Savage prefit upgrade worth it?

[DynamicAccuracy]

Ive got a savage 11 with a factory 22" 243 varmint barrel and it shoots decent. Usually 3/4moa. But i struggle to get consistent impact past 500. My custom 6.5x47 on the other hand is effortless to shoot out to 1000y. So im curious if a prefit like a criterion would shoot just as good as a custom chambered barrel?

 

[STI_1911_Guy]

Opinions will vary in regards to "as good" as a custom chambered barrel but everyone can agree they are 100% better than the factory barrel. I have run a bunch of prefits remage and savage and I have never been disappointed in the results.

 

[Precision Underground]

My savage/criterion is a hammer out to 1200-1300 when it runs out if gas.

 

[jram]

I have a criterion, will try one of these 3 next:
-proof Research stainless
-PVA
-Hawk Hill Customs

 

[padom]

My shouldered vs savage small shank prefit review thread shows a quality barrel with a chamber cut by a quality Smith shows both are equally accurate.

 

[spife7980]

Id be more curious why your current rifle isnt capable of further hits if you have a 3/4" load for it?

 

[shooter65]

PVA for the win

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

Id be more curious why your current rifle isnt capable of further hits if you have a 3/4" load for it?

Idk man. Its currently a 243 with a 9.125 twist barrel. Pushing 95gr vld 3300fps IIRC and out to 450-500 is hammers but past 500 its just not consistent. Idk if those bullets are a little long and are fully stabilizing or whats goin on.

 

[spife7980]

Could be stability but it looks alright. Have you done a load development at 500 on paper or have you put a chronograph on it to see if its the load that just isnt adequate?

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

 

[patriot07]

Id be more curious why your current rifle isnt capable of further hits if you have a 3/4" load for it?

Totally agree. I have a buddy with a 243 that consistently hits the targets out to 800 on the range we shoot at with factory savage barrels and handloads with low ES/SD.

Is it possible you have velocity consistency issues with your load?

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

Could be stability but it looks alright. Have you done a load development at 500 on paper or have you put a chronograph on it to see if its the load that just isnt adequate?

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/
View attachment 6959548

I usually load 5 rounds at each chargeweight and run them across a chrono to find a flat node. Then load charge weights 5 each at each node and test them at 3-400y to see which one shoots the best.

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

If it will shoot 1/2-3/4moa and have low ES/SD then i call that good and run it. Usually im around a 6-10SD

 

[stalwart300]

Prefits have shown to be very accurate at a great price point for me.

 

[Huskydriver]

All of my criterion's have been hammers....

 

[stalwart300]

Same. I recently bought a prefit shilen to see how it does compared to my criterion.

 

[spaniel]

I have used both Shilen (Savage) and McGowen (Savage and Remage) barrels with excellent results.

Lacking any better information best guess is you are experiencing stability issues. Go with a 1:8 twist and you will be good at least through the 105s.

 

[wade2big]

I make hits at 500 yds on a full size silhouette with my ak74 and a red dot using surplus ammo. Something doesnt seem right.

 

[ChadL]

PVA for the win

if you're patient I suppose PVA for the win. I'm at 22 weeks for my savage prefit barrel and still haven't received it. In the past I had an action "accurized", barrel fitted, chambered etc., in the same amount of time. Prefits shouldn't take 6 months to make. I'm confident it will shoot very well, but at this point I wish I had bought a Criterion. I'd be 3 months (maybe longer) into shooting that barrel.

 

[MarinePMI]

Ive got a savage 11 with a factory 22" 243 varmint barrel and it shoots decent. Usually 3/4moa. But i struggle to get consistent impact past 500. My custom 6.5x47 on the other hand is effortless to shoot out to 1000y. So im curious if a prefit like a criterion would shoot just as good as a custom chambered barrel?

When accuracy falls of non-linearly at range, that is usually an indicator of stability issues. Sounds like your twist is not quite fast enough to keep your bullets stable past 500yds. Try a lighter/shorter bullet. If those shoot in a linearly predictable manner, you’ll have your answer.

 

[308220]

Buy a Pacnor and never look back.

 

[stalwart300]

I know criterion barrels area tack drivers. Not sure on shilen. I have bought both a criterion and shilen in 6 dasher to compare two barrel makers both chambers done by associated maker.

 

[SporterII]

Idk man. Its currently a 243 with a 9.125 twist barrel. Pushing 95gr vld 3300fps IIRC and out to 450-500 is hammers but past 500 its just not consistent. Idk if those bullets are a little long and are fully stabilizing or whats goin on.[/QUOTE

My 9.25 measures 10. A ten twist 243 R700.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

I have X-Caliber, Shillen, and Criterion prefits and they all shoot very good. The Shillen I sent dummy rounds to them. They required normal load work up and are very forgiving in that area.