• 2 DAYS LEFT: This Target Haunts Me Contest

    Tell us about the one that got away, the flier that ruined your group, the zero that drifted, the shot you still see when you close your eyes. Winner will receive a free scope!

    Join contest

Carbon Composite/Carbon Fiber Wrapped Barrels?

ORD

Montani Semper Liberi
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 12, 2005
6,124
31
Morgantown, WV, USA
I am working on a couple new projects and I was wondering if anyone has used a carbon composite or carbon fiber wrapped or similar barrel to build a lighter weight AR-10 or other AR variant? In other words, something similar to the products offered by ABS Barrels / ABS AR-10 Barrels or Chistensen Arms, or a similar company.

If so, I am interested in hearing your opinions on the barrels, experiences with accuracy, resistance to POI shifts/accuracy suffering under sustained fire, barrel longevity, etc. Also, if you have any pics of your builds using these types of barrels, let's have 'em.

Thanks for your help!
 
Re: Carbon Composite/Carbon Fiber Wrapped Barrels?

Hey Robert,

Thanks for the input. I forgot that you have done rifles with these barrels, including a gorgeous 6.5 Grendel AR-15 a while back in addition to the AR-15 you posted above. They really do look great. I am most interested in the weight reduction offered by the CF barrels, in addition to the management of barrel-burning heat of sustained fire with the AR-10/308.

I have heard horror stories about wait-times from ABS (including 1yr+ waits which I am unwilling to do). It seems like you have to order a specially contoured barrel from Rock, Broughton, etc. and then have it sent to ABS for them to do the carbon composite wrap. I sent an e-mail to ABS the other day requesting some info on their products and availability of a barrel to my specs...I haven't heard anything back from them yet.

Thanks again for your input, Robert!

Anyone else?
 
Re: Carbon Composite/Carbon Fiber Wrapped Barrels?

I'm not going to sugar coat this but it is a real pain to get a barrel directly from ABS in any kind of decent time frame.

If you are going to order a ABS barrel go through Paul at rock creek, as Rock partially owns ABS and has a little more pull there than anybody else. Also I think Paul might be able to answer your questions as well.