Ordering Prefit vs barrel blanks

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TBuckus

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I'm looking at rechambering a Tikka T3x from a 270 to a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I've noticed that there are quite a few barrel companies that now offer prefits.

What are the advantages or disadvantages of a prefit vs just having a gunsmith finish the blank himself?
 
On a shouldered barrel, I would want a gunsmith fit. That is because when they cut the shoulder, they did not know the distance from your bolt face to the action face. Maybe it will be fine, but only a lathe operator could adjust.

On a nut action, headspace is set when assembling the barrel, so the profit concept works as long as you true everything else to the threads.
 
I have built a few Rem 700s with the REMAGE barrels and use the go / no go gauges and haven't had any issues. All have shot MOA or better so far. Did them all my self in the garage. Just put a 2506 barrel on a Rem 721 last night using Remage McGowen Barrel. Should have a range trip in the near future.
 
Mram10us said:
Fluted, I prefer blank. Time it up then chamber. Are you building it or a smith?
Click to expand...
I'll have a gunsmith install the barrel.
Ive been happy with my other Tikkas with accuracy without having to do any additional work.
 
I have one pre chambered barrel and have never been able to get it to consistently shoot 1/2 MOA. All of my barrels that started life as a blank (Including the ARs) have been much better and normally start around 1/2 MOA before load development.

I intend to re barrel this rifle with a barrel blank and even contour it to assure straightness when I slow down/get caught up,with the rifle builds i have on hand.

I believe a good smith can do a better chamber because he knows his machine and the reamer is not worn out. I have re chambered many pre chambered barrels for friends and have yet to see a nice chamber that was true and had the proper finish.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM
 
J E Custom said:
I have one pre chambered barrel and have never been able to get it to consistently shoot 1/2 MOA. All of my barrels that started life as a blank (Including the ARs) have been much better and normally start around 1/2 MOA before load development.

I intend to re barrel this rifle with a barrel blank and even contour it to assure straightness when I slow down/get caught up,with the rifle builds i have on hand.

I believe a good smith can do a better chamber because he knows his machine and the reamer is not worn out. I have re chambered many pre chambered barrels for friends and have yet to see a nice chamber that was true and had the proper finish.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM
Click to expand...
I appreciate your input.
 
Prefit Barrels Have come along way. And by that, I mean Shouldered prefits for bolt Action rifles.

At Straight Jacket Armory LLC, we specialize in building tier 1 shouldered prefits. We offer them for Curtis Custom, Terminus, Big Horn, Nucleus, Origin.

We don't offer them for tikka just yet. However we do offer the service of fitting them.

If your looking to have your done (no matter if you use us or not) I highly recommend you have the action faced so you can install a 1.20-1.25" shanked barrel.
 
J E Custom said:
I have one pre chambered barrel and have never been able to get it to consistently shoot 1/2 MOA. All of my barrels that started life as a blank (Including the ARs) have been much better and normally start around 1/2 MOA before load development.

I intend to re barrel this rifle with a barrel blank and even contour it to assure straightness when I slow down/get caught up,with the rifle builds i have on hand.

I believe a good smith can do a better chamber because he knows his machine and the reamer is not worn out. I have re chambered many pre chambered barrels for friends and have yet to see a nice chamber that was true and had the proper finish.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM
Click to expand...
Kreiger does savage pre-fits

Anyone tried one of those yet?
 
My problem is not the WHO, it is the What. I have just not seen a really good pre chambered barrel. Most are chambered the same way as the factory barrels and only the barrel bore is better. I have had to re chamber many pre chambered barrels to get the accuracy needed, so I just avoid the chance of a poor chamber by someone else.

I buy lots of different barrel brands especially the AR type with everything done except the chamber, and I prefer to chamber and head space myself. On bolt actions I prefer barrel blanks and do all the work myself.

I just feel that a good gunsmith can/will take more care if he is doing a chamber for someone he knows, where the barrel maker does not know who the person is at the time he chambers the barrel and it is just one of many he is making.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM
 
J E Custom said:
My problem is not the WHO, it is the What. I have just not seen a really good pre chambered barrel. Most are chambered the same way as the factory barrels and only the barrel bore is better. I have had to re chamber many pre chambered barrels to get the accuracy needed, so I just avoid the chance of a poor chamber by someone else.

I buy lots of different barrel brands especially the AR type with everything done except the chamber, and I prefer to chamber and head space myself. On bolt actions I prefer barrel blanks and do all the work myself.

I just feel that a good gunsmith can/will take more care if he is doing a chamber for someone he knows, where the barrel maker does not know who the person is at the time he chambers the barrel and it is just one of many he is making.

Just My Opinion

J E CUSTOM
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. I have purchased 3 pre-fits and 2 blanks which were finished by a smith. The 3 pre-fits all shoot sub MOA with factory ammo and come very close to 1/2MOA with worked up hand loads which for my needs is perfectly fine but the 2 blanks that were finished by my smith shoot 1/2MOA consistently with with factory ammo so I haven't even attempted any load work ups due to this so im sure they would shoot even better.
 
Ask around, the Prefits we are putting out at Straight Jacket Armory are top notch. We are not using a collet and failing to co align the bore, we use a high pressure wash system that leaves amazing profiles in throat, and co-align to less then .0002".

These barrels have really made a scene in the PRS/NRL, and even have F-Class shooters sporting them.


https://straightjacketarmory.com/product-category/pre-fit-barrels/
 
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