CMP announces new Krag barrels

[andiarisaka]

John, the threads should be very tight fitting, one should have to use a wrench to get them all the way into the receiver. There is some variance in receivers too, I have a 98 receiver that I can screw one barrel in by hand, same barrel in a 92 receiver starts but would require a wrench to go the rest of the way. So don't fret too much over too big.

[John from the Cereal City]

I dropped a factory rd. (180gr) into the chamber-went in all the way to the rim, no resistance. So there might not be any finish reaming to be had. Don't have a 220 gr issue type to try. Will know better once it's threaded on & I can use my headspace gages.
Will crack off a different reciever & try the breach threads on that one. Have noticed the variance between original barrels, but the new one doesn't even start in a '98 reciever.
Chasing the threads deeper/turning the dia. won't be a huge problem, I have a good gunsmith that can fix it, but for some people who get one, it could be a headache.

[andiarisaka]

That's the type of headache I was hoping to avoid by canceling my order! I was told the chamber was rough (short) reamed, doesn't sound like it to me from what you've said. I'm thinking a lot of folks are going to be unhappy.

[John from the Cereal City]

I pulled the receiver off another '98. That receiver doesn't start either.
Got my verniers out & measured the barrel thread OD & the OD of the step before the threads.

New barrel measures: OD of Thread-.980", OD of step-.938"
Old barrel: OD of thread-.975", OD of step-.933"
So the Diameter is .005" larger than the old barrel. Goes along with the muzzle OD being larger too.
A friend of mine got a Carbine barrel & dropped a 220gr. rd in the chamber, went in to the rim. So not sure what to expect with the chamber untill it's mounted.

[andiarisaka]

A .005 crush fit is going to take "BIG" wrench! John, I've been forwarding your feedback to both the CMP and Criterion, hope you don't mind. Will your friend's barrel start, or has he not removed the old one yet? Steve from Criterion emailed me today and wants me to call him tomorrow, perhaps I can give him some measurements from a couple barrels I have laying around and that will help. Actually the size they've done isn't too far off. I have here a square breech barrel, OD of threads is .979-.980, OD of step .934. It won't go into a 92 receiver without a wrench and maybe a BFH, but it will start. I have a rounded breech barrel here somewhere too, will post measurements once I find it.

Well I can't find that rounded breech barrel, it's here hiding somewhere. But, I did find my Bolt Action Rifles book, and Criterion's barrels match up with the Krag barrel stub drawing in the back, deHass gives an even larger .940 diameter for the step. I'm thinking the step is probably all that is stopping yours from starting John. I also just got back from picking up an Obermeyer barrel that a gunsmith threaded for the Krag for me. Step OD is .934, thread OD is .980. It will start in the 92 receiver and is going to go in hard, but by God it will go in!

[John from the Cereal City]

I will crack off the '96 reciever that I was intending to put the new barrel on & check that one. My friend hasn't tried his barrel in a reciever yet, but was going to measure it tonight & let me know what he has.
Might take a file & hit the step lightly, maybe a rolled burr is there.
Be interesting to hear what others expierence.

[andiarisaka]

For $66 I can get a reamer to to counter bore the 96 I have that had the mud dauber's nest in it. Seems the best way to go with it. I'm not getting any more responses either here or Jouster, so I don't think I have much to offer Criterion in the way of help. I don't know if you've ever done any hand chambering John, but it's a pain in the wrist! I'm chambering a heavy Wilson blank that I'm putting in a Krag receiver. This is obviously going to take awhile, then I have another, then that's the last hand chambering I'll ever do! I may finish the two by spring.