Barrel question?

[klickriverchromer]

Looking at a couple of different rifles. One is a steel bull barrel and the other is a carbon fiber wrapped barrel. Is there a big advantage to either. From what I'm told the carbon fiber wrapped barrel gives up accuracy for weight? Is this true? The manufacturer guarantee 1/2in moa @ 1000 yards so they can't be that inaccurate

[BULLBLASTER]

Weight and price are the main noticeable differences 

[theleo]

They're kind of at different ends of the spectrum. The bull barrel should be stiffer which should give you better accuracy. The carbon wrapped (I'm guessing a Christianson Arms rifle) uses the carbon to make up for some of the lost rigidity by them using the minimum amount of steel they can to make a safe barrel. Advantages can be disadvantages depending on what your looking to do with the rifle.   

[lord grizzly]

I think your a little mixed up. Carbon wrapped. Barrels are designed to retain accuracy at less weight. Been around a bunch of them, building one now. The early ones had some issues but the quality ones out there now are pretty dialed

[theleo]

I think your a little mixed up. Carbon wrapped. Barrels are designed to retain accuracy at less weight. Been around a bunch of them, building one now. The early ones had some issues but the quality ones out there now are pretty dialed

Are they on par with the high end bull barrels these days? To my knowledge they still weren't quite there. By advantages being disadvantages depending on the situation I was meaning situations where you wanted the weight from a bull barrel so you could spot your hits varminting or taking them longer to heat up. The carbon will cool quicker meaning you can pick the rifle up sooner and the weight saving for packing up it mountains is undeniable, but can be punishing on the recoil.

[h20hunter]

Based on my research i would go with Proof Research. I condidered it for my AR10 build.

[b23]

For me, the only real advantage they offer is aesthetics.  Also, if the stock you are using has a large barrel channel from the previous barrel and you want something that weighs less and without going to a smaller contour barrel, for less weight, without it looking like a hot dog sitting in a canoe, the wrapped barrel can help that problem. Or, for some people, they like the barrel diameter to match the muzzle brake, but don't want the extra weight of a larger contour barrel, a carbon wrapped barrel will fit their needs.  And, they have a certain "cool" factor.  Not sure if the "cool" factor is worth double the price of a steel barrel, but they do look cool. 

I know a gunsmith that bought a Proof Research barrel for his personal rifle so he would know first hand how they performed before he started recommending them on customers builds.  First barrel he got from them was a turd so he sent it back and Proof inspected it and agreed so they sent him a replacement.  Last I knew, the second barrel wasn't doing much better.

[jay.sharkbait]

I'm not convinced. There are rifles out there shooting great with these barrels, but I'll say that the credit should go to the gunsmith as much as the barrel.

I've seen the different manufacturing processes and every one has the fibers going in the wrong direction and too resin rich. Also barrel steel expands and contracts at a much different rate.

[lord grizzly]

I'm not sure I agree that the advantage is ascetics. For example I hunt almost exclusively in wilderness areas and take everything I need on my back. The rifle I'm building right now with a Christensen barrel will come in just over 8 pounds with optics with the intent being a 1000 yard mountain rifle. Realistically my average range will be 800 and under. The same contour barrel in steel would be well over 10 maybe even 11 pounds. I've target shot carbon rifles out over 800 next to steel barrels and they'll shoot the same. A bench rest gun I'd go steel for the extra weight, a hunting rifle I see no reason other than price not to go carbon

[lord grizzly]

Another aspect that's often overlooked is Ive met very few people in this world who's guns can't shoot better than them. For your average shooter a difference if there is one between carbon and steel would be negligible. Maybe your top match shooters in the country could tell you the difference off a bench but you on top of a mountain it took you all day to pack to the top of won't. I do agree the gun smith makes a big difference as well

[b23]

You could build a steel barreled gun that weighs the same and have the same capabilities or more, for less money, so what are you really gaining?

I just had a 7mm Blaser built that will have no problem taking game at 1000 yards.  It has a 26in. #4 fluted barrel and muzzle brake, NF 5.5-22x50 scope and factory laminated wood stock and it weighs 10 1/2lbs.  Different stock, different scope, and it would easily be in the 8 1/2lb range and likely less.

You can't compare the weight of a 1in diameter CF barrel to a 1in. diameter steel barrel.  You peel the wrap of that barrel and you may be shocked how small of a contour the liner actually is.

[MtnMuley]

A carbon wrapped barrel is only as good as what the carbon is wrapped around.

[lord grizzly]

There is no doubt the steel in a carbon wrapped barrel is incredibly thin, thus the carbon wrap. That's kinda the point. High end glass is heavy so I would contend no you couldn't get the rifle I'm building at the same weight with steel

[lord grizzly]

How many of you have shot a carbon fiber barrel off the same rest as a steel barrel at distance?

[jay.sharkbait]

How many of you have shot a carbon fiber barrel off the same rest as a steel barrel at distance?

I've shot a 300 WM Nemo with a carbon barrel and a 2010 from the same spot on same day at a mile.