30 nosler build carbon or steel

Alright folks I've been slowly gathering parts for a 30 nosler build and can't decide on barrel. I'm wanting to go 24" suppressor may be used on it some but not full time. I want the barrel to be 5/8-24 thread and weigh a max of 3.5lb preferably just under but close. It's a hunting rifle finish goal is 10lb or just shy of it scoped no suppressor. So the grand question. Fluted stainless or carbon wrapped? I know it has been debated over and over. I have one carbon barrel and I'm not sold either way. I just want to know what the general consensus is and how the vote goes for this setup from everyone here. I'd also like some first hand knowledge on what contour fluted steel will get me there.

There are a lot of folks with more knowledge than me on this forum regarding barrels options and weight.

My preference would be carbon wrapped for that barrel length and weight goal. I feel like a steel barrel would need to be pretty thin to reach that weight. Perhaps I'm mistaken though? Good luck.

Tagging in. I'm planning on running a carbon Bartlien in m24 contour, but unsure if I want to go 24" or 26". Mine won't be suppressed. Cost and weight will be pretty close to each other by the time you flute and cerakote the barrel.

TucsonFX4 said:

There are a lot of folks with more knowledge than me on this forum regarding barrels options and weight.

My preference would be carbon wrapped for that barrel length and weight goal. I feel like a steel barrel would need to be pretty thin to reach that weight. Perhaps I'm mistaken though? Good luck.

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That was my same thoughts as far as steel would have to be pretty thin based off the research I have done.

Pretty sure a rem varmint or medium palma sent to kampfeld custom for his spiral fluting will get you there on your barrel weight pretty easily. I'm not sold on carbon either but run a few. Here's my 33 nosler with a rem varmint at 25" that kampfeld customs fluted for me.


I'd probably go steel. The muzzle on a rem varmint or medium palma give more than enough shoulder for a brake or surppessor.

Idaho Trecker said:

Pretty sure a rem varmint or medium palma sent to kampfeld custom for his spiral fluting will get you there on your barrel weight pretty easily. I'm not sold on carbon either but run a few. Here's my 33 nosler with a rem varmint at 25" that kampfeld customs fluted for me.

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I've heard people say you shouldn't flute a barrel after the fact without stress relieving. I'm not sure if that is really a thing.

Never heard that other than many years ago. Pretty sure with the amount of people out there that flute they wouldn't be in business still if it was detrimental. I've had a dozen or so done and hadn't shot them before having fluted. Of those I've had done only one hasn't shot but since I didnt shoot it before it was done I can't say either way. Everything is a risk.

AverageJoe90 said:

Tagging in. I'm planning on running a carbon Bartlien in m24 contour, but unsure if I want to go 24" or 26". Mine won't be suppressed. Cost and weight will be pretty close to each other by the time you flute and cerakote the barrel.

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Weight-wise, the Bartlein M24 CF are pretty heavy. I have two. A 24" 6.5mm and a 26" .257". They are both freaking tack drivers, but you can definitely feel the weight difference.
Bartlein Sendero CF and Benchmark Sendero CFs are identical in weight. Proof Sendero CF are lighter than both. CA CF are even lighter still.

For the OP, I would go CF. All but two of my rifles now wear CF barrels. One is a 26" steel Bartlein #3b straight fluted. It weighs the same as a 26" Proof Sendero. The other one is a Bartlein Sendero steel, but it was built to be a heavy steel banger anyway.

I'm building one with a 22" proof carbon 9 twist. I did a 7prc with 20" proof and other identical components it weighs 8.1# with suppressor.

Just for reference here is a 270 cal 26" med palma with standard kampfeld spiral fluting and a srs ti pro 4 port.

Personally I have zero preference for either, but, as a caveat for me, it must be cut rifled, lap honed and turned prior to any of this happening.
I also do not use fluted barrels myself, had a run of poor fluted blanks and will never trust them again.

Cheers.

Idaho Trecker said:

Just for reference here is a 270 cal 26" med palma with standard kampfeld spiral fluting and a srs ti pro 4 port. View attachment 619327

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Wow! what was the weight without the fluting?

volunteer06 said:

Alright folks I've been slowly gathering parts for a 30 nosler build and can't decide on barrel. I'm wanting to go 24" suppressor may be used on it some but not full time. I want the barrel to be 5/8-24 thread and weigh a max of 3.5lb preferably just under but close. It's a hunting rifle finish goal is 10lb or just shy of it scoped no suppressor. So the grand question. Fluted stainless or carbon wrapped? I know it has been debated over and over. I have one carbon barrel and I'm not sold either way. I just want to know what the general consensus is and how the vote goes for this setup from everyone here. I'd also like some first hand knowledge on what contour fluted steel will get me there.

Click to expand...

I agree with others that this is definitely doable. I'm in the process of planning a LA build and with a Bartlein Heavy Sporter #3 @ 24.5" 1.200" shank ss ~3.8lbs before fluting or muzzle threading. Considering custom ordering with 1.250" dia shank since I'm planning on using a custom reamer to maximize powder charge\velocities using high BC heavy for caliber projectiles. My stock is 20oz, scope 22oz, REM 721 donor action all in I'll be right at 9 lbs w/ 1.200" shank. My biggest concern is getting the balance right especially with a stock this light.
I've heard several people say the outside of their carbon barrels to not exhibit much heat so to me this means the heat is being in cased in the barrel sleeve. This quote is from the aeronautical industry "Carbon fiber can also be combined with insulating materials to create composite materials that can conduct heat away from one side while keeping the other side cool"
You would think that if the barrel makers used this sort of composite then the outside of the barrel would heat up and cool quickly after say 3-5 rounds down the tube. It would be cool if someone with a few different carbon barrels did an experiment with a laser thermal gun to better understand this. Maybe someone already has?

Idaho Trecker said:

Just for reference here is a 270 cal 26" med palma with standard kampfeld spiral fluting and a srs ti pro 4 port. View attachment 619327

Click to expand...

that's a lot more weight off than I figured from fluting. That makes a heavier barrel more plausible than I thought.