GUN WEIGHT

[Philward]

I don't mean to be a dick. But if we really need to worry about saving even a pound on a rifle. Maybe we should worry more about getting ourselves in better physical shape ( me included). Everybody wants light weight weight short barreled rifles. 5 years down the road we'll be back to heavy long barreled rifles because some manufacturer says it's the latest and greatest. I'm all about latest and greatest. But how much are you really gaining over present day stuff. Most people if you can afford to keep up with the latest gun trends, you could never afford to go on a hunt ever again.

So they can add a suppressor, 2lb scope and bi-pod and be under 15lbs.

 

[Greyfox]

From my experience typically using 24-26"heavy Sporter to light Palma steel barrels (4-4.75 pounds) on my LR hunters, a carbon wrapped barrel of comparable diameter(3-3,5 pounds) can generally reduce barrel weight by approximately 20-30%.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Here are just a few of my thoughts regarding heat transfer in barrels, but I'm open to other opinions.

Steel barrels seem naturally efficient at radiating heat from the bore to the exterior diameter where you feel it. Carbon fiber wrapped steel liners would seem to be the opposite. The steel core can get very hot while the carbon wrap inhibits the transfer of heat and keeps the exterior surface cooler to the touch. If the exterior of the carbon barrel feels cooler, you're likely to keep shooting as the core gets very hot before it can be detected on the exterior of the barrel. If that's the case, a carbon wrapped barrel would be more susceptible to throat erosion because the shooter isn't detecting bore heat early enough to avoid excessive heat build-up in the bore.

With regard to weight - my Bartlein CF barrels are comparatively heavy and may not save much weight over a moderate profile, fluted, SS barrel. I think more people by CF barrels for the "cool factor" than for any other reason. No different than all of the new(er) exotic fluting profiles that are now available.

 

[Brathany]

So you're a shoot it once a year before hunting season guy.

Besides...you know blastin dem zombies gets the gun cookin

There are hunting guns, then there be my zombie slayer guns!
The slayers are wearing 416R stainless at least .750 at the muzzle.

 

[Brathany]

That's definitely not true. I run carbon barrels myself. But as far as cooling fluting increases surface area of the steal. This it has more area to distribute heat. It indeed does help cooling. To what degree. Who knows will it matter who knows but the science says more surface area means more cooling.

If the fluting is deep enough. Most are only aesthetic deep and useless.
I have a proper fluted SPR barrel and I get more mirage off of it because it's doing it's job, but then there's more mirage...double edge right there!

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

If you are Looking to save Weight you look at the Stock.
Carbon Barrels are Only a couple Ounces lighter than a steel.

 

[Gpkhill2]

Fluting has no effect on cooling, only weight savings. They're are multiple test to show Carbon cold faster and had less of a poi shift when it's hot

I'm assuming all of those test were done by carbon barrel manufacturers. Kind of like all the lead bullets are going to kill us test are done by copper bullet manufacturers

 

[ObiWanKannoli]

If we really need to worry about saving even a pound on a rifle. Maybe we should worry more about getting ourselves in better physical shape ( me included). Everybody wants light weight weight short barreled rifles. 5 years down the road we'll be back to heavy long barreled rifles because some manufacturer says it's the latest and greatest. I'm all about latest and greatest. But how much are you really gaining over present day stuff. Most people if you can afford to keep up with the latest gun trends, you could never afford to go on a hunt ever again.

1 lb heavier gun is to some degree easier to shoot, and i agreed that you can either a) lose a pound of weight or b) take 1 lb of ******** you dont need out of your back pack.

 

[ickes123]

If we really need to worry about saving even a pound on a rifle. Maybe we should worry more about getting ourselves in better physical shape ( me included). Everybody wants light weight weight short barreled rifles. 5 years down the road we'll be back to heavy long barreled rifles because some manufacturer says it's the latest and greatest. I'm all about latest and greatest. But how much are you really gaining over present day stuff. Most people if you can afford to keep up with the latest gun trends, you could never afford to go on a hunt ever again.

I agree a lot with what you're saying however with the suppressors getting short, light and easy to get along with chronographs that work I can't imagine anybody that got a short set up would ever go back to a long gun again. I also agree with trends and listening to manufactures bs however the more educated I become the shorter and lighter I want to go. I hunt in pa where 100 yards is a long shot.

 

[ickes123]

From my experience typically using 24-26"heavy Sporter to light Palma steel barrels (4-4.75 pounds) on my LR hunters, a carbon wrapped barrel of comparable diameter(3-3,5 pounds) can generally reduce barrel weight by approximately 20-30%.

thanks

 

[Spud61]

thanks

I practice with my hunting rifle for cold bore shots. All that waiting is filled with ringing steel with a heavy barrel 223. We all hunt with a cold bore.

 

[416pgw]

1 lb heavier gun is to some degree easier to shoot, and i agreed that you can either a) lose a pound of weight or b) take 1 lb of ******** you dont need out of your back pack.

For sure. Heavier gun shoot better on a hole than lighter gun. Don't see anybody shooting 6lb guns in competition. Not trying to slam anybody. If it goes bang, I'm all about it. I don't care how big, small heavy or light.

 

[southpa]

Carbon doesn't mean lighter, it means better dissipation of heat.

All my CWBs are lighter than the same contour barrel in SS...that's in fact why I use them....

Fluting has no effect on cooling, only weight savings. They're are multiple test to show Carbon cold faster and had less of a poi shift when it's hot

So turning a barrel down and wrapping it in carbon doesn't mean it's lighter but fluting it does....

 

[Quintus]

If we really need to worry about saving even a pound on a rifle. Maybe we should worry more about getting ourselves in better physical shape ( me included). Everybody wants light weight weight short barreled rifles. 5 years down the road we'll be back to heavy long barreled rifles because some manufacturer says it's the latest and greatest. I'm all about latest and greatest. But how much are you really gaining over present day stuff. Most people if you can afford to keep up with the latest gun trends, you could never afford to go on a hunt ever again.

Beg your pardon, but this is the worst argument ever. Save a pound on a rifle and 1/2 a pound on a scope you have just potentially saved 20% of the weight of your killing solution. If you are going out for 10 days unsupported and can save 20% on all of your carry weight you would be an idiot or a masochist not to. Hard to imagine, but alot of folks hunting out of a pack are already in excellent shape and can't spare a ton of body fat going into a backcountry hunt. There are places in the world you can't even use your rifle until you're at least 5 miles off the road. Gravity is a beach and I try to cheat her out of every ounce I can.