What are the most accurate barrels- plain steel vs carbon wrapped?

Easier to screw up a carbon fiber wrapped barrel during manufacture than a plain steel one. Because it requires extra machining, and then the wrapping. Every additional step converting the steel blank into a carbon wrapped blank does nothing to improve the inherent precision of the blank. At best, it will maintain that precision through the extra machining steps involved, and in the carbon wrapping. At worst, precision can be lost.

And if you get a carbon barrel that doesn't shoot? The extra cost of the CFW barrel could be lost. Most likely gonna lose the cost of metal work too, if hiring it out. Not all carbon barrel manufacturers will make it right. Bartlein being one, based on my own personal experience.

I see carbon fiber as the larger crap shoot risk. I have, and hunt with, 4 carbon fiber wrapped barrels. Also have three fully chambered and machined carbon fiber blanks that have been removed, because they wouldn't shoot. So 4 for 7 is my success record. On top of that, been plenty of headaches getting to the 4 shooters. I'd recommend steel over carbon fiber, as the less headache ridden choice, for hunting. Carry a few extra ounces of weight afield. And maybe flute the steel barrel if weight reduction is the priority.
 
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Two groups from hunting rifles. One carbon, one steel.
I'm not smart enough to engage in the debate, just to see what works. They both do...
 
Bryan Litz's Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting Volume II has Chapter 11 Advancements in Barrel Technology by Carl Zant that makes for some interesting reading even though it is kind of dated now. Part of the Chapter Summary states that carbon wrapped barrels offer increased stiffness for barrels of the same weight (not contour). The chapter does not cover all the manufactures of carbon barrels today but the data provided shows the results from the tested manufacturers vary considerably, particularly with POI shift with increasing barrel heat. For hunting I doubt POI shift with barrel temp is a concern unless it's for prairie dogs.

I've had good success with Bartlien barrels across multiple platforms, calibers and contours. If I were considering barrel options for a custom hunting build I would not be looking at similar contours in steel and carbon for the same build. If I went carbon it would be for a larger contour that still met my weight objective for the build.
 
DMack said:
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Two groups from hunting rifles. One carbon, one steel.
I'm not smart enough to engage in the debate, just to see what works. They both do...
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I don't see anybody say they can't work. Don't believe that was the question asked.

Thread question was, which is more accurate? I presumed also inferred in the question, which gives best odds of best precision? For a guy preparing to buy one, or the other...
 
Now that is the best reply PDVHD.

at 65, i would take the lighter weight.

For F Class though strictly SS

I am of Polish decent and have a long last name with minimal vowels. I wonder if we can get a deal from Vanna for more vowels.

I would buy a carbon wrapped barrel in a heartbeat to save weight.

Now this thread has me thinking of another build i dont need...
 
Regarding the stiffness comments. I'm pretty sure it was Alex Wheeler that did a lot of deflection testing on steel vs. carbon wrapped barrels. His conclusion was that the deflection (stiffness) was virtually the same for barrels of equal weight and length.

This was probably 7 or more years ago but I distinctly recall the "stiffness" claims being distilled down to equal weight, equal stiffness.
 
never2old said:
I read that usually, the carbon-wrapped (CFW) barrel will have an accuracy edge over a steel barrel of the same external contour class, not because carbon is magic, but because carbon-wrapped construction commonly improves stiffness/consistency and reduces sensitivity to small variations in the blank and manufacturing. Does your experience agree or disagree with that?
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How many benchrest matches are won with carbon barrels?
 
lancetkenyon said:
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When I logged on, your comment was the most recent. But rather than jump to it, I read all the comments, thinking, "Lance will shed some light on this..."

Bummer for me. Time to go shoot some steel with my carbon steel wood stocked .416 Rem. Six weeks to go!
 
Rhovee said:
I would choose steel over carbon. Most shooting comps rely on heavy round counts and the carbons can't take the heat without walking like steel can. I do have 2 carbon barrels that are accurate and consistent, but for hunting. For me, a light Palma 22" steel barrel is my choice.
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I'm using a stainless heavy Varmint profile on my long range hunting gun. I've been interested in the light palma contour for the next barrel to lose a little weight.
 
comen said:
How many benchrest matches are won with carbon barrels?
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This is a great question.

For a match rifle (BR, F Class, PRS, LR like KO2M, etc.), steel is the way to go. Where weight doesn't matter, heavy helps stability. Heavy contours are stiff.

For hunting, not many people want to pack around a 15-30+# rifle all day.

Accuracy is more common with the names that have proven themselves. Steel or CF. Not all great barrel companies make CF.

Pound for pound, CF is stiffer than steel. Stiff is good. Usually more forgiving. It takes a lighter profile steel to match the weight that a CF barrel weighs. Not that light contour barrels can't be accurate or consistent. But they tend to heat up faster, and that can cause barrels to start to "walk". But not all CF weight the same either. The steel barrel inside the CF is what makes the barrel accurate (or precise). The CF stiffens it up.

Contour for contour, the steel will be stiffer. But heavier.

The last thing, the nut behind the bolt. Makes a huge difference.
 
lancetkenyon said:
This is a great question.

For a match rifle (BR, F Class, PRS, LR like KO2M, etc.), steel is the way to go. Where weight doesn't matter, heavy helps stability. Heavy contours are stiff.

For hunting, not many people want to pack around a 15-30+# rifle all day.

Accuracy is more common with the names that have proven themselves. Steel or CF. Not all great barrel companies make CF.

Pound for pound, CF is stiffer than steel. Stiff is good. Usually more forgiving. It takes a lighter profile steel to match the weight that a CF barrel weighs. Not that light contour barrels can't be accurate or consistent. But they tend to heat up faster, and that can cause barrels to start to "walk". But not all CF weight the same either. The steel barrel inside the CF is what makes the barrel accurate (or precise). The CF stiffens it up.

Contour for contour, the steel will be stiffer. But heavier.

The last thing, the nut behind the bolt. Makes a huge difference.
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Bunch of loose ones running around. About to spin off.

LocTite ain't gonna help much either
 
ShtrRdy said:
Please show us what you are claiming is proven?
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I am the expert having launched a known carbon barrel company, helped develop the mil spec testing and witnessing the outcomes with operators and data submitted to the military.

Asked you first. Prove steel is better than carbon? Spoiler alert. Can't.
 

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