UM build or local Tikka build?

[wind gypsy]

Yes, I’d get a barrel of your desired contour and sent to preece.

Those brux linked earlier would be a good option otherwise I have a #4 7.5 twist benchmark blank sitting in the safe that I don’t need soon and might let go of. It’s about my favorite contour for a hunting rifle and what is currently on my tikka 6 creed as well. It was going to replace my current barrel when time came but i impulse bought another from a pva sale.

 

[Sled]

How soon do you want it?

I am getting ready to order barrels soon, and will prove out our barrels before shipping them. I am doing barreled actions too.

This was the first 20” 22 creed to proof out, factory trigger no adjustment. 30 rounds

Rather than the bogus 3 round sub moa, but making you prove the barrel is a problem, I am shipping proven barreled actions, give confidence in the “easy button”.

I am going to do this as an add on service. Doing it for the cost of the ammo right now. But, will increase it eventually.

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That's an interesting thought. What barrels are you using and who's chambering for you?

 

[Dos XX]

Get a blank. Load the bullet of your choice so that the boat tail is at least .030 or so thousandths above the neck shoulder junction. Give the blank and the dummy round to your smith. He can use a reamer he has that will fit you dummy, or he can use a reamer he has on which the freebore is too short, and then use a throating reamer to lengthen the freebore and make it match your dummy round.

This assumes the dummy round will work with any mag oal restrictions you have.

 

[hereinaz]

That's an interesting thought. What barrels are you using and who's chambering for you?

We are using Preferred Barrels right now. I have talked with Jake at UM about stocking his prefits and I am talking with other OEM.

I know Preferred has a great rep, except for stories of lemons. I have been using them for a few years now and have zero complaints. But, it can happen to anyone, and I am going to deal with it by proving them out or setting a realistic “guarantee”. I don’t want to sell lemons, so I would rather do as much as I can on the front end. If it’s a lemon, I’d rather know up front and deal with it myself.

I have been cautioned many times about the “complainers.” I grew up in Missouri, the “Show Me” state, and the ethos stuck. The only thing that counts is the scoreboard at the end. I’m just going to show people what it does on the front end and then I know it is them on the backend.

 

[Sled]

We are using Preferred Barrels right now. I have talked with Jake at UM about stocking his prefits and I am talking with other OEM.

I know Preferred has a great rep, except for stories of lemons. I have been using them for a few years now and have zero complaints. But, it can happen to anyone, and I am going to deal with it by proving them out or setting a realistic “guarantee”. I don’t want to sell lemons, so I would rather do as much as I can on the front end. If it’s a lemon, I’d rather know up front and deal with it myself.

I have been cautioned many times about the “complainers.” I grew up in Missouri, the “Show Me” state, and the ethos stuck. The only thing that counts is the scoreboard at the end. I’m just going to show people what it does on the front end and then I know it is them on the backend.

I do remember some of those stories about preferred. I had contacted them to build a pre-fit barrel with a flare at the end several years back when they first started doing it. And my conversations with them they were just a few red flags so I decided to go a different route. I know button pulled barrels are used successfully but feel there's a greater chance of getting a lemon out of those then cut rifled which is why I've been sticking with them lately. I love the idea that you're going to proof them out and hope it works out for you. Do you have any other barrel blanks that you use?

 

[SlimCreaper25]

Are they selling to the public again? Last barrel I tried to get from them was around COVID and they weren't an option.

I just bought one from them like a week ago. Good to go. Good guys to deal with. And you can have them flute it there too and their fluting is reasonably priced.

 

[hereinaz]

I do remember some of those stories about preferred. I had contacted them to build a pre-fit barrel with a flare at the end several years back when they first started doing it. And my conversations with them they were just a few red flags so I decided to go a different route. I know button pulled barrels are used successfully but feel there's a greater chance of getting a lemon out of those then cut rifled which is why I've been sticking with them lately. I love the idea that you're going to proof them out and hope it works out for you. Do you have any other barrel blanks that you use?

No other blanks in the pipeline yet. We are just getting going, and seeing what the people want.

I started with the “lower cost” and very good quality. I have worked with Preferred and friends have too. I felt comfortable and they have been great to work with so far.

I will buy some prefits with cut rifle, but want to know what sells and what people want.

Barrels are not inexpensive…

 

[wapitibob]

Red hawk rifle for proof or Bartlein
Bugholes for Bartlein
Piercision rifles for benchmark
UM for Ace

 

[blacktailcentral]

I've been trying to decide on new 6cm and having trouble. The local builder does a good job (Garrett Preece) and can have one done in two or three weeks with a Proof or CRB. The price is less with local but the CRB is a heavier profile than I like. With UM I may not get the rifle any time this year but it has a better barrel profile for hunting. Plus I've been interested in an ace barrel for a while now. I assume the rok stok is the holdup on most of their builds. Have the nuances been worked out with the stock? Is there any reason to avoid a UM build?

Just a heads up

I've been trying to decide on new 6cm and having trouble. The local builder does a good job (Garrett Preece) and can have one done in two or three weeks with a Proof or CRB. The price is less with local but the CRB is a heavier profile than I like. With UM I may not get the rifle any time this year but it has a better barrel profile for hunting. Plus I've been interested in an ace barrel for a while now. I assume the rok stok is the holdup on most of their builds. Have the nuances been worked out with the stock? Is there any reason to avoid a UM build?

Just a heads up Ryan avery is selling a 6cm currently and would be similar to a full tikka build for price on a defiance action