Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
There has been some misinformation going around about Krieger and Criterion barrels. A recent article in the VHA magazine "Varmint Hunter" by Steve Timm is the source of some of it.
Now don't blame Steve as I am sure he was just quoting the specifications Weatherby gave him. Steves article "The 2002 VHA Jamboree Weatherby/Nosler Auction Rifle" says "The 26-inch Krieger Criterion stainless steel barrel is button rifled, hand lapped, and terminates with an 11-degree target crown." Steves other article, "The 2001 VHA Jamboree Weatherby/Nosler Auction Rifle" also refers to a "Krieger Criterion" barrel.
This is not correct because Krieger and Criterion are totally different companies. They have separate plants. Criterion makes button rifled barrels, Krieger makes only cut rifled barrels. The reason for the confusion is that the same person owns both companies. However they are two separate companies. To further confuse things, you can order a Weatherby from the custom shop with a Krieger cut rifled barrel. So the Weatherby custom shop is using both Krieger and Criterion barrels and both companies, although separate, are owned by the same person.
I had a long talk with Krieger on the phone today and this is how they explained it to me.
Jack
Now don't blame Steve as I am sure he was just quoting the specifications Weatherby gave him. Steves article "The 2002 VHA Jamboree Weatherby/Nosler Auction Rifle" says "The 26-inch Krieger Criterion stainless steel barrel is button rifled, hand lapped, and terminates with an 11-degree target crown." Steves other article, "The 2001 VHA Jamboree Weatherby/Nosler Auction Rifle" also refers to a "Krieger Criterion" barrel.
This is not correct because Krieger and Criterion are totally different companies. They have separate plants. Criterion makes button rifled barrels, Krieger makes only cut rifled barrels. The reason for the confusion is that the same person owns both companies. However they are two separate companies. To further confuse things, you can order a Weatherby from the custom shop with a Krieger cut rifled barrel. So the Weatherby custom shop is using both Krieger and Criterion barrels and both companies, although separate, are owned by the same person.
I had a long talk with Krieger on the phone today and this is how they explained it to me.
Jack