6.5 Creedmoor AR Barrel Conundrum

[marksman13]

Long story short, last week I ordered a Criterion Hybrid profile 18” 6.5 Creedmoor barrel from Primary Arms and paid for next day shipping. Five days later, no barrel. We’re living in some wild times, so I sent a polite email to Primary Arms to check the status of my order and received a response indicating that the barrel I had ordered was on indefinite back-order even though it showed as “in stock” when I placed the order. I asked the rep to cancel my order and refund my card. No hard feelings, but Wilson Combat has a similar barrel in stock and it was actually a little lighter than the Criterion, so I ordered a barrel from WC.

Imagine my surprise today when my Primary Arms order arrived complete with the Criterion barrel. Should have the WC in short order as well, likely today. I had the WC Cerakoted in FDE, so I’m definitely throwing it in my build. Question is: do I start another build with the Criterion (after contacting Primary Arms to pay for it, of course)? Send it back to PA? Or try to sell that barrel for what I paid for it? Honestly don’t know that I need a pair of 18” 6.5 CM ARs, but the old saying goes: “Two is one and one is none.”

Any thoughts on which barrel will likely be the most accurate? I’ve had really good results with WC barrels, but I’ve never owned a Criterion, though they have a solid reputation.

 

[LoonWulf]

I had a Brownells branded barrel done by Criterion, in 6.5 grendel that shot really well.
I shot a few guns that had Wilson combat barrels and none of them shot poorly from my limited experience, So honestly in terms of performance I can't tell you which to keep.

I would only keep one of them though and if you've already got the Wilson coated in FDE to go along with the rest of your build, then that's the one I would choose.
I would either request a return label and send the Criterion barrel back to PSA , or as you said pay for it try and sell it. We're at mine to do, preferably the former.
The only real reason I wouldn't keep it around is something as large as barrel almost guarantees you're going to build another upper then you'll have two uppers of almost exactly the same setup.... Not a bad thing, but every time I've had that happen I end up staring at them going "why?"

 

[Varminterror]

Barrels don’t last forever. Shoot it, burn it out, and you have a new one ready.

 

[marksman13]

Barrels don’t last forever. Shoot it, burn it out, and you have a new one ready.

The thought has crossed my mind.

 

[Gordon]

I have the Criterion Hybrid profile 18" in my .308 AR-10 but went with a heavier profile 22" for the 6.5CM Ar-10 build a couple years ago. I am very pleased with the accuracy of both Criterion barrels. Kudos for getting you yours, albeit late ! I think they are top shelf , but not quite match grade barrels. I mean like competing on the National circuit with $10000 rigs. Certainly a great barrel from what I have seen.

 

[marksman13]

I have the Criterion Hybrid profile 18" in my .308 AR-10 but went with a heavier profile 22" for the 6.5CM Ar-10 build a couple years ago. I am very pleased with the accuracy of both Criterion barrels. Kudos for getting you yours, albeit late ! I think they are top shelf , but not quite match grade barrels. I mean like competing on the National circuit with $10000 rigs. Certainly a great barrel from what I have seen.

I honestly think for the purpose of this build, the lighter Wilson Combat barrel is going to be best suited for the job. I wanted a pig hunting rig with a little more punch than my 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC. And honestly, that’s just an excuse for building another rifle.

I think I am going to end up keeping the Criterion barrel and starting another build just because I like to have a project going and everything I see about Criterion suggests that they are awesome barrels.

 

[adcoch1]

Maybe build one as a do-all pig hunter and the other as a night hunting rig. Lugging around night vision or a thermal all the time isn't my idea of fun, but a dedicated upper for it is a good idea.

 

[marksman13]

Maybe build one as a do-all pig hunter and the other as a night hunting rig. Lugging around night vision or a thermal all the time isn't my idea of fun, but a dedicated upper for it is a good idea.

Not a lot to lug around really. I just clip it on in front of my regular scope, align the crosshairs and take off. I’d say 99% of my pig hunting takes place at night, but maybe that Criterion becomes a deer hunting rig. We’ll see.

 

[bfoosh006]

Keep both barrels. The market is so "wonky" right now, I sure would keep both.

FWIW, My 22" Criterion barrel is a great shooter. Best 10rd group I have ever fired was with it. ( The flyer was me, I got a little excited, and flubbed that trigger pull )

I used every easy trick I could do for the assembly of that rifle. Lapped the receiver face true, Loctited in the barrel, made sure the gas tube can smoothly interact with the gas key...etc

100yds, 10rds, benched, scoped, ...etc

 

[marksman13]

The WC barrel came in this morning, so I got it installed. I’m looking forward to seeing how it shoots this weekend. It is a quarter pound lighter than the Criterion, but I really don’t know if I would notice the difference with either barrel installed. I can definitely feel it when I pick up the individual barrels.

 

[Armorer 101]

Just put together a 2nd upper, while you are in the “mood.“ Shoot them both, same load and see how they each shoot in the break-in. It would be bad to drop the better of the two.

 

[jmorris]

I had a Brownells branded barrel done by Criterion, in 6.5 grendel that shot really well.

If it’s the one I am thinking about, it put 5, 123gn SMK’s inside a 1/2” last weekend at 100 yards.

 

[dcloco]

Let me get this straight......YOU have a new, unused, SPARE part for a Arf10????

LOL! My buddies and I believe, if one has a spare spring for an ARF.....that IS reason to build another!!!

Welcome to your support group. My name is _ _ _ _ _ and I have a FUN problem!!!! WELCOME!!!!

 

[LoonWulf]

If it’s the one I am thinking about, it put 5, 123gn SMK’s inside a 1/2” last weekend at 100 yards.

Yep that's the one

 

[marksman13]

Let me get this straight......YOU have a new, unused, SPARE part for a Arf10????

LOL! My buddies and I believe, if one has a spare spring for an ARF.....that IS reason to build another!!!

Welcome to your support group. My name is _ _ _ _ _ and I have a FUN problem!!!! WELCOME!!!!

That’s my problem as well. Hard to really justify a third AR in 6.5 Creedmoor, but where there is a will there is a way.