Carbon Fiber Barrels

powdergun

powdergun

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I have been doing some reading and all the Pros of carbon fiber barrels. One of the Cons is the potential susceptability to damage of the carbon wrap. I was wondering if anyone has some real life experience experience toting one of these rifles around through the wear and tear of hunting. Do you really have to do something like drop it on rocks to do damage or do you have to be paranoid about rubbing the battel against anything.

Thanks in advance for all the info.
 
There's a video where the staff at Proof Research are shooting a rifle with their carbon barrel, unscrewing the barrel, using that barrel to beat a cinderblock to gravel, hand threading that barrel back into the action and shooting another group with it and it was totally fine.

I found the video:

I have been hunting with carbon barrels for 5-6 years now and its been great, the only knock against them is it is recommended to let them cool down after 4-5 rounds as the carbon acts like a heat insulator. There are some companies like Bergara with their CURE barrels that have added things to make the carbon/resin mixture more thermally conductive to address this issue.
 
Stiffness, faster heat dissipation, and of course lighter. Having heavy barrel stiffness with the weight of a hunter profile weight.
 
powdergun said:
One of the Cons is the potential susceptability to damage of the carbon wrap.
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LOL, where did you read that nonsense?

I went to the Proof Research facility early on in their corporate life and they showed in no uncertain terms just how tough that carbon wrap is. There is no need to worry about damaging the carbon.


Sharpshooter jr. said:
There are some companies like Bergara with their CURE barrels that have added things to make the carbon/resin mixture more thermally conductive to address this issue.
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Proof adds carbon powder to the resin to cause heat to transfer between the fibres and thus cool faster. I watched them wrapping a barrel.
 
powdergun said:
Stiffness, faster heat dissipation, and of course lighter. Having heavy barrel stiffness with the weight of a hunter profile weight.
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Are you sure about all that? The guy above says 4-5 shots and he has to let it cool down because the carbon acts like an insulator.

Maybe things have changed but I haven’t seen a carbon barrel thats lighter than the lightest steel barrels.
 
Bustercluck said:
Maybe things have changed but I haven’t seen a carbon barrel thats lighter than the lightest steel barrels.
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I would agree that one would be hard pressed to find a CF Bbl that weighs in or beats some of the OEM UL, Mtn or #2 profiles of some manufacturers weight wise. That said, I haven’t really looked recently into a CF bbl in terms of weight vs cost so I may be totally out on this.
 
I'm just thinking. ( I may be wrong) that you can get the advantage of a heavier bull barrel with less weight. But you are correct in that a rifle with a CF barrel would probably not be lighter than an ultralight set up with thinner profile steel barrels.
 
Not fair to compare a sendero profile carbon fibre barrel to an ultralite pencil barrel.....of course the pinner barrel might be lighter?
A fair comparison would be to compare it to a sendero profile steel barrel...… the savage ultralight 110 with the 24 inch carbon fibre proof barrel only weighs 6 pounds. How much would it weigh with a steel barrel in same contour?
 
I Dont Care About You said:
LOL, where did you read that nonsense?

I went to the Proof Research facility early on in their corporate life and they showed in no uncertain terms just how tough that carbon wrap is. There is no need to worry about damaging the carbon.



Proof adds carbon powder to the resin to cause heat to transfer between the fibres and thus cool faster. I watched them wrapping a barrel.
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Hey my man, you sure seem to know a lot ,about a lot.
I’ve owned quite a few CFW barrels, in my experience Proof has been the worse for accuracy.
Regards to barrel over heating, I doubt many have shot enough to know, regardless of what Proof ,or anyone has to say
 
I've used dozens of Carbon Fiber barrels on builds, some older Proof Research Barrels, Older Hells Canyon which had Benchmark Liners, Bartlein and mostly Benchmark, the whole idea is to get the stiffness of a target barrel that weighs the same as a #2 contour barrel,

heat dissipation is a tricky situation with CF barrels as if to much resin is used in the wrapping process it will not dissipate the heat as needed or as advertised, some companies have this down to a science some not so much.

I have had excellent results with Benchmark CF wrapped barrels, we use them mainly on our 300 PRC builds for long range shooting, my older brother just shot his Elk at 679 yards....so he was extremely happy with his new build and his 6 point Elk.

My older brothers 300 PRC-26" Benchmark 1-8 twist barrel
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My 300 PRC 26" Benchmark Barrel 1-8 twist
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My Nephews 300 PRC 24" Benchmark 1-8.5 twist
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The other Nephews 300 PRC 26" 1-8 twist Bencmark
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My 7-6.5 PRCW 26" Benchmark 1-8.5 Twist
IMG_5441.jpeg
 
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call2arms said:
I don’t know much about carbon fibre barrels however i do know about coefficient of thermal expansion and remain sceptical that the two materials can heat and cool without issue
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it's really at least three materials: the resin, the carbon and the liner. i'm skeptical about the carbon and the resin because of some non firearm experience with some extra variables but the specific materials and manufacturer techniques make a huge difference. For a hunting firearm I would not be concerned with the potential cons of a carbon wrapped barrel from a quality manufacturer because of the low rate of fire.
 
I've been using carbon wrapped barrels for a few years.

First experience was a CF 22LR. Never an issue, shot great. I have since moved on to a different CF barrel and been using it for about 7 years now, and never an issue.

My first center fire carbon barrel was the early Fierce Carbon rifle in 300WM. Again never an issue in the 3-4 years I used to own it, and I'm sure it is serving its new owner well.

Then I moved to my current custom rifle with a proof CF barrel. Again never an issue. Have been shooting this one for the last 5 years.

I do have to say though while shooting off the bench after consecutive 5 shots I do let it cool a bit as I find a point of impact shift, and at distance that is just too far of a shift. But the first 5 shots are never a problem.

While I wouldn't use one for a dedicated bench rifle as they don't cool quick enough, and more of an impact shift than anything else, there is no issue with a hunting rifle and I will continue to use them as my wants allow.

Yea they are a little bit more, but I love the look of them on the rifle. Its kinda like adding fluting on a standard barrel, yea they look nice, but it costs more. Why do most pay more for it?

Plus you take a standard barrel, add fluting, and a color cerekote on the fluting, and you are right there in CF barrel territory for $$. I'd go CF every time over that, but that is my flavour.
 
Its baked arts-and-crafts project.
Grind down the metal to about ⅛ of an inch (near 4 pounds or so)
then wrap it in bulk Hexcel HexTow IM7 which runs about $42 to $92 per pound of Carbon fiber oozing with resin; (barrel uses about 350 grams) ; no more then $50 bucks.

THEN shove it on a rotiserre @ 350°F for 12 hours and it has to spin or the metal will sag under its own weight in that heat and the barrel will be toast.

So every CF barrel get the heat stress treatment that no civilain barrel ever sees in a life time ( except a fire).

CARBON FIBER conducts electricty
CARBON FIBER does not transfer heat
so CF is awesome for coil wires but useless for heat transfer.
 
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