I am curious about anyone's actual experience with carbon wrapped barrels. I have a small amount with a hunting rifle, but would like to hear from anyone who has shot one on a LRPR where there is a high round count. I like the concept of lighter weight, but am concerened about accuracy when shooting 6 to 10 rounds rapidly as in a match. I have been told that mirage is an issue also.
Carbon wrapped barrels
- Thread starter Tommy Two Dogs
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Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
I had a ABS in 243 a few years back. It shot pretty good, but not as good as a Rock barrel should. I would do it for a light weight hunting rifle but not a LRPR. You should read the thread that Mike Bush started. Its an intresting read. Ill try and find it.
I had a ABS in 243 a few years back. It shot pretty good, but not as good as a Rock barrel should. I would do it for a light weight hunting rifle but not a LRPR. You should read the thread that Mike Bush started. Its an intresting read. Ill try and find it.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
It's probably difficult to say because various types of carbon fibers have different thermal conductivities. There are a thousand different formulas and types of carbon fiber.
You're removing a lot of barrel mass so you're depending on carbon fiber to conduct heat from the steel to the exterior surface of the carbon fiber shroud where it can radiate away. A carbon fiber with poor thermal conductivity acts like a thermal blanket on a pencil-thin barrel, making heat issues worse because the heat has nowhere to go but stay in the barrel. A carbon fiber with good thermal conductivity works like a heatsink and keeps the barrel from heating up as quickly by drawing heat into itself and radiating it into open space. If a CF barrel is quick to mirage and hot to the touch, it's because it's an efficient thermal conductor. If the barrel seems to stay cool, it actually means the carbon fiber used is a poor thermal conductor.
Unless manufacturers are wiling to provide more information on the carbon fiber they select in these barrels, it's impossible to make an objective evaluation. We'll have anecdotal data but no actual figures.
It's probably difficult to say because various types of carbon fibers have different thermal conductivities. There are a thousand different formulas and types of carbon fiber.
You're removing a lot of barrel mass so you're depending on carbon fiber to conduct heat from the steel to the exterior surface of the carbon fiber shroud where it can radiate away. A carbon fiber with poor thermal conductivity acts like a thermal blanket on a pencil-thin barrel, making heat issues worse because the heat has nowhere to go but stay in the barrel. A carbon fiber with good thermal conductivity works like a heatsink and keeps the barrel from heating up as quickly by drawing heat into itself and radiating it into open space. If a CF barrel is quick to mirage and hot to the touch, it's because it's an efficient thermal conductor. If the barrel seems to stay cool, it actually means the carbon fiber used is a poor thermal conductor.
Unless manufacturers are wiling to provide more information on the carbon fiber they select in these barrels, it's impossible to make an objective evaluation. We'll have anecdotal data but no actual figures.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
jbell:
Thank you for the info- the link. I have read the entire thread and it was very interesting to say the least. I should have searched before i started a new thread.
jbell:
Thank you for the info- the link. I have read the entire thread and it was very interesting to say the least. I should have searched before i started a new thread.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
The several carbon barrels that I shot were all good shooters. But after 3-4 shots, the barrel mirage was too intense. The target was moving around so much it was hard to take an accurate shot. If you plan to shoot only 1 or 2 rounds, like in a hunting situation, I think they are great. For a higher round count or repeated firing, it would be very difficult.
Also, one thing I have noticed about carbon wrapped barrels- the sweet spot, or accuracy node, is very large and there are not a lot of barrel harmonics. For example, a typical load work-up may have only have 1 or 2 good loads. And the 1 (or 2) loads that shoot good, has several loads between the sweet spot loads that shoot bad. In a carbon wrapped barrel, you don't see the large/bad groups between the accuracy nodes. Even the so so loads shoot pretty good.
The several carbon barrels that I shot were all good shooters. But after 3-4 shots, the barrel mirage was too intense. The target was moving around so much it was hard to take an accurate shot. If you plan to shoot only 1 or 2 rounds, like in a hunting situation, I think they are great. For a higher round count or repeated firing, it would be very difficult.
Also, one thing I have noticed about carbon wrapped barrels- the sweet spot, or accuracy node, is very large and there are not a lot of barrel harmonics. For example, a typical load work-up may have only have 1 or 2 good loads. And the 1 (or 2) loads that shoot good, has several loads between the sweet spot loads that shoot bad. In a carbon wrapped barrel, you don't see the large/bad groups between the accuracy nodes. Even the so so loads shoot pretty good.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
Played with them about a year ago and was not impressed, Shots seemed to wonder on both test barrels. I would just run a lighter contour barrel and maybe flute it. We all tent to run heavier barrels than needed anyway.
Played with them about a year ago and was not impressed, Shots seemed to wonder on both test barrels. I would just run a lighter contour barrel and maybe flute it. We all tent to run heavier barrels than needed anyway.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
Thanks to all of you who responded. I have given some serious thought to this . It seems to me that the expense vs benefit makes this, at best, at questioniably option. It reads good but maybe doesn't live good. Thanks again.
Thanks to all of you who responded. I have given some serious thought to this . It seems to me that the expense vs benefit makes this, at best, at questioniably option. It reads good but maybe doesn't live good. Thanks again.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
I have a christensen arms in 300 wm. It took me 400 rounds to get it to shoot good. Mirage was not an issue. It took about 9 rounds for the barrel to get hot to the touch, shooting in 3 shot strings. It stayed hot for a while them. (not a good conductor)
I have a christensen arms in 300 wm. It took me 400 rounds to get it to shoot good. Mirage was not an issue. It took about 9 rounds for the barrel to get hot to the touch, shooting in 3 shot strings. It stayed hot for a while them. (not a good conductor)
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
pawater:
I have had some experience with a Christensen Arms in 300 Wby. It was a hunting rifle and shot really well. I never shot more that 3 times in rapid sucession. I was wondering what to expect from this type of barrel in match conditions. Thanks for your imput.
pawater:
I have had some experience with a Christensen Arms in 300 Wby. It was a hunting rifle and shot really well. I never shot more that 3 times in rapid sucession. I was wondering what to expect from this type of barrel in match conditions. Thanks for your imput.
Re: Carbon wrapped barrels
The thread that jbell refers to above is really worthwhile to read. Tons of real good g2.
The thread that jbell refers to above is really worthwhile to read. Tons of real good g2.
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