Preffered Barrel Blanks Carbon Barrels?

[Brandon_SPC]

Has anyone used a Preffered Barrel Blanks Carbon barrel?

I currently have a Howa Mini with one of their steel barrel. It's a 16.5" #3 sporter fluted. The build is as follows:
- Action: Howa Mini 1500
- Barrel: 16.5" Preffered Barrel Blankets #3 sporter contour. 1:7 twist lapped barrel chambered in 6mm ARC
- Stock: Stocky Stock Carbon Fiber with a skim bedding job
- Trigger: Stock Hact Trigger set at 2.5lbs
- Rail: Outter Impact
- Rings: Ruffs Precision
- Scope: Leupold Mark 4HD 2.5-10 SFP with TMR reticle.
- Suppressor: Unknown Suppressors OGL
- Bottom Metal: Jefferson Bottom Metal
- Sling: FHF Gear

I also had to add a few ounces of lead weight in the read stock to balance the rifle out with the suppressor just because the stock CF stock is that light. Currently in this configuration the rifle is 9.05lbs but I would like to drop this rifle down to 7.5lb-8lbs. I have an Airlock 6.5 suppressor on order so that should be able to drop the rifle to about 8.5 lbs. With that said, this rifle is shooter and granted the barrel is made by the same company, I do not have a lot of experience with Carbon Barrels.

Here are some pictures of how well this rifle shoots. These are all with factory options. I'd hate to swap this barrel if the expectation of getting accuracy out of the carbon barrel isn't there. Thoughts?

 

[hereinaz]

Taperless with helical flutes will be lighter than carbon fiber, I think. Certainly less expensive. Given my experience with about a dozen personal preferred barrels and the hundreds I have sold over the last year, you'll get another good shooting barrel.

I just threw a #1 contour 22 ARC 16.25 Howa Mini barrel on the scale and it weighs 2 lb 5.4 ounces.

My experience with a dozen or so carbon fiber barrels is they shoot just as well. There may be a few more duds just because it adds manufacturing steps.

If the barrel is 22" or less, I don't believe there is any weight/shooting benefit to go with Carbon Fiber.