Carbon fiber barrels?

T

Tenderfoot

New member
What is the "word on the street" about carbon fiber barrels, and other parts? I see two "big name" companies (Remmington and Browning) are offering a couple of hunting rifles with that option. Does the "drastic plastic" crowd have a home? With carbon fiber,polymers and so on. Pretty soon the barrel and the stock will be made in one piece? Or has that been done? And I missed it?
TF
 
It depends on what kind of game you play....

They are not real "carbon fiber" barrels. The more correct term should be carbon fiber "wraped" barrel. There is still a thin (similar to a sporter class) steel barrel within. A composite that can withstand the wear of bullet trveling down at 45,000 psi is not yet available to the general public.

Currently the cost of those are still high, and it's not worth if you are in some sort of competition, where one might go thru a few barrels in a season. With that said, I do not imply that they can't be accurate, but it would cost too much in the long run.

On the other hand, for a deer hunter, who might shoot no more than 100 rds/yr, it could be a big plus. For a similar overall weight, he/she can enjoy the benifit of a large diameter barrel (note: a large diameter does not always equal to accuracy. It's how consistant the barrel vibrates make a rifle shoots. A stiffer barrel is much easier to be consistant than a thin one. If you are not clear on this feel free to ask.)

Hope this help
 
Okay thanks Spatula!
I didn't know if there was any REAL advantage to having a fiber wrapped barrel or not. It seems for the average shooter it's still on the "GeeWhiz" list. I've not mastered the basic "rifleman's" course yet, via Fred's in SGN. (I'm still a cook). I doubt that I'm ready for a PHD in barrel vibrational harmonics yet.:D Although I think there is an Army study somewhere on this topic. It was done ath the Frankford Arsenel (aren't they all?). I spent some time studying this when I got my varmint barrel for my AR. It turned out to be a 24" SS fluted rig with floating handguards and etc. Is there a book on the various types of physics going on in a rifle? You could spend ten years or so on each part of a rifle!:confused:
TF
 
I don't know if they are true or not, but I've heard of them delaminating or something like that if they get too hot.
 
The idea, itself, is not new. Winchester made a shotgun with a fiberglass-wrapped barrel, somewhere back in the 1960s. My uncle had one and liked it. IIRC, there were some problems with the integrity of the wrap, however.

So, carbon fiber is today's replacement for fiberglass. It's part of the search of lighter weight in firearms, along with the exotic metals like titanium, etc.

Aside from the bodywork of Indy-type cars, carbon fiber is used in clutch disks and brake rotors--it darn sure can take high temperatures.

Art
 
My understanding is that there are two benefits claimed:

1) Weight reduction
2) Quicker barrel cooling (the thinner steel barrel can shed heat through the CF wrapper easily--does not retain much heat)

Have not heard any claims about superior first-shot accuracy.

If its worth it to ya...
 
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