Anyone running a Proof Research barrel?

[Rocketman99]

Anyone have any actually hands-on experience with the Proof Research carbon barrels?

Pros-Cons?

Tons of reviews online but most of them seem to be sponsored and trying to get sponsored by Proof.

[Donnovin]

Pros: Much lighter than comparable steel barrel, relatively precise; in my experience, POI stable cold bore through 10 rds rapid fire; some excellent smiths are confident in working with them.
Cons: ~3X the cost of comparable steel barrel; some smiths are hesitant to guarantee their work on this barrel.

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

Anyone have any actually hands-on experience with the Proof Research carbon barrels?

Pros-Cons?

Tons of reviews online but most of them seem to be sponsored and trying to get sponsored by Proof.

A lot of good and bad reviews on the Proof

But apparently Proof has it all together now

I have a Hardy Rifle Engineering carbon fiber wrapped barrel on my PRS rifle but I stil need to shoot it

[ar15barrels]

I have put a few proof barrels on receivers for people.
I have gotten several comments that they wander just like a skinny barrel as soon as they heat up.
On a hunting rifle, this is not a concern.
I would not recommend them for a target rifle.

It's interesting to note that proof sponsored shooters usually do not use the carbon wrapped barrels on their match guns.
There is probably a reason for that.

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

It's interesting to note that proof sponsored shooters usually do not use the carbon wrapped barrels on their match guns.
There is probably a reason for that.

Correct Randal !

[Wren1911]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

I have put a few proof barrels on receivers for people.
I have gotten several comments that they wander just like a skinny barrel as soon as they heat up.
On a hunting rifle, this is not a concern.
I would not recommend them for a target rifle.

It's interesting to note that proof sponsored shooters usually do not use the carbon wrapped barrels on their match guns.
There is probably a reason for that.

Any recommendations on a prefit?Or can you do a custom barrel for a RPR?

[damon1272]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

I have put a few proof barrels on receivers for people.
I have gotten several comments that they wander just like a skinny barrel as soon as they heat up.
On a hunting rifle, this is not a concern.
I would not recommend them for a target rifle.

It's interesting to note that proof sponsored shooters usually do not use the carbon wrapped barrels on their match guns.
There is probably a reason for that.

Randal,
Good to know. Was considering a proof barrel for a 6.5 creed more build. Time to lift more weights.

[Vigilante]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

I have gotten several comments that they wander just like a skinny barrel as soon as they heat up.

That's interesting, because I've seen the opposite. My sample size is small, 3 Sendero-Light contour barrels, but they have all hammered out decent 10 shot groups, anywhere from sub-MOA to about 2". OK, 2" isn't super impressive, but that gun has a 26" barrel chambered in .300 Mag, and those 10 shot groups were consecutive shots with no cooling in between.

[CRTguns]

here's just one more instance where a nicely contoured, button rifled and hand lapped chrome-moly barrel outshoots a PROOF: (the CMV barrel is onle 3.5 ounces heavier...and 1/3 the price)

https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/b-m...s-full-review/

[Jimmy's]

The Carbon wrap is a gimmick!

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by Jimmy's

The Carbon wrap is a gimmick!

For competition . . . perhaps

But for a hunting rifle . . .

[Jimmy's]

Originally Posted by Jimmy's

The Carbon wrap is a gimmick!

Originally Posted by Kingair001

For competition . . . perhaps

But for a hunting rifle . . .

Absolutely not needed. Some may want it but there are other ways to trim fat and they all cost way less.

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by Jimmy's

Absolutely not needed. Some may want it but there are other ways to trim fat and they all cost way less.

Why not ?

Let people experiment and if it works . . . good for all of us

Or at least for the ones who want to spent the money

[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

I have gotten several comments that they wander just like a skinny barrel as soon as they heat up.

And this was my concern. They claim no POI shift after shooting strings and that the carbon helps distribute the heat more evenly to allow for less POI shift and faster cool down. Interesting your customers are saying the opposite of what Proof states.

[Vigilante]

Originally Posted by CRTguns

here's just one more instance where a nicely contoured, button rifled and hand lapped chrome-moly barrel outshoots a PROOF: (the CMV barrel is onle 3.5 ounces heavier...and 1/3 the price)

https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/b-m...s-full-review/

That's not exactly definitive evidence. The guy shot one load through the guns, and the steel barrel shot only slightly better, and I mean slightly. A true test would include several factory loads and maybe even some handloads. He also acted like the Black Hills load that he tested was something special and would produce guaranteed excellent groups. I've had guns that shot 2" 3-shot groups @ 100 yards with BH match ammo, but the same guns could shoot well under 1" with other factory loads. I'm not saying that I dislike BH ammo, because I do like BH, but accuracy with factory ammo is never a slam dunk.

[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by Kingair001

A lot of good and bad reviews on the Proof

But apparently Proof has it all together now

I have a Hardy Rifle Engineering carbon fiber wrapped barrel on my PRS rifle but I stil need to shoot it

I was looking at the Hardy as well. Those things aren't cheap either. I'm looking to build for a PRS rifle too. Let me know if you do any testing with it soon.

[shooter1975]

Mine shoots great even after getting the barrel hot. Must of gotten lucky! Randall built mine as a hunting rifle and couldn't be happier.

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

I was looking at the Hardy as well. Those things aren't cheap either. I'm looking to build for a PRS rifle too. Let me know if you do any testing with it soon.

Not cheap . . .



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[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

I'm looking to build for a PRS rifle too.

How many PRS shooters are finishing in the top 20% while using a carbon wrapped barrel?
Light weight is NOT an attribute you want in a target rifle.
Proper balance is FAR more important than the total weight.
A 14lb gun that's tail heavy is harder to shoot well than a 18lb gun that balances properly.

[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by Donnovin

Pros: Much lighter than comparable steel barrel, relatively precise; in my experience, POI stable cold bore through 10 rds rapid fire; some excellent smiths are confident in working with them.
Cons: ~3X the cost of comparable steel barrel; some smiths are hesitant to guarantee their work on this barrel.

Relatively precise? Care to elaborate on that?

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

Mine shoots great even after getting the barrel hot. Must of gotten lucky! Randall built mine as a hunting rifle and couldn't be happier.

I think it's a case-by-case basis kind of deal.

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

Mine shoots great even after getting the barrel hot.

Nice

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[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by Kingair001

Not cheap . . .



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But... Its Badass!

[Jimmy's]

Originally Posted by Kingair001

Why not ?

Let people experiment and if it works . . . good for all of us

Or at least for the ones who want to spent the money

Yes, there are people like that. What ever works I guess.

[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

Mine shoots great even after getting the barrel hot. Must of gotten lucky! Randall built mine as a hunting rifle and couldn't be happier.

How old is the barrel? Apparently they've gotten better in the last few years.

[shooter1975]

This is the one Randall built for me! He did an amazing job as always!

[shooter1975]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

How old is the barrel? Apparently they've gotten better in the last few years.

January 2016

[Joek75]

Have a proof barrel on my sr-25 pattern rifle in 6.5 creed and I like it. Seems extremely accurate when I do my part.


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[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

How many PRS shooters are finishing in the top 20% while using a carbon wrapped barrel?
Light weight is NOT an attribute you want in a target rifle.
Proper balance is FAR more important than the total weight.
A 14lb gun that's tail heavy is harder to shoot well than a 18lb gun that balances properly.

The last poll I can find was from 2015 and not a lot of people running carbon barrels then. Mostly Bartlein back then. If you have more current data please share.

Weight is NOT my major concern with this build.
I'm looking for accuracy and least amount of POI shift. Proof seems to be the only one advertising no POI shift from rapid fire due to the construction of their carbon wrap and heat distribution. Plus it's light weight. If I can get both, thats a win.

[Rocketman99]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

This is the one Randall built for me! He did an amazing job as always!

Sweet rifle! I've read nothing but good things about Randall's work

You mind taking it to the range and fire 30 rounds through and letting me know if it drifts? LOL

[shooter1975]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

Sweet rifle! I've read nothing but good things about Randall's work

You mind taking it to the range and fire 30 rounds through and letting me know if it drifts? LOL

At $3.50 a round! No problem bud! Im on it!!!!

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

At $3.50 a round! No problem bud! Im on it!!!!

That's cheap ammo !

Just kidding

Randall just finished a 375 CheyTac for me



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[shooter1975]

Originally Posted by Kingair001

That's cheap ammo !

Just kidding

Randall just finished a 375 CheyTac for me



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Compared to yours it is!!!! LOL!!! Beautiful rifle bud!

[Kingair001]

Originally Posted by shooter1975

Compared to yours it is!!!! LOL!!! Beautiful rifle bud!

Thanks !

Randall did a real nice job on my custom barrel for my Desert Tech HTI

15 lbs of steel . . . spitting 375's . . . out to 2 miles . . . hopefully . . . on target !

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

I'm looking for accuracy and least amount of POI shift

The key to eliminating POI shift is the barrel walls being even.
A straight bore is the biggest factor in that as the contouring is done in relation to the two ends of the bore.

POI shift stems from differential thermal expansion of the barrel.
If the walls are the same all the way around the barrel, they expand the same.
ALL barrels have some amount of bore curvature.
It could be just 0.0005" over the length of the barrel or it could be 0.050" over the length of the barrel.

The longer the barrel blank, the more potential there is for curvature.
Ordering your barrel blank just 1" longer than your final finish length ensures that the external contouring is more concentric than if you order a long blank and then chop 6" off of it.
I have cut down factory 26" barrels to 18" and found 0.050" of barrel wall thickness differential.

If one side of the barrel is thicker, that side will expand more than the thinner side.
The expansion will cause the bore to deflect away from the thick side.
Since the scope is mounted on the receiver, the POI will wander in relation to the receiver as the barrel deflects.

The RATIO of the thickness differential is the factor that determines how much the barrel will deflect.
If you take two barrels of different contour that both have a 0.025" difference in barrel wall thickness, the thinner barrel is going to deflect more.
The thicker the barrel wall, the smaller the ratio will be and therefore the deflection will be lower.
This is part of why benchrest guns use such heavy contoured barrels.

Anything that imbalances the heating and cooling cycle will effect the thermal differential expansion as well.
A barrel that fits closely in the stock will tend to stay warmer on the underside as the top side cools down.
Additional clearance between the barrel and stock will improve the cooling of the underside of the barrel.

[LynnJr]

Randall
Your giving away all my secrets?

The barrel on my 338 Lapua Improved is 1.750 at the muzzle and the barrel channel is 2.125 inches in diameter.

[Kingair001]

Nice Lynn !

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[Donnovin]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

Relatively precise? Care to elaborate on that?

Sure. I typically use a 22" Bartlein Med Palma, 6.5 CM, and arrive at ~0.5-0.6MOA with handloads. I am not an exceptionally talented or experienced marksman. Chamber work by LRI. Barrel break in was fairly quick, ie less than 50 rounds. The Proof CF Sendero, also 22", with a Berger chamber by LRI, took ~70 rds to settle into 0.6moa with handloads.

Prime 6.5 130gr in the Bartlein shoots ~1moa. Same ammo in the Proof CF barrel shoots 0.6moa. (Probably due to the shorter throat) So far I have shot one string of 10rds with the Prime, as fast as I could work the bolt, cold bore through 10 with 0.3moa vertical and 0.75 horizontal dispersion. Load development continues with the goal of getting under 0.5moa.

I can't really comment on the thermal dynamics of the Proof Sendero CF barrel, but so far it shoots as well as my Bartlein Med Palma, and weighs a couple of pounds less. Keep in mind, this is a sample of one.

[cocorador]

I run a Proof barrel on my 223AI I built for my son. Wanted to see if it was worth the money. He's only 12 and he has to pick up the rifle and fire it when we're not at the range.

Is it anymore accurate that my other rifles with a fat heavy barrel, I can't tell. It does shoot well even after firing 20 consecutive rounds and getting all of the into a nickel at 100 yards from a cold bore. But it is only a 223 AI. I personally wouldn't do it again. Like others have said, a regular heavy barrel for target, and the proof carbon for maybe a hunting/backpacking rifle for hunting where you have to hike.

Next builds will have the regular varmint style in stainless. I could have bought 2 standard blanks and ammo.

Just my opinion.

[Dave..id]

I don't have a proof barrel, but I do run a Christiansen arms carbon barrel on my AR.

Very light. Very nice to look at. Very very accurate!


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