Ok, so I've been looking at a short .223 bolt gun.  I was looking at GB and found some NIB 700 actions for sub-$300.  That got me to thinking about the possibility of building one up.  Anyway, what are some of the more, how shall I say, "affordable" barrel makers?  How does a Remage fitment work?

I hear good things about Criterion, start at $370.

https://criterionbarrels.com/products/prefits/rem-age/rem-age-pre-fit-barrel/

This guy has pretty nice stuff and will take low offers.


https://www.ebay.com/usr/atrainingpro?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Call Jim at Northland Shooters.

Jim at Northland for Criterion Remage.

Remage barrels work the same as a Savage Rifle. Hence the Rem-age name. I have a Criterion Savage prefit on my at home custom build. It shoots very well and wasn't that much harder to assemble than an AR-15. The big difference is that you have to set head space with a go and no-go gauge. This video shows the process. Its very easy and I think often over looked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OP0XuvWR_Q

And there is no alignment pin for the recoil lug on remmys.  Easily remedied with a jig/action vice.  I made mine out of a hickory block and JP Weld.  Keeps the recoil lug aligned whilst you torque the barrel nut down.

I have no idea if these are the best as they are the only ones that I have experience with but the 1:7 twist barrel I have from them shoots in the .5's consistently with a stock Remington action.

Ragged hole

I installed a Criterion 22-250 1-8 on mine.  Had a little chamber issue and had a hard time getting it to shoot as good as I thought it should.  One phone call to Criterion and prepaid shipping both ways with a touch-up on the chamber and the barrel shoots like a champ.  Very worth while to do the upgrade.

Before you go down this path take a look at some of the 'budget' custom barreled actions.  Once you buy the action, headspace gauges, wrenches, barrel vise, etc.  It adds up.

https://straightjacketarmory.com/product/big-horn-origin-barreled-actions/

Also, Proof Research is now making shouldered barrels for a few aftermarket actions and the stainless barrels are less than $500.

Thanks for all the info.  So far I've had a couple local guys offer help in regards to tools etc, which is a cost saver.  The Straightjacket armory thing looks really nice, just too pricey for me though (yep...distance poor-ing).  I've looked at Ragged Hole as well, but I wonder how the quality of the Wilson barrel stacks up (the one I had in my Holliger high power upper was great).  I was also looking at preferred barrel blanks as well, they have some good reports on SH.  I wish you could just get a Howa action as I really like them.  Anyway I figure....

700 SA $300
Barrel $350-$450
Nut $35
Lug $40
Bravo $350

That puts me at $1125

Now, if I got a CTR and had the barrel chopped to where I want it, it would be about the same cost maybe a little more, but I'd still have the factory stock (which from all I hear isn't that bad).