Pre-fit vs. Contoured Blank

[tam9492]

Any reason to not buy a pre-fit to self-install (Remage) versus buying a contoured blank and having it chambered and threaded by a smith? In my mind, I just assume the latter would be a more accurate process. Price difference is about $200 in favor of the pre-fit.

 

[XLR]

Any reason to not buy a pre-fit to self-install (Remage) versus buying a contoured blank and having it chambered and threaded by a smith? In my mind, I just assume the latter would be a more accurate process. Price difference is about $200 in favor of the pre-fit.

A shouldered pre-fit will always make sure you are in correct alignment vs a barrel nut is going to rely on the threads. In theory, everything should be centered off the same axis but the face of an action is a more ridgid alignment point. There are a lot of accurate rifles with barrel nuts but a shouldered barrel done properly is a foolproof way to ensure you have a good shooting rifle! You can buy prefits for custom actions and go that way if you want to be able to change barrels by yourself!

 

[gbflyer]

Any reason to not buy a pre-fit to self-install (Remage) versus buying a contoured blank and having it chambered and threaded by a smith? In my mind, I just assume the latter would be a more accurate process. Price difference is about $200 in favor of the pre-fit.

This subject mostly yields opinion. I’ll share mine.

The short answer is no to your question. I have chambered quality barrels myself, I have a number of customs done by a very competent gunsmith that assembles equipment for competition, and I have a couple of pre-fits. Throughout the spectrum there are those that are remarkable and those that are average. None are culls.

I would have no qualms about another prefit, and in fact have one on order from X-Caliber. It will be the second from them. I also own a prefit from Pacnor. It fits in the remarkable category. The absolute best one I have is a professionally chambered Hart.

Typically when a gunsmith does a barrel job on a mass produced action it is “trued”. That is something you’ll not see any benefit from with a prefit you do yourself. That benefit has been debated for years, do your own research there. Mine led me to the conclusion that it doesn’t make much difference on a hunting gun. There are too many other factors at play, bolt to raceway clearance, etc. Of course if you’ve paid someone $3-500 to do it, it’s the best thing in the world. Haha.

 

[tam9492]

I’m going with X-Caliber, and it’ll be on a Mesa action.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I have one x caliber prefit and another one order. The one I have now is one of the most accurate guns I own.

 

[Fowlmaster]

I have had many pre-fits along with smith spun barrels. I honestly have seen zero difference between the two. The nice thing about a smith is they can contour the barrel to your specs, as well as allow you to pick a non saami spec chamber. But at the end of the day as accuracy is concerned you will see no difference in my opinion. For carbon barrels I always buy prefits to save myself a few hundred dollars as well as me wanting a saami spec chamber in case i need to buy off the shelf ammo. For the PRS game I typically get them spun up by a smith as I like a 1.25 straight taper and cant get that in a pre-fit that's readily available in a BRA.

 

[bpctcb]

Any reason to not buy a pre-fit to self-install (Remage) versus buying a contoured blank and having it chambered and threaded by a smith? In my mind, I just assume the latter would be a more accurate process. Price difference is about $200 in favor of the pre-fit.

Make sure to account for having to buy headspace gauges and an action wrench when calculating cost that might affect your decision.

BP


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[tam9492]

Make sure to account for having to buy headspace gauges and an action wrench when calculating cost that might affect your decision.

BP


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This^^

I’ve found cost difference to be negligible when considering the additional tools needed. In that instance, it makes sense to me to have a smith do it.