuck. And the barrel nut(the new one) never got near the action. I didn't try to headspace it I just wanted to screw it in and see how the barrel was gonna fit into the barrel channel on my HS Precision stock.

[Hotolds442]

Front sight base screws still in the action?

[Rooster 50]

Yes they are because the bases are still there. I guess I should have been clearer. The 300wsm barrel that was originally on this action screws in all the way. The new Critertion barrel only screws in part way and then sticks like crazy.

[Hotolds442]

Take the base screw out of the action closest to the barrel nut. You most likely have slightly larger threads on the criterion barrel that have been damaged by the scope mount screw. Get a small triangular file and lightly touch up the damaged portion of the threads and you should be able to clean it up enough to allow it to be installed fully.

[Rooster 50]

Thanks. That sounds reasonable. I will try it.

[GaCop]

Did you get your problem corrected?