Two questions

[MarkChambers]

I can only speak for criterion as that is the only one I have shot but it is amazing! Call Northland shooters supply as they have many criterion barrels on hand. They might already have a barrel that will work for you, if not, the wait time is as others stated about 18 weeks which is NOT bad compared to many companies out there. As for my barrel it is a 7mm rem mag. I have only worked up one load with it with 160 grain accubonds with IMR 7628. BUT here is where it gets interesting...I tested a few different powder charges...the worst was .6inch group at 100 yards and the best was one ragged hole guestimate being .2inch group. that was surprisingly good. Either I was lucky in bullet choice and powder charge, which I doubt, or the barrel simply shoots well. This is with a Bell and Carlson stock that has an aluminum chassis like the stock you are talking about and my stock does not have any other further bedding. I also tried factory remington core lokts before working a load up and those shot all under 1 inch at 100 yards, I think the worst group was .8inches or so. I have never heard a bad thing about criterion or shilen but I have heard some bad things about McGowen but I also heard they made things right in the end. If it were me id go with criterion, shilen, pac nor, kreiger by whomever is either the cheapest or the fastest depending on what is more important to you.

Thanks for the info. Kreigers are six to seven months out. I know because I'm having a full custom built in 7mm Rem Mag and I'm looking to get it sometime in June. I will probably do the Criterion if I don't decide to have the smith do the Hart. I get antsy even though 16 weeks puts me in April and its still cold in Michigan in April. You might try the 180gr Bergers in your 7mm. They're lazers and stable out at longer distances.

[Bigeclipse]

Thanks for the info. Kreigers are six to seven months out. I know because I'm having a full custom built in 7mm Rem Mag and I'm looking to get it sometime in June. I will probably do the Criterion if I don't decide to have the smith do the Hart. I get antsy even though 16 weeks puts me in April and its still cold in Michigan in April. You might try the 180gr Bergers in your 7mm. They're lazers and stable out at longer distances.

I may give it a shot. My current load with the 160 accubonds is giving me ~2950FPS and one ragged hole at 100 yards. I have only tested it out to 300 yards so far and all my groups were under an inch. The goal for this rifle is 500 yards. The accubonds should still perform well with my given velocities at that distance. For 500 yard gun, 1 MOA is really all that is necessary for large game which was the original goal, but I was surprised to see it shooting so well with the accubonds. I have a remington 700 mountain SS that does not shoot so well. It is just around 1 MOA on a good day. I am highly considering re-barreling that as well but I dont know any gun smiths around where I am so I would have to send it out.

[MarkChambers]

I may give it a shot. My current load with the 160 accubonds is giving me ~2950FPS and one ragged hole at 100 yards. I have only tested it out to 300 yards so far and all my groups were under an inch. The goal for this rifle is 500 yards. The accubonds should still perform well with my given velocities at that distance. For 500 yard gun, 1 MOA is really all that is necessary for large game which was the original goal, but I was surprised to see it shooting so well with the accubonds. I have a remington 700 mountain SS that does not shoot so well. It is just around 1 MOA on a good day. I am highly considering re-barreling that as well but I dont know any gun smiths around where I am so I would have to send it out.

Nice shooting. There are a lot of competent smiths that would do the barrel work so sending it out isn't a big deal. 700's are one gun that benefit from bedding and truing up the action. You might check the barrel on your Rem and make sure its free floated. It will make a difference, especially on that short barrel. I have a CDL in 257 WBY and the barrel was setting on the stock in two different spots. I changed it to a Bobby Hart laminate with the bedding block and it dropped right in with a perfect float. Haven't shot it yet though. :)