Prefit opinions

[Ohiohuntr]

I have 3 carbon barrels and a few steel. I’d go steel all day long, I’ve had a hard time with the carbon barrels compared to the steel getting them to shoot great and I just don’t think the extra $ is worth the look

 

[waspocrew]

I have a mix of carbon and steel barrels in my safe. It’s a wash to me. I’ve not found my carbon barrels to be any harder to get to shoot than steel.

I went with a carbon for my 6 PRC. After fluting and cerakoting, the difference in price with Preferred was only $50, so I went carbon. Obviously I could have chosen a lighter steel profile instead of fluting and just gone stainless, but the heart wants what the heart wants

 

[puckhead]

The three pbb stainless barrels I've had have all been shooters and have headspaced correctly. Easy cleaning too

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I’ve done well with prefits but would choose a factory takeoff if you can find the right chambering and get it chopped and threaded to taste

 

[huntnful]

I’ve had quite a few of each. Unless you specifically want the look of carbon, or a big muzzle shoulder to seat a suppressor against or a big muzzle brake or something, I’d just shoot steel.

Even if the steel ends up a little heavier, who cares. You’ll have a more stable gun with less recoil.

I’m currently shooting a couple carbon barrels, just for the sake of it, and I got them on sale. They shoot extremely well. I actually bought one just to use it in a wood stock because I thought it would look different lol.

 

[Treelineasassin]

I don't care if my rifle is 10# all up, I run steel. A short #3 sporter with the shank clipped and turned weighs about 6-8oz more than equal length carbon, with the weight where I want it, balance point forward. I have done load dev on prob 10-12 carbons, and 30+ steel blanks. Non carbon just generally shoot better over larger variations in load data. Carbons WILL shoot as good as a steel usually, but just take a lil more tweaking to do so.

 

[lager]

I returned 2 carbon DUDS last year under warranty and was not that pleased with the 3rd. Never had to returned a steel barrel !

 

[dårlig jeger]

I have 2 proof carbon barrels. One is easily the most accurate I have. The other is somewhere in the middle. I have a proof steel prefit in a sporter contour which might be the second most accurate I own.

I also have ppb steel barrels which are good but not crazy. I have a bartlein ss that is really accurate.

Pick a good manufacturer and get what you like.

 

[robtattoo]

Here are some weights from some PBB’s.

18” Lite Hybrid 6cm
View attachment 1086069


18” Lite Hybrid 6cm Hellical fluted
View attachment 1086070

For comparison:
Factory 20” sporter .243 with flared muzzle
View attachment 1086072


Hope this helps in some way.

More than you know! Thank you

I’ve done well with prefits but would choose a factory takeoff if you can find the right chambering and get it chopped and threaded to taste

It's a non-standard chambering, unfortunately.

 

[schmidty3]

I understand the cost difference I don't understand why you say a carbon barrel is worse when the only one you own shoots good.

Have you seen a carbon barrel made in real life? It is not inconsistent.

Well they made mine. Called me and told me that they QC rejected it, and had to completely redo the wrap.

So im glad QC had their coffee and it wasnt a Friday afternoon.


Im an engineer in oil and gas. Ive worked plenty with fiber wrapped composites. Wrapping a barrel is the same process. I trust the math on steel/aluminum and they generally perform to our calculations and pass the tests we run. Anything else, composites, phenolics, cements, i test then test again, then test again, then test again. And if they pass a large sampling of tests then maybe we send that design to production. The math/FEA hardly ever checks out. Its more efficient to guess and check.

So yeah. I prefer homogeneous materials that are forged into shape over those that have layers/resins and anisotropic mechanical properties. Especially in places where they really arent needed or doing anything for you and cost 1/3 more.

Carbon barrels can certainly shoot just fine. But take 100 carbon and 100 steel and the steel is most certainly going to be more consistent. I also dont really like having that giant insulator on the outside of the barrel. The inside is getting cooked.



I also stated mine is "under evaluation". Theres been many groups during load development that have spit one 3/4" off to the side. Ive got a decent load and have done well at the last 2 NRLs. Now that ive got some breathing room im going to shoot a group of 8 under a timed 2 minutes. Fingers crossed. Id be way less concerned if it was a CRB.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I have a Proof carbon on one of my guns and it's definitely pickier on ammo than my steel ones. When I get another, I'm going with fluted steel.

 

[dårlig jeger]

I think carbon was a way for people to think they were getting bull barrel accuracy with less weight.

The fluting craze has certainly put a dent in that market (where people think they get the stiffness of a thicker contour but it's light).

Lumping all carbon together is probably not reasonable, but overall, carbon vs fluting is largely cost and aesthetical preference.

 

[bojangles808]

PVA should have their freedom from the crown 4th of July sale. i have had good luck with them and PBB. I had to send back 2 mcgowans with finicky chambers I would not recommend them.

XCaliber likely cheaper than PBB and PVA but I prefer dealing with shouldered profits.

 

[TradLife406]

I bought four Preferred barrels. Using two right now. They both shoot really good. This is 10 shots from my 223 Ackley.
The 6 UM shoots good too. Not as good as the benchmark I had. But at $500 I can't complain.