Carbon vs steel barrel

[D@l@N]

I am building a 22 Creedmoor bolt gun. I need input on barrel selection. I will be going 22” and can’t decide between Proof carbon Sendero light or steel. If I go steel I am looking at a Light Palma contour in Proof, K&P, or preferred. So my ask is, carbon or steel, and if steel what brand would you recommend??

 

[johnsd16]

Can or no can?

 

[HuntHarder]

Get whichever look you prefer. Carbon is more $ but looks better imo. I have both and both shoot great. Proof or C6 on carbon and I've used PBB, Mcgowan and proof steel.

 

[D@l@N]

Can or no can?

Can 100% of the time

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Carbon barrels look cool
But they don’t really have any functional advantage.

Maybe the larger surface to shoulder the silencer could be a benefit but the carbon ones aren’t lighter or more accurate than a quality steel barrel. I’d get a barrel from lilja.

 

[Firestone]

I would go with steel but I am a cheap ass and would hate to replace a carbon barrel after a year or 2. I use Lilja barrels on all my guns and they are fantastic. They can also do a carbon fiber barrel if you wanna go that route.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Carbon fiber barrels seem to be pickier than steel barrels. That's my limited experience but I did ask TS Customs about it a week ago and he confirmed that's also his experience. And he cranks out a ton of barrels.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Some people love carbon wrapped barrels. I am not one of them. I prefer fluted steel. I have used a couple of C6 barrels for builds for friends and the shoot great. Lead times leave a lot to be desired with C6 however.
I prefer Bartlien for cut rifled. For button rifled, I prefer PBB, but have used McGowan, X-Caliber, and Wilson with good success.
The new ECM rifling from McGowan looks intriguing, but I don’t think they are shipping them yet.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

I’ve gone from standard steel barrels, to lightly fluted steel barrels, to Carbon wrapped barrels, & now to deep fluted barrels.
now days for example we are able to get something like a varmint contour barrel deep fluted
to a decent weight & still be very accurate.
They all have their uses.
my preference thru years of experience is now rifles with shorter, varmint type contours, with hvy flutes, ran suppressed, for the types of backcountry hunting I still do. I don’t see this changing any time soon.

 

[huntnful]

I've had a decent variety of steel & carbon barrels at this point. They've honestly all shot good-excellent.

I'm hunting with a 24" carbon benchmark this season. I bought it to save some weight, and it was on sale. It shoots excellent.

I still probably prefer a steel over carbon because my steels shoot so well.

 

[D@l@N]

I would go with steel but I am a cheap ass and would hate to replace a carbon barrel after a year or 2. I use Lilja barrels on all my guns and they are fantastic. They can also do a carbon fiber barrel if you wanna go that route.

1500 round replace this become a real factor!

 

[huntnful]

Here’s my recent carbons. These were the last rounds down each barrel. Tough to argue that they aren’t good. And I’m a proponent for steel barrels for sure.

 

[MuleyFever]

I got a carbon barrel once and didn't like the look. If I had a choice I would always pick steel but carbon wouldn't keep me from buying a rifle if it was all that was available in my desired platform/cartridge.

 

[D@l@N]

I’ve gone from standard steel barrels, to lightly fluted steel barrels, to Carbon wrapped barrels, & now to deep fluted barrels.
now days for example we are able to get something like a varmint contour barrel deep fluted
to a decent weight & still be very accurate.
They all have their uses.
my preference thru years of experience is now rifles with shorter, varmint type contours, with hvy flutes, ran suppressed, for the types of backcountry hunting I still do. I don’t see this changing any time soon.

What style of fluting and where did you get it done?

 

[Huntnpack 2]

What style of fluting and where did you get it done?

Current Rifle
22 Creedmoor
18” SS barrel Horizon Firearms Varmint Contour
Fluted bbl. Threaded 5/8-24



You could choose your barrel & have it fluted in any of several different deep options.
I’d consider a Brux or KP barrel & have Kampfeld flute it.