Alternatives to Criterion?

[bfoosh006]

I have said this plenty of times before... Given the current price of decent match ammo, a better barrel is a bargain.

A shooter could easily waste a hundred dollars of decent ammo trying to get a lesser barrel to shoot to their expectations... and never achieve their desired goal. IMI 77gr 5.56, a "reasonable" match load, ( given current ammo conditions ) is about 92cents a round.
We all could easily blow through 150rds in one bench session.

IMHO, a better barrel greatly increases the likelihood of shooting to someones expectations.

Sometimes a average barrel can be a heck of a shooter, ... sometimes. I don't like to gamble, so I tend to spend more to put the odds in my favor.
An extra $100-$150 dollars is well spent money.

A WOA, or a Criterion is a least expensive way to improve your odds of getting a great shooting barrel.

 

[Billiam1211]

Why not consider the Proof steel barrels? I actually just ordered one to replace my 18-inch Ballistic Advantage SPR fluted on my AR. The only reason I'm replacing this barrel is because I'm at 2,500 rounds and accuracy dropped. The BA barrel used to stack 5 shots in about 1/2-3/4 MOA regularly with my reloads, now it's been shooting 1-1.25 MOA and hitting smaller targets at 600+ yards is noticeably harder. The Proof Research 16/18/20 inch barrels are $489 at Mile High or Midway USA. I ordered an 18" Proof with a Rubber City BCG and an SLR agb. Hoping it should be another hammer.

I also picked up a Proof steel barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor for my AR10. Accuracy was stellar, but I had cycling issues so had to have the gunsmith open up the gas port. The accuracy on Proof barrels seems to be quite consistent from what I've seen.

 

[Merle]

Wilson Combat has been good for me in 6.8 SPC and 5.56 and they aren't too expensive. I have a fluted 16" intermediate gas barrel that is plenty accurate with my 55gr Hornady FMJ reloads. I haven't shot it for groups but just might the next time I'm out.

 

[reubenski]

I have a fluted 16" intermediate gas barrel that is plenty accurate with my 55gr Hornady FMJ reloads. I haven't shot it for groups but just might the next time I'm out.

 

[Ulfhednar15]

Have you looked at Satern (the cut rifled barrels, not their Liberty barrel line)? Not sure what their wait times look like right now, but they make very nice barrels. I currently have one of their 18" 6.5 Grendel barrels and every time I take it out I am impressed. It's sub-moa with most decent ammo, and pretty much 1/2 moa with loads it likes. I'm a decent shot (not great) and I have printed a few bug hole 3 shot groups... then I mess them up by pulling a shot.

 

[TapRackBang]

I use a Criterion in my service rifle and it shoots very well for me. Even during break in it was printing good groups.

 

[Billy wilkins]

I’m shooting a tactical kinetics 18 rifle gas length 1-8 for 3 gun it’s a solid 1.5 with hand loaded Berrys 55 gr and right at 1 inch with 75 grain Hornady 75 gr bt I’m making good hits out to 700 on the clock and it’s right with my white oak spr and Wilson barrel