Carbon fibre barrels

[204 Hunter]

Hi All
Has anyone here used them?
I was reading another thread here about build mistakes.
My first custom gun was a 204 on a tac 30 action, A5 stock and a fluted HV 26" lilja
It was very accurate but as some others have found out- too heavy.
Maybe if it had a carbon fibre barrel l would still have it?

[trevort]

I had a rifle very similar to yours . Kreiger no 9 on a stiller in the same stock. Too heavy!

I'm sure there is science backing the carbon fibre but steel between me and an explosion is more reassuring


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[Glenn]

I have not had one but how lite do you want to go?
They can be very tricky to fit if you don't know what your doing and at almost double
the price your gunsmith needs to know his shit too!
Carbon barrels are quite large in there profile so it can be an issue with stocks as well.

fluted HV 26" lilja

I had two varmint guns built and ended up with truck axles!

My new one will have a number 4ish straight taper to .750 muzzle at 26".
I like a bit of weight for stability.


Glenn

[204 Hunter]

I have not had one but how lite do you want to go?
Glenn

Maybe too light?
I have a manners A4 stock which I bought on a whim (guess I'm not alone there) and after spending time on this site I feel the need to do another build
Possibly a 6×47 which could be used for varminting and maybe PRS if the chance arises.
Which means it would have to be reasonably light to be maneuverable.
The weight of a varmint sako 85 would be about right

[Tony Z]

Carbon fibre barrels is one of the best marketing ploys ever devised. The claims. Dissipates heat better than a solid cylinder barrel. Stronger than steel barrel of same dimensions. Nearly double the life span. Potential accuracy superior because of material stability. There are other claims but you get the main ones.

The reality. Carbon fibre of the type used for barrels currently is an insulator. It contains the heat and does not transfer it to the external.surface. Carbon fibre is indeed stronger than steei as claimed, but by weight not by volume. This is a very misleading claim to the average punter.Tests done by one very prominent gunsmith in the US has shown barrel life is similar to a solid barrel. Same guy has done accuracy tests with multiple barrels with hit and miss results but at no time did POI remain constant and accuracy was a fifty fifty luck of the draw. One particular barrel he trialed walked shots straight away then settled to a constant POI. Not a good thing for a long range gun.

Now for what I know. Stainless steel has a very high expansion ratio. Carbon fibre has a virtual zero expansion ratio. The wrap at the chamber and muzzle junctions separate when a long string is fired destroying accuracy. A match solid barrel is taken and profiled to nothing than wrapped. There is a high probability of bore dimensions altering and begs the question why so many naysayers about fluting but total adoration for a pencil thin sleeve covered in cool carbon fibre? This is the deal breaker for me no question. Lastly these barrels are to light and a common complaint is a poor muzzle moment and why they will rarely be seen in silhouette. Balance is important to a field gun and these barrels need forward weghting like a heavy brake to get them to feel right.

Now I have left a lot out of what I know about these barrels as it gets extremely complex. There are fibres that will transfer heat very efficiently but are of the wrong type to give the right stength then there is the other end and where we at now. Quite simply for me it is statistics. NO-ONE uses a wrapped barrel in any form of centerfire BR whether it be short or long range and has done anything of note. If it aint used in BR it don't work. Remember my saying. Function over fashion. Just another tacticool sales pitch done very very well. Lots of stuff on google about these barrels. From those that know it is negative and the common advice is buy two solid barrels instead of one wrapped one.

[Glenn]

204 Hunter you have pm.

Glenn