Proof Barrels And Shermans.....WOW !

[Wedgy]

I've quickly come to believe the process of carbon wrapping barrels can decrease consistency of precision. A lot of CFW barrels shoot great. But if a guy tested 1000 SS barrels, versus 1000 CFW stainless steel barrels from the same manufacturer, I think the plain SS barrels would produce somewhat better precision.

I can't recall ever seeing a carbon barrel on the BR line but weight is not really a factor there, as far as cost goes there's always a rich guy who can afford CF barrels on every rifle. Shooting long strings isn't really a carbon barrels forte either so maybe that's why I don't see them there.
When I saw Proof was supplying barrels for the Savage Ultralites I wondered if their quality would suffer or if their supply to the rest of the market would decrease. Who knows, the 2 Proof's I have shoot great and up to known speed. About a year after Xcaliber opened they put out some barrels that were subpar, you could feel when slugging or even pushing a patch down the barrel. They seemed to have worked thru that phase now though.

 

[Bullwhacker]

I've had 4 Proof barrels on the following calibers: 257 Wby, 6.5-284, 6.5-300 Wby, and 28 Nosler. All took close to 200 rounds to break in and achieved moderate accuracy with more than average time for a custom barrel. Accuracy is acceptable but I won't buy another due to break in and load work challenges. I've had equivalent or better accuracy from other custom makers without the excessive break in. Not saying they are a bad barrel by any means, just not the holy grail some claim them to be in my experience.

 

[adam32+P]

I thought threads aren't supposed to be started strictly to bash a company?

Proof doesn't care if they don't sell an extra 7 barrels a year for Sherman cartridges. I'm surprised they even entertained the idea of chambering one of their own barrels for their own testing.

 

[LongRange338]

WHAT HAPPENS is they are often very slow regardless of the chamber! I have dozens of gunsmiths around the country that chamber all chamberings.
When gunsmiths have to use the smallest bushing they have on their reamers to get the pilot started, its tight.
When even Proof admitted 10% of their barrels are tight; they're tight.
When loads 3-4 grains under normal loads in other barrels over pressure; theyre tight!, Etc, etc

Its plain as day that the barrels are tight. Its also plain as day that the Sherman Mag fanatics are well versed and obsessed with velocity. The advent of the cheap chronograph and barrel scope has to be the bane of any barrel makers existence.... What is happening here is that many are having Sherman Magnum rifles built because of the desire for performance and the expectation that they are ALWAYS going to get the maximum velocities out of their barrels. To some degree this is an unreasonable expectation, however the performance should definitely be there vs another chambering in the same barrel.
If Proof is having growing pains on the QC level perhaps the best solution is to move away from their barrels for a Sherman Mag. We as consumers demand the highest standards from manufacturers and expect them to warranty a barrel based on what? Velocities? I don't believe ANY manufacturer makes a claim to warrantee their barrels based on velocity. The barrels are tight so they can be warranted on that basis. To a certain degree I can understand where Proof is thinking "the barrels shoot and are accurate, your expectations for velocity are not our concern" and there is a certain amount of obsession in the marketplace about velocity. Tikka is known to have slow barrels and it is just an accepted part of owning a Tikka. Also understandably the end user builds the rifle with the performance expectation in mind. If the barrels are within 100fps of the expected performance I would shrug my shoulders and move on... It's obviously become such a thorn in Proof's side that they have decided the expectations are something they as a manufacturer cannot support. It appears that Proof has decided that the Sherman Mag Crowd is a niche group that they are willing to lose....

 

[Wedgy]

I thought threads aren't supposed to be started strictly to bash a company?

Proof doesn't care if they don't sell an extra 7 barrels a year for Sherman cartridges. I'm surprised they even entertained the idea of chambering one of their own barrels for their own testing.

I see it more like the PRC Clicker Issue thread, like a PSA.

 

[Pdvdh]

Proof doesn't care if they don't sell an extra 7 barrels a year for Sherman cartridges. I'm surprised they even entertained the idea of chambering one of their own barrels for their own testing.

The evidence would indicate they did care, for at least a period of time.

 

[300sendero]

I skimmed through the Facebook posts. The problem is speed and not accuracy. I wouldn't be surprised if proof got sick of the complaining over fps. Now it's you cant fire me because I quit. I agree up above most of the time these posts get shut down really fast. It's another thread to post to the self started link why do people hate Sherman cartridges.

 

[orkan]

That's the other side of this coin. I've never understood the claimed velocities of the Sherman's. I've spoken with quite a few people that can't even get 3 firings on the brass while trying to reach advertised velocities.

There are some 7 Sherman numbers I've seen posted here, that I can't safely hit in my 7 Norma mag improved.

I like the Sherman case designs for the most part. Folks have a tendency to want to push things hard. I don't advocate that in any cartridge.

 

[Pdvdh]

Its plain as day that the barrels are tight.

It appears that Proof has decided that the Sherman Mag Crowd is a niche group that they are willing to lose....

If it's plain as day, a lot of members on this Forum remain uninformed. Does Proof promote their barrels as having tight bores for purposes of improved precision. I've not seen it if they do.

I know of very few long range hunters that say that don't place some premium on muzzle velocity. Actually, I don't know any that wouldn't take some additional velocity, provided precision was maintained, for the downrange performance improvements that higher MV provides.

Perhaps you hunt at closer ranges. So don't appreciate the additional MV.

Proof thinking they'll strictly lose Sherman shooters would be wishful thinking, at best. Tighter than necessary bores reduce MV, no matter the cartridge chambering.

All in all, I read your post a couple times now, but can't follow the logic.

 

[L.Sherm]

I guess everyone forgets theres .299 30 cals and .236 6mm bores, at one time I think it was Brux thats all they made was a .236 6mm barrel

 

[Mike D Texas]

Stocky's LLC

Stocky's Stocks Afternmarket Rifle Stock Supplier

www.stockysstocks.com

Less than $900 for a carbon fiber pre-fit, and its chambered, threaded, ready to torque up and shoot? Seems pretty cheap to me. NO WAY are you getting a Benchmark carbon installed for that price.


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My point was most Proof barrels I see at retailers runs anywhere from $710 up to $850.

I don't know where it if you can buy Benchmark carbon barrels but there are certainly cheaper options than Proof.

 

[bigngreen]

My dad had a 30-338 Win that was chambered back in the day when the tight bore 30 cals were in. The thing created amazing speed per grain.

 

[orkan]

My point was most Proof barrels I see at retailers runs anywhere from $710 up to $850.

I don't know where it if you can buy Benchmark carbon barrels but there are certainly cheaper options than Proof.

In a carbon? Link plz.

 

[Sending156s]

My point was most Proof barrels I see at retailers runs anywhere from $710 up to $850.

I don't know where it if you can buy Benchmark carbon barrels but there are certainly cheaper options than Proof.

I didn't say they are dirt cheap, just that they cost less than others. You can go to Atlas Shooting Solutions website & compare Proof shouldered prefits to Bartlein shouldered prefits.

There are many that are extremely happy with Proof & some that aren't. If you were running your reamers a little longer than what is perfect that could bring savings to thier manufacturing process . It would also make the majority of the barrels very good with a certain percent "tight" due to an undersized reamer.

I would love to believe they are producing the same quality of barrels as the brand I buy. Money is tight for me and I would switch my barrels to Proof. I also look at 2 of the most respected custom gunsmith shops & see what they use. I am hoping to find a cheaper barrel made by someone who has figured out how to cut costs without sacrifices in the manufacturing QC.