Proof barrels

John18

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Does anyone have any experience with proof barrels for larger calibers? I’m having a 375 made and was considering one but I can’t find any reviews on their larger caliber barrels.
 
Is "proof" a company? I am confused.
 

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Never heard of Proof Research or their barrels. But then I do not make guns.
 
Yes proof research was the company I was curious about. They are supposed to make really good barrels, I just do not have and personal experience with them.
 
Proof Research barrels are upcoming new technology in Barrels. Carbon fiber composites cutting barrel weights.
 
Proof worked with Desert Tech or at least an intermediary to build some 375CT barrels. They are listed on the site for aftermarket products, so I imagine they are holding up well enough for them.
 
Proof Barrels are excellent, generally speaking. I’ve got a number of them from .22lr thru .338LM and I know they have done them for .50BMG and even the Apache M230 30mm chain gun.

I like the weight reduction and fast cooling. I hunt in the mountains and shoot my hunting rifles year round for training, so the Proof barrels have a lot of value for me. I guess the question is “what are you trying to achieve” with a barrel that is $950 before chambering and threading? The price is steep if you don’t need the benefits it offers.

I know a lot of the people there personally and they’re a great company with a lot of dedication to constantly improving their product.
 
In the smaller calibers, Proof seems to be a hot item in precision shooting.
 
What I’m looking for more than anything is an accurate barrel, chambering cost isn't relevant for me be cause based on the cost of the blaser r8 and other similar rifles I decided to have a custom rifle built. I prefer synthetic stock and chassis over wood stock so more money is going into the action and barrel. I know proof has a good reputation, but I have bartlein on 2 other rifles and like them a lot but I wanted to get a lower weight that those for this rifle.
 
They’ll shoot as well as your Bartleins if chambered and crowned as well as your Bartleins. I’ve got a bunch of both and you should not have any accuracy discrepancy between the two.

If you’re looking to drop weight and not sacrifice the performance of a heavier contour barrel, Proof is the only barrel I’d consider. The other carbon-wrapped barrels out there don’t have the process and development history they’ve been able to cultivate.
 
Echo what is stated above. Proof is who to use and you will get an extremely well made barrel, as accurate as other premium blanks.
 
Proof barrels are good but they are target contour barrels. Their conventional barrels are no better or worse than similar premium tubes from Bartlein, kreiger, and so on.

carbon wrap isn’t really that big of an advantage as you have to go up in diameter to achieve similar strength. Carrying a chassis system (AI type) with a target contour barreled rifle would be miserable. Ounces are pounds and pounds are pain.

if you do go with a carbon wrap, find a very good Smith. They can’t chamber it like a conventional barrel. The workholding must never touch the carbon wrap as any crush to it can cause serious damage. I would use Chad Dixon at LRI.
 
Some of the chassis are in the 2.5 lbs range which is the same as a wood stock. As long as the total weight of rifle stays below 8-9lbs I don’t see chassis or stock being an issue.
 
There’s no shortage of lightweight stocks available that will accommodate the Proof barrels. Not sure how stock options could be considered a problem if weight is a concern.
 
I built a Tikka today with a Proof carbon Sendero 24” 6.5 PRC barrel that weights exactly 2oz more than the factory T3X Lite 300WM Stainless barreled action. If that same barrel in .30 was used it would weigh almost exactly the same.

Carbon is a huge advantage in that in the longer magnum tubes it weighs about TWO POUNDS LESS compared to the same steel barrel.
 
have put about 6000 rds through a douglas supreme 25 cal with no problem had it measured a while back and it is the same it was when I bought it maybe im not running them hot enough?????
 
6000 is a huge amount for any real 25 cal rifle.
it is even a lot for a 308.
bruce.
 
I built a Tikka today with a Proof carbon Sendero 24” 6.5 PRC barrel that weights exactly 2oz more than the factory T3X Lite 300WM Stainless barreled action. If that same barrel in .30 was used it would weigh almost exactly the same.

Carbon is a huge advantage in that in the longer magnum tubes it weighs about TWO POUNDS LESS compared to the same steel barrel.


Not really. Diameter vs stiffness and strength are not 1=1 when comparing steel vs carbon fiber.

To have an equally strong/stiff/temp insensitive barrel between a carbon wrapped tube and a steel tube, the carbon tube needs to be about 25% larger in diameter.

The marketing on carbon fiber wrapped tubes alway ignores this fact and tries to compare tubes of equal diameter...but tubes of equal diameter favor steel in performance.

For pure stiffness, accuracy, and longevity, nothing beats a heavy thick short barrel.

That doesn’t always make a great hunting rifle.

Plus, carbon wrap can fail when damaged...it has durability issues with point impacts.

It’s a technology that markets better than it works imo.
 

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