CAI Offering Tantals w/ Two Twists

Went snooping at the CAI website yesterday for a pal interested - finally - in stepping up to the M-74 (5.45mm) cartridge.

Try it yourself. Log on. Go to "rifles," then to "semi-auto rifles," and finally to the top of page two.

The two offerings are 1x9" and 1x7."

Do you suppose the "low serial numbered" pieces are 1x7 ??? And that these are all returns, returns sufficient to make a separate offering of them ???

Interesting. Presumably, milsurp will work better at the slower twist and the commercial 60- and 70-grainers prefer the faster. Am just guessing here.

Any thoughts?

Interestingly, Tantals with the original Polish barrels seem to launch bullets from 52 grains up to 70 grains without keyholing.

On another forum a guy posted that these new 1:7 barrels are a totally different serial designation. Not sure what the first 1:7 was marked, 2nd run-I have a non keyholing 1:9 that's starts with TTL 034XX, the 3rd run- versions start with Y XXXXX, and these new ones (?4th? run) are designated RI XXXXX. Century must have bought darn near all of the Tantals that were imported. They are definitely sitting on a mountain of them.

Interesting. Presumably, milsurp will work better at the slower twist and the commercial 60- and 70-grainers prefer the faster. Am just guessing here.

Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]
That's what I've read,and since I've stocked up on the cheap surplus 52 grainers,guess I need a 1x9.

Actually,Century has three Tantals listed,on page three is one with a 1x8 twist in a four groove barrel,with a higher stock number. Newest version,maybe? Right under that is a Bulgarian AK-74,with the same spec barrel,1x8,four groove. Maybe Century has finally figured out the right formula for their stuff.

Another thought....does anyone know what twist and number of grooves an original Polish barrel has?

Another thought....does anyone know what twist and number of grooves an original Polish barrel has?
I would like to know this myself?

Another thought....does anyone know what twist and number of grooves an original Polish barrel has?



According to Wikipedia, the original Tantal's barrel is a 4-groove RH twist of 200mm or 7.874 inches.

Thanks,Hammerem......looks like Century finally got wise and copied the original. Went to the local Dunham's,they had Century Tantals for $650 with the stock number RI1436X/RI1594 on the box,and a build date of last June. Of course,$650 was just a wet dream for me,so I put it on layaway. Will pick it up in a month and post the results if no one else has.

I bought a 1 in 9 twist CAI Tantel numbered in the 3600's. The letter prefix was- off the top of my head; CS- 36XX

I have fired 3- 30 round mags through it. 2 mags of 52 gr militarysurplus and 1 mag of Bear silver 60gr. No keyholes althought I have disclosed that I was firing at a target 20 -25 yards.

The local range is still closed for several more weeks. I was hoping to give a more detailed report at 50, 75 and 100 yrds by now.

Cheers, Hammerem

Letitride,

650.00 seems a little stiff for a CAI build. I paid 540.00 for mine and J&G sales had them advertised for 529.00.

I would look for an IA/High Standard build for 600-700.

Hammerem, I tend to agree with you - 650 is a bit steep for a CAI build, currently. I bought my two from Classic Arms in NC back when they were going for 599. Both are CAI builds and the s/n 's start with TTL. So far I've taken them out and fired 20 rds of Wolf 60gr FMJ at 100 yrds through each rifle. No keyholes but then I was taking my time firing. Some folks have complained about getting keyholes once the barrels really start to heat up. Hope to get on the range early next week with 60rds of Silver Bear 60gr FMJ (supposedly new bullet type). Hope to crank out 40-50rds as fast as I can and then fire the last 10-20 slow-fire to check for keyholing - all at 100yrds. I'll let ya know.

650 seems very steep for a CAI Tantal. If you really want to roll the dice with CAI, then I noticed that classicarms seems to have some listed on their web page currently for $499....

[QUOTE=Hammerem]Letitride,

650.00 seems a little stiff for a CAI build. I paid 540.00 for mine and J&G sales had them advertised for 529.00.

I would look for an IA/High Standard build for 600-700.[/QUOTE

I hear ya,Hammerem......but being able to pay it off over several weeks was a major consideration,plus I was able to pick one that had a Century stock number that identified it as a 1x8 twist,4 groove barrel. Main thing tho,I had the gun in my hands before I bought it,no canted sights or gas block,nice smooth chamber and barrel,etc..... read a post on here from somebody who just got a J&G Tantal and it keyholed. Just a crap shoot,I guess,but if I get a good one,a hundred bucks extra won't seem important after 3000 rds or so :small_gri

i went through a stage where all the talk on the net made me think i have a bad tantal, but i no longer think i do.

really its something you have to evaluate yourself , i have a 1:7 twist six groove barrel and i got a few keyholes with the wolf 60 grain but the bulgarian surplus i used i think performed well. i am going to do more testing but i am keeping my rifle i like it too much to return it,plus it sounds like a headache to do an way they no longer will put a new barrel on them or replace the rifle they will only credit the shop you bought it from.
i was told that it is a ammo thing that certian twist/ grooved barrels were specifically made for a certian kind of ammo grain load on their rifles.

Hi Truepatriot,
I'm glad to hear you like your tantal.

I also think it is worth while for folks who own tantals to report in, so that that we could build something toward a more empirical data base on the various tantal builds and serial #s out there.

Some would infer that your 1 in 7 six groove twist would stabilize a heavier grained bullet. Others might contend that your barrel may be for a 5.56 rnd.
Perhaps mine will keyhole with a 70g rnd. I don't know yet.
I only raise these hypotheticals issues as possibilities that have in the past, been the subject of much online discussion.

The more info we share the better informed we become.

So far i've enjoyed shooting my tantal also.GL

Jeff