CarbonSix vs PVA prefit experience

[lintond]

Thought I’d share my first experience with the Tikka prefit game. Hopefully this information is helpful to others. Assembly of these builds ended up about the same time so figured it was a good side by side comparison.

CarbonSix 6.5 PRC
22”
Barrel weight - 44oz
Order date: 11/8/23 (pre holiday sale)
Received: 8/15/24 (9 months)
Price: $980 - $95 ($885 total) refund for thread protector. See notes below.

- Was quoted 4 months initially. Told in May they’d received the barrel and was 6-7 months from order. Told 1-2 weeks in July and didn’t receive for another month. Clearly they don’t have a handle on their backlog & production capacities.
- Was hopeful to use this for spring bear based on original estimate, but that didn’t happen.
- When the barrel was ready to ship they notified me their machine for blended thread protectors was down and it would be a couple more weeks. Apparently building & shipping that separate isn’t an option so I elected for a knurled protector to avoid any delays. They did give me an unsolicited refund $95 for an original $50 add on.
- Overall I am hesitant to buy from C6 in the future because I don’t trust they have a handle on their production. I’d rather have somebody just tell me the truth up front even if it’s a long time. Don’t over promise.

PVA 6 CM 0.75 taperless 7 spiral flutes w/ thread protector
20”
Barrel weight - 38.9 oz (Rough math is about 3.5oz more for 2” to compare to 22” C6)
Order date: 7/31/24
Received: 8/26/24 (3.5 weeks) USPS lost it for almost a week
Price: $1050 w/ $100 2 week rush.

- I elected to order this because I had no idea when I’d actually see my C6 barrel. Initially I planned this for a 2025 project.
- When ordering Ben was very helpful on build specs and knew exactly where production was. Informed me that fluting was tooled up for another big job and could be the hold up. Said they’d refund the rush fee if it was missed. Checked in a week later and barrel was ready minus fluting. Was offered to ship then or wait. I elected to wait and it didn’t hold things up by only a few days.


- Both barrels torqued to 75 w/ anti seize
- Head spaced with PTA go & no-go gauges
- Removing the factory barrels was the hardest part of the build.

Will follow up with how they shoot. Loading for the PRC and shooting Hornady 108 ELDM factory with the CM.

6.5 PRC

6CM

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[TxLite]

C6 lead times are incredibly long but I’ve personally had good luck with the quality received on my one barrel from them. Mine shoots lights out but I think in the future I’ll likely just end up ordering a McGowan prefit since that’s whose blanks they are using and the lead time is much shorter.

I do find the weight differences interesting though. I realize you’re 2” shorter on the steel barrel but taperless with flutes being 5oz lighter surprises me.

Hope they both shoot great for you.

Edit to add- I much prefer the aesthetics of a carbon barrel but when it’s twice the cost and takes almost a year to receive it, it’s just not worth it imo. Especially considering that one of the big selling points is “weight savings” over a steel barrel, which obviously doesn’t amount to much.

 

[lintond]

C6 lead times are incredibly long but I’ve personally had good luck with the quality received on my one barrel from them. Mine shoots lights out but I think in the future I’ll likely just end up ordering a McGowan prefit since that’s whose blanks they are using and the lead time is much shorter.

I do find the weight differences interesting though. I realize you’re 2” shorter on the steel barrel but taperless with flutes being 5oz lighter surprises me.

Hope they both shoot great for you.

Edit to add- I much prefer the aesthetics of a carbon barrel but when it’s twice the cost and takes almost a year to receive it, it’s just not worth it imo. Especially considering that one of the big selling points is “weight savings” over a steel barrel, which obviously doesn’t amount to much.

I went carbon because I do like the look and perceived weight savings if you need the shoulder to suppress.

Doesn’t seem to be the case in this instance.


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[SloppyJ]

Haven't shot a C6 barrel but I have a proof, PVA, xcaliber, and a criterion. The PVA is the shooter of the group for sure. However, none of them are slouches. I take the xcaliber out to 1200 regularly as well as the proof. I'm sitting on 100rds to break in the criterion but I have high hopes for it too.

However, if I'm putting my money down on this, it's on the PVA.

 

[wind gypsy]

C6 lead times are incredibly long but I’ve personally had good luck with the quality received on my one barrel from them. Mine shoots lights out but I think in the future I’ll likely just end up ordering a McGowan prefit since that’s whose blanks they are using and the lead time is much shorter.

I do find the weight differences interesting though. I realize you’re 2” shorter on the steel barrel but taperless with flutes being 5oz lighter surprises me.

Hope they both shoot great for you.

Edit to add- I much prefer the aesthetics of a carbon barrel but when it’s twice the cost and takes almost a year to receive it, it’s just not worth it imo. Especially considering that one of the big selling points is “weight savings” over a steel barrel, which obviously doesn’t amount to much.

You can always get steel lighter than standard Proof or Bartlein carbon options, without fluting.

 

[HandgunHTR]

You can always get steel lighter than standard Proof or Bartlein carbon options, without fluting.

Yep, I think that is one of the biggest misconceptions in the barrel game. That carbon barrels are significantly lighter than steel barrels.

 

[ehayes]

How does the PVA shank fit into the stock. Ive read they’re slightly thicker than tikka OEM. Did you have to open it up?

What contour is your stock with the PVA?

Is the PVA the standard freebore and 1:7 twist? I’m also looking to shooting factory 108 so I’m interested in your results.

Thanks for any info

 

[lintond]

How does the PVA shank fit into the stock. Ive read they’re slightly thicker than tikka OEM. Did you have to open it up?

What contour is your stock with the PVA?

Is the PVA the standard freebore and 1:7 twist? I’m also looking to shooting factory 108 so I’m interested in your results.

Thanks for any info

It is slightly larger than the factory shank by a tenth or so. I have it in a sendero contour so it’s got room for lots of cats!

Yes I got the standard PVA freebore after talking to Ben. Yes it’s 1:7 twist.

Shot about 1 Moa on my breakin shots. Ended up having an issue with a carbon ring that was making the factory loads not chamber. I’m working to get that out currently after getting a bore scope.


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[wind gypsy]

It is slightly larger than the factory shank by a tenth or so. I have it in a sendero contour so it’s got room for lots of cats!

Yes I got the standard PVA freebore after talking to Ben. Yes it’s 1:7 twist.

Shot about 1 Moa on my breakin shots. Ended up having an issue with a carbon ring that was making the factory loads not chamber. I’m working to get that out currently after getting a bore scope.


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Huh, my rokstok has sendero contour but it was still too tight in the shank for my tikka PVA prefit so i pulled it right off and put my other tube back on until I have time to open it up. Haven't shot it yet.

Took a quick peak with borescope, lands at the throat looked a little questionable like the edges were rolled a bit rather than cut clean. It looked like something that might get cleaned up with some shooting. Not a big immediate concern. Start of lands at end of freebore looked uniform around the circumference.

 

[Lawnboi]

1200 rounds into my pva 6 creed short throat, most accurate barrel I have had. My standard was an okay barrel.

If I knew every prefit would do this from them it’s all I’d buy.

My 22 creed is a good shooter too.

Got a 6.5 cm ready to go for next year, hopefully it’s a shooter as well.

Only questionable barrel I have had from them is a recent 223 .062fb. I still need to get some more rounds, and different bullets on it, but it’s not impressing me so far.

Every osprey prefit I have scoped has looked very good. Havnt had any machine work or headspace issues now in 4 PVA prefits.

 

[WyldGoose]

1200 rounds into my pva 6 creed short throat, most accurate barrel I have had. My standard was an okay barrel.

If I knew every prefit would do this from them it’s all I’d buy.

Lawnboi, that 6 creed short throat….what length & twist is the barrel and what ammo has it been liking?

 

[Lawnboi]

Lawnboi, that 6 creed short throat….what length & twist is the barrel and what ammo has it been liking?

22” 7 twist. It’s a proof comp contour with 3/4 muzzle threads, so it’s far from a hunting barrel. I got it specifically because I didn’t want to jump bergers over 100 thou in the standard (standards is on the lines of 200k freebore.)

The short throat is around 150k freebore if I remember, got it specifically to shoot 105 bergers, but I’d probably choose it with any of the Berger hybrids. I shot 800 rounds with h4350 before it got too hot, swapped down to h4831sc and shot the remainder there. Kept velocity around 2950 for the life of the barrel.

I havnt shot any other bullets through it, but I couldn’t make a 105 hybrid shoot bad in the barrel.

 

[WyldGoose]

22” 7 twist. It’s a proof comp contour with 3/4 muzzle threads, so it’s far from a hunting barrel. I got it specifically because I didn’t want to jump bergers over 100 thou in the standard (standards is on the lines of 200k freebore.)

The short throat is around 150k freebore if I remember, got it specifically to shoot 105 bergers, but I’d probably choose it with any of the Berger hybrids. I shot 800 rounds with h4350 before it got too hot, swapped down to h4831sc and shot the remainder there. Kept velocity around 2950 for the life of the barrel.

I havnt shot any other bullets through it, but I couldn’t make a 105 hybrid shoot bad in the barrel.

Thanks! I’m looking to order an 18” 7 twist and not sure if I should go short or standard throat. Plan to mostly shoot 108 eldm factory and hand loads from UM.

 

[Lawnboi]

Thanks! I’m looking to order an 18” 7 twist and not sure if I should go short or standard throat. Plan to mostly shoot 108 eldm factory and hand loads from UM.

I’d go standard with 108 eldm.

Only reason I’d go short is if I was going to shoot Berger 105/109 hybrids or 108 elite hunters.

 

[WyldGoose]

Thanks for tip!

 

[lintond]

Huh, my rokstok has sendero contour but it was still too tight in the shank for my tikka PVA prefit so i pulled it right off and put my other tube back on until I have time to open it up. Haven't shot it yet.

Took a quick peak with borescope, lands at the throat looked a little questionable like the edges were rolled a bit rather than cut clean. It looked like something that might get cleaned up with some shooting. Not a big immediate concern. Start of lands at end of freebore looked uniform around the circumference.

I did put the stock on my C6 barrel first which did require some sanding to open up. It’s tight in the shank area but fits on the PVA. I’ll probably end up opening it up a bit more just for precaution.


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[lintond]

Need some input from your more experienced shooters.

Had an issue where I couldn’t close the bolt on factory 108 ELDM after my first box. Ben at PVA suggested I likely had a carbon ring and to clean that out. Seems awfully quick but I’m no expert.

I bought a bore scope and here are photos before & after cleaning.

There is clearly something at the free-bore area that is either a carbon ring or a bad edge on the throat? I have an untrained eye.

The after photos has me perplexed why there is now a longer flame looking metal?? Definitely chambers better but not butter smooth.

Thoughts?

Before:

After:

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[Lawnboi]

Need some input from your more experienced shooters.

Had an issue where I couldn’t close the bolt on factory 108 ELDM after my first box. Ben at PVA suggested I likely had a carbon ring and to clean that out. Seems awfully quick but I’m no expert.

I bought a bore scope and here are photos before & after cleaning.

There is clearly something at the free-bore area that is either a carbon ring or a bad edge on the throat? I have an untrained eye.

The after photos has me perplexed why there is now a longer flame looking metal?? Definitely chambers better but not butter smooth.

Thoughts?

Before:

After:

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That happened after one box?

Barrel and chamber dry prior to shooting?

Looks like you got it out, I wouldn’t worry about trying to get the throat shiny clean.

I’d just keep an eye on it. My last two pva 6 creed barrels I cleaned every ~200 rounds.

 

[lintond]

That happened after one box?

Barrel and chamber dry prior to shooting?

Looks like you got it out, I wouldn’t worry about trying to get the throat shiny clean.

I’d just keep an eye on it. My last two pva 6 creed barrels I cleaned every ~200 rounds.

I was surprised as well! I wish I had the bore scope to look at it when it was the virgin barrel. I thought I was clean/dry when I took it to the range maybe not.


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[Lawnboi]

I was surprised as well! I wish I had the bore scope to look at it when it was the virgin barrel. I thought I was clean/dry when I took it to the range maybe not.


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I bet it’s fine now. Just make sure the chamber is good and dry. Some of that oil turns to carbon pretty quick.