Carbon fiber barrels, good/bad?

H

highlander44

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Hi guys,
I’m looking for a replacement barrel for my .280 AI. It’s set up as a lightweight mountain rifle, currently with a kreiger cro-Moly #2 contour barrel. It’s been a great lightweight tack-driver, but the velocity is now dropping off daily. Considering a carbon fiber barrel replacemt? Are they good? Heard mixed reviews about longevity. Does anybody have any 1st hand experience, and what brands would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Mike
 
They look cool and they’re tough as heck “falling off a horse having a wreck on your quad”. I don’t think tou will see any noticeable weight savings and you will spend a lot more money.
 
highlander44 said:
Which brand do you recommend? I understand I may not save anything in weight, but have heard some good things in accuracy due to their rigidity.
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I’ve owned a few. Christensen Arms,Proof research,carbon six And a Hardy .
It’s a tough call, but I think my favourite was the Hardy, that might have to do with the Caliber though.( 6x47 Lapua.

You can shoot the sh!t out of them and they won’t get hot, to the touch anyways.
And they stay accurate.
 
Thank you 45c! I’ve heard that the Hardy’s have the hardest steel also. Wondering how many rounds these barrels are good for compared to a steel or cro-Moly ? And what stock would recommend to accept the wider barrel profile?
Mike
 
highlander44 said:
Thank you 45c! I’ve heard that the Hardy’s have the hardest steel also. Wondering how many rounds these barrels are good for compared to a steel or cro-Moly ? And what stock would recommend to accept the wider barrel profile?
Mike
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Hey Mike, I’m not much help in those areas, as all I’ve ever used were the Cadex Chassis.
I’m sure Harley from Insite can help you though.
He’s the Hardy dealer and he knows his stuff.
 
highlander44 said:
Hi guys,
I’m looking for a replacement barrel for my .280 AI. It’s set up as a lightweight mountain rifle, currently with a kreiger cro-Moly #2 contour barrel. It’s been a great lightweight tack-driver, but the velocity is now dropping off daily. Considering a carbon fiber barrel replacemt? Are they good? Heard mixed reviews about longevity. Does anybody have any 1st hand experience, and what brands would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Mike
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CF wrapped barrels have had a very bumpy history with some real poor performing products. Today, the tech seems to have settled down and very nice results are happening. I can offer CarbonSix prefit barrels and blanks. They come with an accuracy warranty when proper handloads and set up are used. They are also one of the best priced in Canada.

My personal barrels have exceeded their warranty by a comfy margin. They have proven to be stable even when a couple of mags were run through them (20rds of Creedmoor). Of course not something you would ever need when hunting but it is nice to know they can be stable.

wrt to weight, a FW contour C6 barrel would be similar to a #2 contour weight barrel... but I would suspect thermally, more stable.. although a Krieger is a damn fine barrel.

wrt to bore wear, given that there are now one or two suppliers of barrel steel in the world, and the US is the largest market for such steel, I would SWAG that the US is getting as good a metal as another other location. I try and avoid alot of the hyperbole some discuss on the internet and forums. Well made is well made and I have alot of respect for the better brands in the market place even when I don't represent them.

If I can help with your rebarrel, please pm or email. All the best.

thanks

Jerry
 
Have had them all in the shop and by far the hardy have been tops
Excellent steel and lighter then most which is an plus as thats what your paying for. 2100 rds on my 1.250 comp gun chambered in 6CM so round count seems same as the kreiger or hawkhill we run. 6 years and over 150 builds on the hardy and never a warranty or problem as of yet. Be bard to over look them. Good luck with stuff
 
Post pics of the C6 blanks you have and the barrel stamp... if you have a scale, weight them. C6 is always working to improve so if there are competing products that are significantly better, then they should be aware of that.

Competition always improves the breed.

Jerry
 
Just because the barrel isn’t crazy hot on the outter carbon fiber side does not mean that pencil barrel on the inside is not cooking hot. I would way rather buy a slimmer barrel or mid weight barrel like sendero or Palma #5 contour and save money.
 
I'm wondering if someone can explain the issue of heat dissipation in these barrels, wrapped in an insulating material the metal would become very hot. There is also a difference in the expansion ratio of the two materials causing some movement between the wrap and the metal.
 
b72471 said:
I'm wondering if someone can explain the issue of heat dissipation in these barrels, wrapped in an insulating material the metal would become very hot. There is also a difference in the expansion ratio of the two materials causing some movement between the wrap and the metal.
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Mystic Precision said:
CF wrapped barrels have had a very bumpy history with some real poor performing products. Today, the tech seems to have settled down and very nice results are happening. I can offer CarbonSix prefit barrels and blanks. They come with an accuracy warranty when proper handloads and set up are used. They are also one of the best priced in Canada.

My personal barrels have exceeded their warranty by a comfy margin. They have proven to be stable even when a couple of mags were run through them (20rds of Creedmoor). Of course not something you would ever need when hunting but it is nice to know they can be stable.

wrt to weight, a FW contour C6 barrel would be similar to a #2 contour weight barrel... but I would suspect thermally, more stable.. although a Krieger is a damn fine barrel.

wrt to bore wear, given that there are now one or two suppliers of barrel steel in the world, and the US is the largest market for such steel, I would SWAG that the US is getting as good a metal as another other location. I try and avoid alot of the hyperbole some discuss on the internet and forums. Well made is well made and I have alot of respect for the better brands in the market place even when I don't represent them.

If I can help with your rebarrel, please pm or email. All the best.

thanks

Jerry
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Thanks Jerry- that’s good info.
Mike
 
It always continues to amaze me when guys have a very accurate light weight hunting rifle and they burn the barrel out on targets...

Carbon wrapped barrels are about twice the price of standard match grade stainless barrels and they don't last any longer.
 
There have been many instances of excessive heat causing the fibre to delaminate from the steel, creating all sorts issues. Not something that one would want to have happen, given the investment. If weight was the issue, then a properly contoured barrel would be very difficult to beat.

R.
 
guntech said:
It always continues to amaze me when guys have a very accurate light weight hunting rifle and they burn the barrel out on targets...

Carbon wrapped barrels are about twice the price of standard match grade stainless barrels and they don't last any longer.
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I would argue you should eventually burn out the barrel on your hunting rifle by practicing with it in all sorts of shooting positions and distances. It’s the only way to become proficient, which is only fair to the animals we hunt.
 
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