RIFLE BARREL DURABILTY

[Tburke]

Going on my first sheep hunt in 2026. Curious on thoughts of durability of a carbon vs a steel barrel. There are a few pieces of equipment that have to be as failproof as possible. Obviously sheep country can lead to spills, if you were to fall and strike a rock with a carbon vs steel is there merit in one over the other being "tougher" and stand a better chance in a situation like that? I obviously know a scope would be the weak point in this scenario but in having a sheep rifle being built if one is better over the other, I would prefer to give myself any better durability in components for the build.

Maybe this is overthinking, just wondering peoples opinion....

 

[Oregonmuley]

I have rifles with both, I do like the CF wrapped barrels and both of mine have shot great. But I doubt I'd do another. For a sheep rifle I suppose an all stainless barrel should be fine, if you fall of the mountain I don't think it will matter what the barrel is made out of

Also, if having the rifle built I'd listen to what your smith prefers to work with.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Interesting question. Both steel and carbon-wrapped or -sleeved barrels are durable enough to handle a fall better than a scope or ultralight stock. I wouldn't base the decision solely on durability. If you like the look and feel of carbon fiber, use that for your barrel. If all you care about is weight/performance, stick with steel. I have carbon barrels from BSF and PROOF Research and like them, but I don't think they are superior. In fact, the only real advantage I find is they're warmer to hold if you're carrying your rifle like an African PH.

 

[RWT]

Only advantage I’ve see with carbon is it takes longer to heat up and throw mirage before my steel barrels.

Disadvantage for me is the bulk. Just not found of the girth vs perceived performance.

IMO I would go skinny steel. Less bulk to get in the way.

 

[willfrye027]

If you are talking about an aftermarket barrel, I would worry more about not using any kind of barrel nut, and torquing or making sure gunsmith torqued it on very tight. I’ve had some major POI shifts from a barrel nut system not being tight enough.

 

[wyosam]

If you are talking about an aftermarket barrel, I would worry more about not using any kind of barrel nut, and torquing or making sure gunsmith torqued it on very tight. I’ve had some major POI shifts from a barrel nut system not being tight enough.

Either needs to be assembled right to be reliable. Nothing unreliable about an adjustable shoulder barrel when assembled correctly.


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[willfrye027]

Either needs to be assembled right to be reliable. Nothing unreliable about an adjustable shoulder barrel when assembled correctly.


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Fair enough, although I’ve done a lot of shouldered prefits and they’re foolproof and easy to ensure it stays tight. My one experience with barrel nut was not good.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

man i can't wait to see the arguments that pop up when we start doing barrel drop tests around here.

wasn't there an old pack evaluation where they threw a bunch of them off a 100' cliff?

 

[willfrye027]

man i can't wait to see the arguments that pop up when we start doing barrel drop tests around here.

wasn't there an old pack evaluation where they threw a bunch of them off a 100' cliff?

When I get a new gun all set up and zeroed I will tap the end of the barrel fairly aggressively and check zero. Wasted probably 200 rounds trying to diagnose a shifting zero which turned out to be a barrel nut not torqued tightly enough..never again

 

[Tburke]

Funny I asked this question today, I watched a dall sheep hunt that Randy Newburg went on and he was on horseback. The horse laid down with the gun in the scabbard and the barrel bent, luckily he used I believe was the guides gun. Sh— happens!

 

[ResearchinStuff]

When I get a new gun all set up and zeroed I will tap the end of the barrel fairly aggressively and check zero. Wasted probably 200 rounds trying to diagnose a shifting zero which turned out to be a barrel nut not torqued tightly enough..never again

That's massively annoying.

 

[cbeard64]

In this case I think you are correct in that you are overthinking it.

 

[jhm2023]

I've had falls on sheep hunts with both steel and carbon barrels without issue. Proof has a video of shooting a group with their barrel, beating a cinder block to pieces with the barrel, then shooting another group. As far as a horse laying on your gun, I'd probably just not leave a rifle in the scabbard as most rifles I'd classify as a "sheep rifle" probably wouldn't fair the greatest to that much side load onto the barreled action / scope.