Carbon Fiber VS SS Fluted Barrel?

[Chuck R.]

I'm starting to work my next project which is based on a Rem 700 LA currently in .300WM with B&C Alaskan TI stock with Leupold VX6Hd3-18x50 scope. Current weight is right at 8lbs 8 ounces.

Intent is to put together a somewhat lighter package for an upcoming (2 years) WY guided elk/mulie hunt. I'm going to keep the .300WM caliber, due to already being invested in dies/brass etc. I've also got a few hundred Nosler 180 ABs and Noslet 180 BTs. I'll drop the barreled action in another Manners stock which I've got to get on order now.

I've at the point of barrel selection and am somewhat stuck between a Proof Light Sendero and a Bartlein Rem Magnum Sporter "fluted". Costs will be similar by the time fluting is done. Both 24" length.

It will strictly be a hunting rig and I'm trying to keep the weight all up to around 8lbs. Spoke with my smith, he said that the CF Sendero Light will save weigh over a steel Sendero Light, but will probably weigh about the same as a sporter or magnum sporter. Sticking with a sporter profile would leave me with a few more traditional stock options.

Thoughts??

 

[Varminterror]

The CF barrel will be more likely to walk when it gets hot than a properly fluted steel barrel.

 

[Sniper66]

I've read some reviews about CF barrels and most claim CF cools better than steel. I have 3 CF barrels, an AR, a Bergara BXR, and a Bergara B-14R 17HMR. All 3 rifles are top notch and show no signs of problems related to heat and seem to support what I had read. I also have a fluted barrel .223 that I've heated up a number of times during hot and heavy p-dog shooting and it handled the heat effectively. I only had one rifle that was adversely affected by heat from rapid shooting and that was a Ruger 77/17 with a pencil thin steel sport barrel. That's been my experience.

 

[Varminterror]

I've read some reviews about CF barrels and most claim CF cools better than steel.

They don’t.

Even with the improved matrix materials, the conduction through steel then transfer from steel to CF conduction through CF then transfer to air is slower than conductance through steel and transfer to air.

The exteriors don’t get as hot as fast because the CF effectively insulates the liners, but chamber temps increase more and don’t cool as quickly.

For hunting rifles, CF is light and stiff. Not as light as a light Sporter, but stiffer. It can make rifle balance super wonky if CF barrels aren’t applied intelligently in the overall design, but they definitely offer great weight reduction for their stiffness.

 

[Sniper66]

I like your explanation. Thanks for the info.

 

[lightman]

Sorry to not be much help here! I have never had a carbon fiber barrel so I can't really comment. But I do have several fluted barrels. I can't say if they live up to all of the hype that surrounds fluted barrels or not but I like the way they look! It adds an extra touch to a custom rifle. Good Luck with your build!

 

[Chuck R.]

They don’t.

Even with the improved matrix materials, the conduction through steel then transfer from steel to CF conduction through CF then transfer to air is slower than conductance through steel and transfer to air.

The exteriors don’t get as hot as fast because the CF effectively insulates the liners, but chamber temps increase more and don’t cool as quickly.

For hunting rifles, CF is light and stiff. Not as light as a light Sporter, but stiffer. It can make rifle balance super wonky if CF barrels aren’t applied intelligently in the overall design, but they definitely offer great weight reduction for their stiffness.

This is exactly what I've read while researching so far. The CF barrel is lighter, when compared to a steel barrel with a similar profile. The other concern I have is exactly what you pointed out, building a rifle with basically a "mountain rifle" profile, then putting a varmint rifle "like" tube on it. I'm not really concerned with stringing over long strings, not the intent of the rifle. I've got other toys for that. This is the stock my smith recommended, the Manners MCS-UC:



I figure it will look about maxed out with the light Sendero profile and will look just s little awkward with a Magnum Sporter. As I said, I'd like to keep the total weight to about 8+ lbs. The VX6HD weighs in at 22.9 ounces and the stock should be under 24 ounces. I plan on heading over to the Manners shop this week or next to look at some options, but before ordering I've got to get the barrel profile down. They're at about 8 months for delivery and I need to get the parts to my smith by about JUL IF I want it for next fall.

 

[Chuck R.]

Quick update.

I've now got a Bartlein 2B 27" .308 on order from Bugholes. That was after some exhaustive searching for any Bartlein, Brux, Krieger in a medium sporter profile for sale... anywhere. Lots of TGT and varmint profiles available..sporters, not so much.

Next week I'm heading over to see the Manners guys to look at a couple stocks, I want to ensure that I get the drop right for the glass/mounts I plan on using. Once the barrel arrives I'll get with my smith to decide on how much of the 2.75" barrel shank we can remove and still allow for a 24" finished length. Then I can provide the measurements to the Manners guys. He's against fluting it, so we'll go that way. The 2B is about the same weight as the Rem Mag profile, and I'll shave a few ounces by cutting the shank down. Losing some shank may also allow me to get the scope a little lower.

The rifle in it's current form is heading with me to MT in mid-NOV for a mulie hunt to serve as a back-up rifle for the group. Once I get back I'll drop it and the barrel off at my smiths and then the waiting begins.