Carbon vs Stainless.....20in barrel

[WildBoose]

I know that it has its advantages but I just can't get over the way a carbon barrel looks on a weapon...or how it will look in 15 years. I am wanting to build a 20in 300wsm, am I really leaving much on the table going with a heavy profile, flutter stainless barrel?

 

[Skerhunter]

I know that it has its advantages but I just can't get over the way a carbon barrel looks on a weapon...or how it will look in 15 years. I am wanting to build a 20in 300wsm, am I really leaving much on the table going with a heavy profile, flutter stainless barrel?

No - you can order a stainless that will weigh the same as a 20” carbon if you get the right contour. Save some money and have the same performance.

The last barrel I ordered was carbon, simply because it was in stock and I didn’t want to wait months for a stainless.

 

[wind gypsy]

What has advantages? Carbon has no functional advantages IMO.

You dont need to use fluting to hit a weight, just get a barrel profile that hits your weight goal.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I am in the "just get a SS barrel" camp myself. I have one carbon barrel on order, only because it ended up being cheaper than what I was trying to get in my specs with a SS barrel. Downside is that I am not going to see it for another 6 months, but I am in no hurry.

As has been pointed out, a 0.750" taperless profile fluted barrel at 20" is going to end up being pretty close in weight to the same in a CF barrel.

As for how it looks in 15 years, all my current barrels will be in the garden in 15 years, so I really don't care how they look.

 

[Clarktar]

Heck, anymore Id just get a chrome molly barrel and plan to nitride it.