Category Archives: Articles

Criterion Barrels Inc. Sponsors Border Wars Rifle Series

Criterion Barrels is proud to announce itself as the newest of the 2018 Border Wars Rifle Series Sponsors. The Border Wars Rifle Series is a precision rifle match series designed to track earned shooter points outside of the club level of competition within each state. Border wars matches will be predominantly designed for the use […]

Criterion Barrels Inc. Sponsors Dynamic Shooting Sports 2-Gun Series

Dynamic Shooting Sports LLC and Criterion Barrels have partnered to offer a 2-Gun Series hosted at the Dynamic Shooting Sports range facility in Deerfield, OH. These 2-gun matches focus on the use of rifle (carbine) and a pistol in a dynamic practical shooting environment. The 2-gun series in 2018 will consist of a minimum of […]

Bob Petillo Sets Police F-Class National Record With Criterion Barrels Bighorn Pre-Fit Build

Less than one year after participating in his first F-Class match, Bob Petillo set an F-Class National Record in the Police category with his Criterion pre-fit rifle build. Currently using a 28” Bull contour barrel chambered in 6.5×284 Norma, Bob is currently using a handload recipe featuring Berger 140gr. Hybrid Match bullets seated to a […]

Chrome Lining vs. Salt Bath Nitriding: Which Barrel Finish Is Better?

One of the most frequently asked questions by shooters pertains to the difference between our barrels with chrome lining and salt bath nitriding. Customers looking for a durable, reliable, and accurate barrel configuration are presented with both of these options and want to make an educated decision that will suit their individual build requirements. While […]

What is Headspace and Why Should it be Checked?

Few tolerances found on a firearm are of more importance than headspace. Not only is headspace essential to rifle accuracy, but it is a major safety factor to consider when assembling a firearm. Improper headspace can cause case head separation, unsafe chamber pressure levels, or failure to function. What is headspace? Headspace is the distance […]

What Sort of Barrel Life Can I Expect From A Criterion Barrel?

Discerning rifle builders frequently want to know what kind of barrel life they can expect when purchasing a new Criterion barrel. We try to provide them with a detailed answer so that they can make the most educated selection to serve their intended needs and requirements. When exploring barrel life, it is important to ask […]

The Dirty Barrel Trend or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Cleaning Rod

Is barrel cleaning good or bad for accuracy? “I don’t clean my barrel until group sizes start opening up.” This line is becoming more and more prevalent in the precision rifle community. Theories fly about the internet on why shooters don’t clean their barrels. Common arguments include the importance of eliminating the need for fouling […]

Shawn Risdon Wins South Carolina F-T/R Midrange Championship & Sets Club Record With Criterion Pre-Fit Barrel

Just because a shooter is new to a rifle discipline doesn’t mean they can’t outperform some of the more experienced competitors on the firing line. Shawn Risdon demonstrated this in his recent F-T/R performance using a Criterion Pre-Fit Barrel at the Palmetto Gun Club in Ridgeville, SC. With a mere 13 months of F-Class competition […]

What Kind of Accuracy Can You Expect From Your Criterion AR-15 Barrel? Ammunition Quality Makes a Difference!

“What kind of accuracy can I expect from my Criterion AR-15 barrel?” It’s a fairly easy question to ask, but formulating an educated response can prove to be a very arduous task. While many barrel manufacturers will offer a 1 MOA guarantee with their products, very few explain what this 1 MOA group entails. Is […]

Mark Stout Sr. Joins Son as National Record Holder Using Criterion M1 Carbine Barrel

We’ve all heard the phrase “Like father, like son”. This commentary certainly rings true when it comes to national M1 Carbine records. In 2015 Mark Stout II set a junior national record for the M1 Carbine at the Camp Perry National Matches using a Fulton Armory-built carbine featuring a chrome lined Criterion barrel. Victor Betzold […]