Best Pre-fit Savage barrel? Better than Shilen Super select?

raider1v1 said:

thank you everyone for the discussion and feedback!

it looks like the list of ones to checkout are (not in any order)

1. shilen
2. northlandshootersupply
3. bugholes
4. criterion

those seem to be the most recommended barrels.

for the questions that were raised before, when i say "pre-fit" i dont just mean something ordered from midway, i mean any barrel that can be installed by a non-gunsmith type person.

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Northland Shooters does not make barrels, they are an authorized dealer for Criterion and Shilen .

I've had multiple Savage barrels from ;
Criterion, a 7RM is amazing ,over 1100 rounds and still shoots .4 moa or better and looks pristine under my borescope.
A 6.5-284 that I was very unimpressed with. Criterion seems to last a LONG time.
Multiple Shilen Select Match barrels, no luck with them... I'm done.
I'm trying out a couple of PacNor now in 270wby and 6.5 wsm; one is getting broken-in the other will be here Friday... will update later.

Several Mcgowen, my 28 Nosler, 26 Nosler, 300WM has been the fastest amd most accurate on average than any other so far, they just can't read well, the last one was supposed to be a PacNor #5, came in FULL BULL .955 at the muzzle !!!, sent it back and came back as a Mcgowan #5 not PacNor #5 .
One cut rifled Bartlien from a sponsor of the site, they used a PTG reamer with the wrong shoulder angle, threaded too far for a large shank and a recessed crown cut WAY too deep, he owes me a favor on the next barrel but am shy about cashing in the favor.

I've had great results with Shilen and McGowen. Of course these were not 10-day barrels, they were 3-month barrels, and typically sending in dummy rounds was involved. I can't tell the difference from my smith installed shouldered barrels so other than my F-Class gun I have the tools now and rebarrel myself.

Shilen select, 6br. Tiny bugholes

newmexkid said:

My last 2 barrels have been pre fit barrels and I couldn't be happier(?) Both are super easy to clean and shoot under 1/2" at 100 yards. I not really sure about your statement that all pre fits are massed produced. When I ordered my first pre fit I asked if it was in stock. I was told they didn't turn it until it was ordered. I have learned a ton in doing my pre fits and satisfaction level is high. Of course, as you say, I've maybe have been lucky in getting good barrels.

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I have a lrh Savage, barrel #1 was sub 1moa rebarreled by Savage again sub 1moa, third barrel is a shelin select dropin bug hole until second shot then who knows

Two Savage barrels on along range hunter sub 1moa to 700, third barrel is a shelin select.
Have tried hornady, berger, Sierra, h1000 h4831, bedding restock to McMillan.
Flyers in all groups. Guess lm a slow learner


I didn't know first reply posted

I just received and mounted a Criterion Light Palma, 26", 1:8, 6.5x284, replacing the barrel on my Savage LRH. I had the barrel, trued barrel nut and lug Cerrakoted in Snioer Grey. Like my last target barrel acquired from Criterion, the the quality and finish of this barrel is flawless, inside and out. While I haven't put 100 rounds down the barrel yet, the initial results are quite promising. Groups are 200 yards. Performance is quite similar to my prior Criterion barrel, 6.5x47 Target barrel.
Having become quite accustomed to the ergonomics and shooting qualities of my 6.5x47 MPA/Surgeon used for PRS, I wanted to try a chassis out for long range hunting. While my competition PRS rifle is heavy at 16 pounds, using the MPA Lite Chsssis with the Light Palma, and lighter March scope, this rifle is 3-4 pounds lighter while maintaining the precision shooting qualities of the heavier rifle.

I am on my 2nd pre-fit, one on a Savage and the other is a Remage...both Criterion Barrels. Both rifle shoot 1/4-1/2 all day long.

The tools cost me less than 100 bucks and they are mine, and I am free to change barrels on a whim....it's that easy.

I will never but a non-prefit again

Ingwe said:

I am on my 2nd pre-fit, one on a Savage and the other is a Remage...both Criterion Barrels. Both rifle shoot 1/4-1/2 all day long.

The tools cost me less than 100 bucks and they are mine, and I am free to change barrels on a whim....it's that easy.

I will never but a non-prefit again

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I want to add that I totall understand why a gunsmith would bad mouth the concept of a pre-fit since it takes an expensive barrel replacement away from them

It shouldn't be that way, they can offer them themselves or offer services and features not provided by the prefits.

For sure.
A smith i liked quite a bit back home had quoted me a little over $900 to buy a blank, chamber, and fit to my action. Im sure he would have done fantastic work, but compared to a $380 barrel i screwed on myself. The gun could not possibly shoot any better in my hands so...
YMMV

I have a benchmark and love it but I don't see a lot of people bragging about them. Did I get lucky with the one I got. I'm looking to get another barrel but now I'm kinda cautious on getting another benchmark.

Benchmark are good to go.

bplumcrazy said:

I have a benchmark and love it but I don't see a lot of people bragging about them. Did I get lucky with the one I got. I'm looking to get another barrel but now I'm kinda cautious on getting another benchmark.

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I have a 26" .223 Bull Barrel that Benchmark chambered for 75-80 gr. Amax's. I use the nut with it. I shoot it for 300-600 mid range FTR. I've shot quite a few relays in HM scores.

Dgd6mm said:

I have a 26" .223 Bull Barrel that Benchmark chambered for 75-80 gr. Amax's. I use the nut with it. I shoot it for 300-600 mid range FTR. I've shot quite a few relays in HM scores.

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that's good to hear... you just don't hear a lot of people talk about them like the others