RT image of Bart CFW barrel

[Plowboy85]

So I have been curious as to what the CFW and steel dimensions were for various CFW barrels. I had my RT crew take some shots of one I had laying around, I plan to get a Proof off of my 300 WSM soon and do the same for it. Here are images of a 6.5mm Bartlein 24" #13 barrel. Please do not be overly critical of the the measurements because the ball is my reference point and the further I get from it the less accurate the measurements are and the CFW blows a little with the method. I hope this isn't taken as a disrespect to Bartlein for revealing this information and if any feels it is please let me know and I will delete the post.

Images removed…I assume that was the right thing to do???

 

[buckbrush]

Thanks for this info. I figured there would be more CF!

 

[Plowboy85]

I would have thought so as well, the measurements are manually pulled in our program there is some +/- but it still fairly representative. I've heard many times that Bartlein uses a bit thicker steel section compared to Proof so we will see when I do that one.

 

[Rhovee]

Cool pictures. I cut a proof barrel in half. It doesn't have that much steel at the end of a Sendero contour.

 

[338 dude]

This is a great thread very informative I've always heard Bartlein barrels were heavier now we know why but I have had several Bartleins they are a great barrel I've also had several proofs and I am very happy with them as well

 

[Plowboy85]

This is a great thread very informative I've always heard Bartlein barrels were heavier now we know why but I have had several Bartleins they are a great barrel I've also had several proofs and I am very happy with them as well

Yeah I was surprised to only see 0.090"ish fiber wrapping. It would be interesting to know what a #13 Bart 6.5 24" fluted could get down to. I can't recall what flute depths typically are for this contour but it wouldn't take much for a spiral flute to equal the mass of steel removed compared to a CFW barrel.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Plowboy, great review and thank you. Cutting a CF barrel is rare compared to steel barrels being sacrificed for review. Plus, having RT is very nice.My favorite stainless steel barrels are Bartlein - they shoot great and buyers can get exactly what they want ala gain twist, RH/LH twist.
So Bartlein is starting with a great shank, and CF weight reduction is minimal. I have a few other SS barrels, and CNC, HAAS, et al have been a big plus in precision machinery. I believe that hands on, experienced barrel makers are still the MVP's in the barrel making process.
Since my Proof CF barrel shoots so good and is light, I'm a committed to Proof Research for carbon fiber barrels.
Thanks again Plowboy

 

[Plowboy85]

If someone has a proof 6.5 they would be willing to send me I can have it radiographed as well, it could be a shot out barrel just as well. I'm waiting on my Stiller action wrench to take off my 30 cal proof. I'll post data when I have it.

 

[tracybartlein]

Yes it would've been nice to ask the manufacturer (any manufacturer) if it would be o.k. to do something like that with posting the pictures.

We've made barrel liners for other cf barrel makers as well in the past.

Also this was the 3rd go around before we came out with our own CF barrels. Accuracy/consistency was the issue. So we played with the contour to help the accuracy.

From what we've found most carbon fiber barrel makers are making the steel part of the liner to small which leads to harmonics and vibration issues.

Also the cfw barrel makers that are making they're barrels from a button rifled blank. The smaller you turn that contour the more variation your going to have with the bore/groove sizes changing. Which in turn effects accuracy even more. Which we don't have a problem with doing single point cut rifling. We are not inducing any stress into the steel. Button rifling is a cold swaging process. It displaces the material....doesn't remove material. Not to say you cannot get a button barrel CFW or not to shoot good but the consistency from one to next is what the issue will be.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

Cc: Tracy Bartlein

 

[Plowboy85]

Yes it would've been nice to ask the manufacturer (any manufacturer) if it would be o.k. to do something like that with posting the pictures.

We've made barrel liners for other cf barrel makers as well in the past.

Also this was the 3rd go around before we came out with our own CF barrels. Accuracy/consistency was the issue. So we played with the contour to help the accuracy.

From what we've found most carbon fiber barrel makers are making the steel part of the liner to small which leads to harmonics and vibration issues.

Also the cfw barrel makers that are making they're barrels from a button rifled blank. The smaller you turn that contour the more variation your going to have with the bore/groove sizes changing. Which in turn effects accuracy even more. Which we don't have a problem with doing single point cut rifling. We are not inducing any stress into the steel. Button rifling is a cold swaging process. It displaces the material....doesn't remove material. Not to say you cannot get a button barrel CFW or not to shoot good but the consistency from one to next is what the issue will be.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

Cc: Tracy Bartlein

Mr. Frank, first and foremost I meant no disrespect to you or Bartlein Barrels, I have several of your barrels and believe them to be some of the best based on my experiences with them. I do not believe anyone interpreted the data negatively or feels the Barts are inferior because of it. I posted purely to support the claims members have that the Barts are a touch heavier due to a thicker liner which is believed to provide better and more stable harmonics. Again I apologize as I did not feel that data is proprietary or difficult for any to obtain by splitting a spent barrel. I will ask Mr Len to delete if I am not able to edit and delete the images.

Edit- I also posted just as informative data for anyone interested in what there high dollar barrel looks like. I personally thought it was pretty interesting.

 

[tracybartlein]

First off thanks for using our sticks! It is appreciated.

I'm torn with leaving the post up and taking it down. Part of me will say what's done is done. Leave it up. It was a matter of time when someone would do it or some other manufacturer bought one of our barrels and cut it apart etc...

When something like this gets posted...what happens to us is a bunch of phone calls or emails asking questions. Which in itself it's part of the business. What throws us for a loop though is we start to ask ourselves, "where is this all coming from?" We are trying to figure out what is going on. When we ask someone for detail or who told you this or that or where did you hear it from....they go, "oh!" I seen it on such and such forum. In this case someone sent a link and said, Ummmm...you better check this out!

That's what happened to us. So it opens up a sudden flood gate of questions on the phones and emails.

 

[tracybartlein]

Cool pictures. I cut a proof barrel in half. It doesn't have that much steel at the end of a Sendero contour.

It also gives you more metal for threading the muzzle end of the barrel when installing a muzzle brake or suppressor attachment as well as you but your attachment up to a steel shoulder on the barrel and not the carbon fiber.

 

[tracybartlein]

Thanks for this info. I figured there would be more CF!

Also depends on the final contour of the barrel. Some will have more and some will not.

We've done 1.250" straight blanks in carbon fiber as an example. So vs a #4 sporter or the #13 Rem. Varmint contour your gonna have more carbon fiber on it.

 

[Plowboy85]

It also gives you more metal for threading the muzzle end of the barrel when installing a muzzle brake or suppressor attachment as well as you but your attachment up to a steel shoulder on the barrel and not the carbon fiber.

This was actually the reason I went with the Bart, I felt more comfortable with a can hanging of the end with a little more meat at the muzzle where the threads would be. In theory there should be less of a stress riser at this area of the unequal thickness are lesser.