Barrel finally came. Anyone else familiar with this?

**Dave Hoback** · 10-13-2023, 03:13 PM

Well, after over 25 weeks, my barrel is finally here. I still need to sandblast & Cerakote. But I’m wondering if anyone else has seen this in receiving a Barrel? The packaging. Every other barrel I’ve ever ordered, came packaged in one of those very thick, hard cardboard tubes with the wood or plastic ends in place & wrapped very well to prevent movement. This barrel came today in a standard cardboard shipping box with 1-layer of bubble wrap around it. Everything looks good to me. No dings or dents on the box. So I’m sure it’s fine. But it still could have been banged around quite a bit. Who knows? But, am I being out of sorts to have expected it shipped in the tube, for fear of warping? I mean, is everyone else getting barrels shipped to them like this? Again, it’s just I’ve never received a barrel(aside from some inexpensive AR barrels), with seemingly so little care taken in shipping? But, maybe it’s just me.

Also, I did check as soon as I got it & Headspace GO gauge today, it WILL work fine with a .300” Recoil Lug. As in the Titanium Lug I machined for it. I was told when I was placing the order, these Criterion Barrels will only fit a .250” Recoil Lug MAX. I was skeptical, and was correct in my suspicion. To be fair, I initially said I was planning to run an 8mm or 5/16” Lug. But this barrel would fit the .312”+ lug as well.

Anyway, I’m finishing making the lug. It’s within about .002-.003” like this. But I’m using my 1000grit water stone maybe get it a bit better

**pdog06** · 10-13-2023, 04:43 PM

Tubes cost more money. It actually is fine that it came in the box, but like you I would’ve totally expected much more packing material in it so it is held firmly in the box. A round foam pool float tube might’ve fit inside it and already has the hole in the middle for the barrel to slide in. Bam! Well protected and no rattling around in the box.
Atleast it had the rubber end caps on the each end of the barrel to help protect it?
Cutting costs is one thing, but you made an investment and waited months for it. Least they could’ve done is take every precaution they could that it would get there safely. Must have a lot of confidence in the postal system…lol

Glad it made it to you ok!

**Blue Avenger** · 10-13-2023, 06:44 PM

Have some early McGowen's that came that way

**Whynot** · 10-13-2023, 06:56 PM

Yeah....That's just you being overly concerned-- How is a cardboard tube going to stop a steel barrel from warping? With the bubble wrap it wasn't getting banged around-- and lets not lose sight of the fact that it is a steel tube-- one that you are going to attach to your action in one spot on the very end and then hang unsupported from there--

I purchased a DD barrel and it came in a box with other items and absolutely nothing protecting it except it had that weird plastic thing they put barrels in (I call it fishnet stockings for barrels..... ), and it was fine.

**Gunracr** · 10-13-2023, 07:05 PM

I’ve received barrels from Krieger, Bartline, and X Caliber and all of them arrived in a plain cardboard box. The Kriegers had the “fishnet stockings” on them but the others were just wrapped in paper with protectors on the threads.