carbon fibre - the future?

[novice]

Thar, that sounds just the job!

Did you have to bring it over from the states yourself or were they on the import list at one time? I'm guessing they don't do them in left hand ?!?

Novice

 

[Brithunter]

While I am total agreement that a lot of UK stalkers would do well to lose a few pounds themselves before looking to trim down there rifle, I use a Browning A-Bolt Titanium mountain rifle even with a 22” barrel this weighs 5 ½ lbs it comes standard with Bell and Carlson Carbalite stock, carbon fibre, bolt shroud and titanium action. I have fixed Sarvo scope’ lightest scopes I recon’, A-tec mod and harris 25” bi-pod. It is a dream to carry as for accuracy it shoots 5/8” groups with home loads. For over 30 years now I have never been convinced that when shooting free hand that a heavy rifle is easier to shot more accurately that a lighter on in fact quite the opposite.

Brit one for you, when I was 14 all I could afford out my paper round money was a Crossman 760 pump air rifle with a 4X32 scope weight with its plastic stock 4 ½ lbs, my mate had a wealthy dad and he had a HW35 export with a 4X40 on top weight 8 plus lbs and yet both of us could shoot the Crossman more accurately in the field I have not found anything to make me think any different to this day.

ATB

Tahr

Ahhh yes I certainly need to lose a few pounds and get fitter. Am doing a bit of weight lifting I suppose now several times a day just part of the normal caring duties. Need to get out an walk more but when is the problem right now.

I still have a Crossman 766 American classic in .177" in fact I made an alloy moderator for it which is about somewhere no doubt unless it too disappeared in the raid. Now one thing to remember of course it that the Crossman in recoiless. Hmmm I had better go an check the old Crossman is still in it's box. It's been non functional for many years after the seals gave out. It needs a rebuild as I wore out the cocking bolt which was replaced in the late 1970's and god only knows how many thousands or pellets have been through it.

My normal forged steel BSA Majestic Featherweight in 270 Winchester with it's 22" barrel, walnut stock, alloy trigger guard, mag floor plate, magazine follower and forged steel action and bolt weighs 6 1/4lbs. Complete with leather sling 4 rounds of ammunition scope mounts and Lisenfeld 3-9x42 scope weighs 7lbs 12oz:-

 

[digger9523]

I've fired a Christensen Arms carbon custom rifle in 30'06. I quite liked it as a Shooting tool, and i wouldn't turn one down if it was offered to me, but looks are in the eye of the beholder.

This video is more about the scope, but it does show a carbon custom rifle in action at long range.

http://youtu.be/qOkr53FMzs8

 

[ejg]

Carbon fibre is the king of most sport equipment. Even if you don't want a light rifle, carbon fibre is the way to go.
Why? well because one can make certain areas lighter and add weight in areas where it is of benefit.
I don't think carbon fibre makes sense on the barrel or moderator. Some moderators weigh under 200grams in
aluminium and last a few seasons stalking, hard to better that.

We should ask ourselves firstly....how far do we want to shoot?
With a sporter weight barrel and ultra light well made stock 400m on deer sized targets should be achievable.
Over 400m maybe a slightly heavier/match barrel could help.

A light stock has one big advantage, it reduces initial muzzle flip on a rifle, a well shaped stock will
reduce muzzle flip in the later stage of the recoil. The initial reduced muzzle flip increases accuracy
as this is the stage where the bullet hasn't left the barrel yet. Felt recoil is a different matter but less
muzzle flip keeps the scope further away from the eye.

I just put myself a light hunting rifle together. Had a 20" remington sporter barrel left over from another project
and Fergal White had a new action lying around. My son made me a very light stock whilst testing a new resin.
The stock on this rifle weighs 20.5oz (580 grams) which includes butt pad, two swivel studs up front and the kaiser grip.
I didn't want this rifle for long range and don't like using the 243 over 250yds on deer anyway.
Rifle weighed around 5.7lb without scope. Stalked with it the first time this morning, loved it.

For longer range I use my 308 which also has a very light carbon fibre stock and light 1" scope.
This red was one of two I dropped last Sunday at a longer range. Couldn't get in closer.

edi

 

[matt_hooks]

CArbon fibre is amazing stuff, I have a heart valve made of it, but it has it's limitations. It certainly wouldn't withstand directly the temperatures and pressures generated in the chamber/throat of a CF hunting rifle. I know some people use steel tubes wrapped in carbon fibre, which in theory allows a lighter tube to be used, but the differential expansion of the two materials under heating, and the different moduluses of elasticity and other physical differences mean that a carbon fibre wrapped steel barrel, imho, will not work.

CF in the stock, fine, but I think steel in the barrel is the way forward.

 

[Thar]

Thar, that sounds just the job!

Did you have to bring it over from the states yourself or were they on the import list at one time? I'm guessing they don't do them in left hand ?!?

Novice

Hi Novice

There were one or two brought into the country by the importer, the last one I saw was at a game fair, CLA or Midland can’t remember which about 3 years ago on the importers stand, it was at the time of the introduction of the X-Bolt, there were £1,800 or three times the price of a standard A-bolt.

I always wanted one after reading reviews of them in some of the US shooting press but never thought I would find one in the UK, then one came up on here, I brought at what I thought was a good price for the complete outfit, I brought it with a thought that if the barrel was burnt out then it would make a good base for a custom rifle but the barrel was fine, I have a new un-chamber fast twist custom barrel and spare bolt head waiting in the wings for when this barrel loses its edge.
They sometimes come up on Guntrader and not everybody realises the difference between them and a standard A-Bolt so watch the Ads and don’t be put off if it isn’t quite the calibre you want would be my advice. Remington also did a Titanium actioned 700 if you can find one.

Browning also did some A-bolts with carbon fibre barrels he is one £650 sound OKish.
guntrader.co.uk - Browning .22-250 A-Bolt Carbon Fibre Bolt Action Second Hand Rifle

ATB

Tahr