I'm thinking of building the ultimate light hunting rifle and looking to install a carbon fiber "wrapped" barrel. So far, the only manufacturer I found was Proof Research. My starting point is a Savage Model 12 Target Action with detachable magazine and HS Precision stock. Does anyone has experience with these Proof barrels? Any other manufacturer to consider?
Proof Carbon Fiber barrels
- Thread starter 338x
- Start date
Christensen Arms is another doing carbon wrapped rigs, can get pricey but apparently very light and high quality.
Check out this thread for a few vids, pics, and people weighing in on the Proof Research line (click here).
Hope that helps.
Check out this thread for a few vids, pics, and people weighing in on the Proof Research line (click here).
Hope that helps.
Looked at the videos, although they may do everything so it looks NOT tricked they may have done it several times and keep the best results!! I did not find the 100 yards shooting very impressive as far as group size... Still the carbon wrapped barrel is a unique piece of equipment and is the only way of really shaving weight.
Proof Research Carbon barrel
Posted previously:
Rem 223 action trued
Proof research 20" varmint contour bbl
Mcmillan edge carbon fill stock (devcon bedded)
CG Jackson 2 stage trigger
Bottom metal w/AICS mags
Talley lightweights
Atlas bipod
I have one and love it. The problem is with the scope. It is ideal in every way but it is very heavy ~30ozs. It's a nightforce 5.5-22x50mm G7. Love the reticle, magnification, illumination, high speed turret, and zero stop. The whole rig weighs around 10lbs, but gets a pound lighter with a leupold scope.
Having gone down this road, I have learned that the light barrel jumps too much to watch your hits. Heavy barrels are easier to shoot accurately. If I went down this road again, I would start with a new titanium action from x-treme shooting. I use 75gr amax for target, coyotes and groundhogs, and love the gun. It's exactly what I wanted to put together. I could have purchased 5 tikka t3s for the cash to put it in perspective though. I've been considering having it reamed for 22-250.
Posted previously:
Rem 223 action trued
Proof research 20" varmint contour bbl
Mcmillan edge carbon fill stock (devcon bedded)
CG Jackson 2 stage trigger
Bottom metal w/AICS mags
Talley lightweights
Atlas bipod
I have one and love it. The problem is with the scope. It is ideal in every way but it is very heavy ~30ozs. It's a nightforce 5.5-22x50mm G7. Love the reticle, magnification, illumination, high speed turret, and zero stop. The whole rig weighs around 10lbs, but gets a pound lighter with a leupold scope.
Having gone down this road, I have learned that the light barrel jumps too much to watch your hits. Heavy barrels are easier to shoot accurately. If I went down this road again, I would start with a new titanium action from x-treme shooting. I use 75gr amax for target, coyotes and groundhogs, and love the gun. It's exactly what I wanted to put together. I could have purchased 5 tikka t3s for the cash to put it in perspective though. I've been considering having it reamed for 22-250.
I would like to get feed back about how theses barrels shoot as well.
I would like to build a 300wm on a titanium action and a carbon barrel so I could get a longer and heavier profile barrel without the extra weight
I have read that if the barrel is over heated, the époxy burn out and the barrel is scrap.
if this is the only issue, it is no big deal for me because the rifle would be use for hunting and maybe around 100 shots a year on targets at long range and all cold shots
I would like to build a 300wm on a titanium action and a carbon barrel so I could get a longer and heavier profile barrel without the extra weight
I have read that if the barrel is over heated, the époxy burn out and the barrel is scrap.
if this is the only issue, it is no big deal for me because the rifle would be use for hunting and maybe around 100 shots a year on targets at long range and all cold shots
The barrel shoots fine. I haven't found a load yet the gun likes as much as black hills 52gr match hollow point reloads. 3/8" groups not uncommon at 100 yards. the gun also stays tight if I shoot 100 rounds in an hour. The only issue I have found is that the 75gr amax loads the gun likes the best are in the 2450fps range. I would have preferred more accuracy in the 2800fps area! I just received some berger 75gr tactical hybrid that I want to try on coyote. Maybe it will like a faster speed..
As far as heat breaking these down, I don't believe that is true with proof research. There was an article I read before about using this technology on a 6 barrel chain gun at VERY high rates of fire, and that the barrels outlasted steel. Since they allow the heat to leave the chamber and don't hold it in a large mass of barrel steel, the life is supposed to be better.
As far as heat breaking these down, I don't believe that is true with proof research. There was an article I read before about using this technology on a 6 barrel chain gun at VERY high rates of fire, and that the barrels outlasted steel. Since they allow the heat to leave the chamber and don't hold it in a large mass of barrel steel, the life is supposed to be better.
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Heat conduction is suppose to be better with carbon fiber, so these barrels should stay cooler compared to all steel barrel.
my concern is accuracy; it has to offer match accuracy for that price otherwise i'll stick with medium weight barrel and save the money to go hunting!
I have one, built on a titanium action(in the EE actually) in a 6 SRL. You can have any barrel wrapped by Proof(mine is a Benchmark) so accuracy may depend on the barrel manufacturer. Mine shoots great averaging 1 1/4" at 300m, although I have shot sub 1" at 300m as well. I plan on building another one in a larger calibre as a dedicated hunting rig, lugging around 18lb tactical rigs is starting to get old.
I think the delaminating issue some may have heard of was the older Christiansen Arms rifles, I believe they have resolved that issue.
I think the delaminating issue some may have heard of was the older Christiansen Arms rifles, I believe they have resolved that issue.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
http://www.christinedemerchant.com/carboncharacteristics.html
You guys might find this info useful. Scroll down to Thermal conductivity,
If this is right, you just wrapped your barrel in a blanket..... that might actually act to choke the bore.
Jerry
You guys might find this info useful. Scroll down to Thermal conductivity,
If this is right, you just wrapped your barrel in a blanket..... that might actually act to choke the bore.
Jerry
- Location
- calgary alberta
Or not.
"Because there are many variations on the theme of carbon fiber it is not possible to pinpoint exactly the thermal conductivity. Special types of Carbon Fiber have been specifically designed for high or low thermal conductivity. There are also efforts to Enhance this feature."
Wondering the exact same thing and spending the time and money to investigate by building a rifle with a Proof CFW barrel we learned a lot about them.
They DO get quite hot to the touch, faster than a conventional steel barrel does, but as claimed by the maker the heat is "wicked" towards the outer surface.
This was established by sticking a thermometer inside the bore after 5 successive shots and checking the outer surface with a thermo gun after 20 seconds of the shooting.
NOT 100% scientific but answered my question well enough to convince me I was not being misled.
Jerry,
Proof uses a special combination of CF tape and carbon/graphite powder to cause heat to be transferred from strand to strand unlike traditional carbon matting. I've been in their shop and seen a barrel being wrapped. Its kind of a cool process. They have proven that their barrels do not overheat and in fact can withstand some pretty amazing torture.
I'm curious about their process, have you taken any pictures that you could share with us? How this tape is applied? Do they use some kind of adhesive in between layers? Heat set the barrel after appliying the CF? Final grinding for finish and smoothness? I'm sure that was a cool shop visit!
I don't have pics. The CF tape is wound on by a CNC winding machine which is a pretty neat piece of machinery. The whole thing gets autoclaved to set the epoxy. After everything has hardened the CF is ground down to the final profile.
They obviously have some secrets and details that I am not going to share.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Testing this today would be pretty easy.
Just use an IR thermometer with quality internals.
Two barrels of equal diameter - obviously their mass will be different- with the same chamber. Same lot of ammo/handload. Measure ambient and surface temp.
Launch bullets simultaneously. Measure what happens over shots fired and time. 1 shot every 30secs with say a 308 is going to get temps moving pretty quick. 20rds would get a tangible increase.
After shooting done, stuff a thermocouple down the barrel and see how temps decay over time. Of course, continue to measure external temp
Repeat as necessary but if the CF does what it is supposed to, the results will be very dramatic and obvious.
Look forward to the result.
Jerry
Just use an IR thermometer with quality internals.
Two barrels of equal diameter - obviously their mass will be different- with the same chamber. Same lot of ammo/handload. Measure ambient and surface temp.
Launch bullets simultaneously. Measure what happens over shots fired and time. 1 shot every 30secs with say a 308 is going to get temps moving pretty quick. 20rds would get a tangible increase.
After shooting done, stuff a thermocouple down the barrel and see how temps decay over time. Of course, continue to measure external temp
Repeat as necessary but if the CF does what it is supposed to, the results will be very dramatic and obvious.
Look forward to the result.
Jerry
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Now if they can ensure the core barrel doesn't walk when machined and maintain precision accuracy, they will be onto something.
Love to see some shooting results.
Jerry
Posted previously:
Rem 223 action trued
Proof research 20" varmint contour bbl
Mcmillan edge carbon fill stock (devcon bedded)
CG Jackson 2 stage trigger
Bottom metal w/AICS mags
Talley lightweights
Atlas bipod
I have one and love it. The problem is with the scope. It is ideal in every way but it is very heavy ~30ozs. It's a nightforce 5.5-22x50mm G7. Love the reticle, magnification, illumination, high speed turret, and zero stop. The whole rig weighs around 10lbs, but gets a pound lighter with a leupold scope.
Having gone down this road, I have learned that the light barrel jumps too much to watch your hits. Heavy barrels are easier to shoot accurately. If I went down this road again, I would start with a new titanium action from x-treme shooting. I use 75gr amax for target, coyotes and groundhogs, and love the gun. It's exactly what I wanted to put together. I could have purchased 5 tikka t3s for the cash to put it in perspective though. I've been considering having it reamed for 22-250.
Try a Sightron S3 series scope. I have a 6-24x50 and looking through it and my Nightforce 5.5-22x56 back to back the optical quality is pretty close, you almost can't tell the difference other than the NF has a slightly wider FOV. The Sightron is a lot lighter though.
Jerry at Mystic sold me mine and the service was awesome.
Jerry,
I have a pair of thermocouples with digital data recorders. Get me a Proof barrel and I'll do the testing.
I kinda wondered that myself. Removing a ton of meat from the middle of the barrel has to have some kind of effect on the straightness of such a long, thin metal tube.
- Location
- calgary alberta
I dunno
They must be doing something right. My 300 Norma mag is shooting .2" 5 shot groups. We have had similar results from several other rifles we have built this year using Proof CFW barrels, their conventional barrels also produce these results.
They must be doing something right. My 300 Norma mag is shooting .2" 5 shot groups. We have had similar results from several other rifles we have built this year using Proof CFW barrels, their conventional barrels also produce these results.
