Krieger Criterion vs. Match Grade?
I was just on Krieger's website, and I saw no information about their Criterion line versus their match grade line of barrels.
Are the Criterions only made for customers such as Weatherby?
My reason for the question is that JustC indicated that the Weatherbys have Criterion barrels, and not their match grade line. And, is there a significant difference in the tolerances and methods of manufacture?
Thank you for any input.
Are the Criterions only made for customers such as Weatherby?
My reason for the question is that JustC indicated that the Weatherbys have Criterion barrels, and not their match grade line. And, is there a significant difference in the tolerances and methods of manufacture?
Thank you for any input.
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OK, I found at least part of the answer. Criterion is a separate operation affiliated with Krieger, and uses button rifling versus cut rifling that is used on the Krieger barrels.
What would be the forum's opinion on the shooting quality of the two different lines of barrels?0 -
Since you asked....
What I KNOW is that Criterion makes the barrels that the CMP sells for its Garand and Springfield replacements and the eight I've dealt with thus far all shoot great.
What I've read / heard is that cut rifling can shoot better in match competition because cut rifling induces less stress in the barrel and as such is less reactive to the barrel heating up over the course of an 80 shot match. THAT BEING SAID, I've taken note of the FACT that in our 600 yard prone matches one form of rifling doesn't seem to have any great advantage over another. It's mostly to do with the seasoning of the shooter.
The bench rest guys may have a different opinion.0 -
stevecrea,
In an effort to avoid a spitting contest, I will simply state that you are correct in your statement regarding the type of barrels being the difference.
Criterion barrels are a part of Krieger no matter what anyone says. They are just a different profit center which is a book keeping matter more than any thing else. It keeps the button rifled barrels from having any adverse reaction for the cut rifled barrels. People have a tendency to lump all things together from one manufacturer so John keeps the Criterion barrels apart from the better quality (read more expensive) Krieger cut rifled barrels. The Criterions are usually not available to individual shooter either.
The bottom line is this. I can make a button rifled barrel in about 1/10th the amount of time it takes to make a cut rifled barrel.
Best.0 -
Nononsense:
Thank you. I had no idea that the button rifling process was so much quicker and easier. No wonder that all the lower budget shops use it.
If the cut rifling process is actually superior, it does not seem to me that the prices are tremendously higher. Yes, they are somewhat higher, but without looking too closely, maybe $50 or $100 more, but if someone is building a first class rifle, that should not be much.0 -
Hammer forging is the fastest production method which also induces the most stress (factory rifles for the most part, unless high end)
Button rifling is faster (much) than cut rifling, and induces less stress than hammer forging (meaning more consistent)
Cut rifling takes lots of passess removing tiny amounts of metal each pass. This induces very little if any stress.
However, plenty of world records are held by button rifled barrels. A cut rifled barrel may last a few hundred more rounds with gilt-edge accuracy purposes, but that is about it.0
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