Proof Research

[Blaster7Romeo]

I saw the Video Frank did about them 2 years ago on you tube but cant seem to find much more real world experience with them on here. I guess the basic question is.. Do they work as advertised.. Weight savings is not really an issue for most of us sense we are shooting heavy bolt guns in the first place. How accurate are they compared to the big barrel makers names that get used on here? Dose the POI seem to shift or walk on them like they do on steel barrels when they get warm?

 

[Pilotscrappy]

I saw the Video Frank did about them 2 years ago on you tube but cant seem to find much more real world experience with them on here. I guess the basic question is.. Do they work as advertised.. Weight savings is not really an issue for most of us sense we are shooting heavy bolt guns in the first place. How accurate are they compared to the big barrel makers names that get used on here? Dose the POI seem to shift or walk on them like they do on steel barrels?

I am Bout to find out first hand as I'm going to order my first proof barrel soon.

Everyone I have spoke with on the hide and other sites has basically confirmed all the positive reviews. Several people I spoke with ordered the steel version of the rpr barrel and love them, better yet proof has awesome customer service that is easy to get on the phone and ask questions etc.

I'm. Very much looking forward to owning one of their barrels.

 

[Crazy1323]

I dont know about the heat mitigation being better than steel, but they are just as accurate as any steel barrel I have ever used. If you are not concerned about weight, dont get a Proof CF barrel. If you want lightweight without any of the downsides of a light contour barrel, get a Proof CF.

I have a 308 in a manners CF stock with a Leupold MK6 3-18 for a super light weight hunting rifle and it is just as accurate as anything else I own.

 

[300ATT]

No different (better or worse) than Bartlein, Kreiger, Obermeyer, Lilja, Lothar Walther, Rock, Shilen ... I have them all.

The Proof breakthrough is that they don’t drift or walk as they heat up like my christensen carbon wrapped barrels did.

They are worth the $300 extra for saving weight or fixing balance issues otherwise you will not notice any difference form any of the premium barrels I mentioned above.

 

[300ATT]

The proof barrels are cool and you get additional “range cred” with them making other shooters slightly more envious than if you show up with one of the other barrels.

 

[300ATT]

Some real world results - a light dual purpose match/hunting rig I built with a proof barrel:

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...y-milehigh-its-a-shooter.6871206/post-6897374

 

[Nik H]

I have one...it is a hammer. It is light so it does change the balance of your rifle which can be good or bad.

It is expensive.

I still like my steel barrels...that is what I shoot mostly

 

[DangerRanger]

I don’t care about the heat I have one for a lightweight thick hunting barrel and really like it. I don’t see POI shift hot or cold but then again I don’t think good steel barrels should walk either.

Plus looks cool and price has come down to almost the same as a fluted cerakoted cut rifled steel barrel

 

[Dthomas3523]

They shoot fine. The ones I’ve owned will get some nasty mirage coming off them if you don’t have something mitigating it (like a solid top chassis).

That being said, if you’re not looking for weight savings, there’s really no point. That’s the whole reason they exist and you can buy two steel blanks for the price of one carbon.

Note: poi shouldn’t be “walking” on any barrel.

 

[shields shtr]

I love my proof barrels. Have one on a 6.5 Creedmoor, 6 Creedmoor, .300 win mag, and soon to have one on a 6.5 SAUM. All have been extremely accurate. I am on about 1800 rounds on my 6 creedmoor with no signs of accuracy degradation. Not sure if that is a product of the type of barrel or the fact I have my load "tuned down" to about 3000 fps. Either way, pretty happy with that.

 

[Mute]

I went with one primarily for the weight saving. If that's what you're looking for, it delivers. The barrel itself is plenty accurate, and doesn't appear to walk as you shoot and the barrel starts heating up.

 

[clcustom1911]

I have an all-stainless 1:8 twist, 24" M24 Profile on my RPR. Hammers.

 

[Rthur]

If you aren't in need of the weight savings why spend the extra coin?

R

 

[300ATT]

For the cool factor ... that’s why you by them ...

They hammer, but so do the others.

 

[Simia Dei]

I used proof steel and carbon barrels to build comp and hunting guns that are almost identical. Balance is obviously different between the two, the bottom rifle is so easy to get up into the shoulder. Massive fan of the carbon barrel, similar results from the same load as well.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

You can get one for an AXMC for under a $1,000 now from mile high..

But for a MRAD and it seems to be a $700 upcharge from a standard barrle any way I look at it..

So price depends on platform lol

 

[300ATT]

I experience about a $300 uplift on the proofs but I hear the prices are dropping slightly.

 

[Nitrosteel]

Simia Dei - what contour are those barrels and what do each of those finished rifles with scopes weigh?

 

[Simia Dei]

Simia Dei - what contour are those barrels and what do each of those finished rifles with scopes weigh?

Medium palma on the top rifle and carbon sendero on the bottom. I can’t remember their exact weights but I think it was 13.6 for the top rifle and 11lb for the bottom rifle. I’d have to go and reweigh them to confirm.

 

[OverWatching]

I love the idea and plan to get one...just wish they came in tan.

 

[deersniper]

I used proof steel and carbon barrels to build comp and hunting guns that are almost identical. Balance is obviously different between the two, the bottom rifle is so easy to get up into the shoulder. Massive fan of the carbon barrel, similar results from the same load as well.

View attachment 7075825

Those rifles are sweet. What caliber?

 

[Simia Dei]

Those rifles are sweet. What caliber?

Cheers mate, they're both chambered in 7mm SAW

 

[sleeplz]

They look cool. I've been playing with them and they group as well as any other barrels I've played with.

 

[Travis224]

I like them, seems like they multiply.

 

[MSTN]

Addictive:

 

[gnochi]

That KRG Habu chassis is gorgeous!

I need a bit more carbon fiber on my rig. Maybe MDT will get around to CF side plates for the vertical grip?

As far as the Proof barrel is concerned, it shoots better than I do. I don’t see any walking, etc., and the ~3lb savings is pretty nice, though I doubt I’ll carry this rifle on another mountain hunt.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

I got rid of my MRAD and got a AXMC and ordered a 300WM CF proof.. only a month in so will see what happens

 

[Maelstrom]

Addictive:

Who makes that upper or hand guard?

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

Battle Arms Dev.

 

[hunter8793]

I love my proof barrels. Have one on a 6.5 Creedmoor, 6 Creedmoor, .300 win mag, and soon to have one on a 6.5 SAUM. All have been extremely accurate. I am on about 1800 rounds on my 6 creedmoor with no signs of accuracy degradation. Not sure if that is a product of the type of barrel or the fact I have my load "tuned down" to about 3000 fps. Either way, pretty happy with that.

Good to hear! I’m thinking about the .300 win mag barrel. Is it everything you hoped it would be?

 

[shields shtr]

Good to hear! I’m thinking about the .300 win mag barrel. Is it everything you hoped it would be?

Sure is. Boringly accurate. Shot 185VLDS, 215 Hybrid Targets, and 195 ELDM's all under 1/2 MOA. I also shoot a TBAC ultra 7 on all my guns and notice almost zero POI shift going from suppressed to unsuppressed. Not sure if this is attributable to the stiffness of the barrel, but I do notice a little more POI shift on my steel barrels vs carbon.

 

[hunter8793]

Sure is. Boringly accurate. Shot 185VLDS, 215 Hybrid Targets, and 195 ELDM's all under 1/2 MOA. I also shoot a TBAC ultra 7 on all my guns and notice almost zero POI shift going from suppressed to unsuppressed. Not sure if this is attributable to the stiffness of the barrel, but I do notice a little more POI shift on my steel barrels vs carbon.

Sweet! Thanks for the info. It sounds like you have some awesome rifles! Enjoy!

 

[iceng]

My experience:
- As accurate as any other brand barrel, but not more accurate (it's not some hidden advantage to use one)

- they DO handle heat better than traditional cromo or stainless barrels for a given contour.

- rifle balance is different, so recoil and balance changes a bit.

- they do not burn out faster. Whatever claim a cartridge has about shot life, it's the same on carbon.

- I have not set one back yet on throat ererrosion, because there is not enough material to do so

- you can not get a blank and then "pick your length" by cutting it to size. You need to order it as the length you desire, or settle with what you can get on the day. (Don't get a 26" and then expect to trim to 24" and thread for a brake).

- they tend to take longer to dial in for machining and are more fussy on setup. The 'Smith has to be on the level to make them work properly. (I've machined about 20 or so, in various brands).

 

[zog]

The proof barrels are cool and you get additional “range cred” with them making other shooters slightly more envious than if you show up with one of the other barrels.

Ha the only thing that makes me envious is the guys who shoot bugholes with the cheapest blued rifle setup they have. Now THAT'S range cred to me! So much more impressive than the ones who bring their gunwerks proofs and shoot about a 1" group plus "flyers" on the 100 yds.

Don't get me wrong - if I could afford it I would be out there with one, but I wouldn't be very impressed with myself unless I use the expensive setup to get 1" groups on the 500 yds.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

I just received my prefit 300wm barrle for my AXMC last week.. hope to start putting some rounds throe it in the next few days

Thanks for everyone replays and I will report back.

 

[300ATT]

1" groups on the 500 yards is a good start ...

 

[Sincerd]

Proof had vector \ terminus prefits on their site since shot. Wonder if they will make any other factory made prefits. They are about the same price as blanks.

 

[surgeon260]

I have a couple - one on a 28 Nosler, one on a 284. They shoot great and they look even better. But unless I decide to build a super lightweight carry rifle, I won't be buying any more. Not worth the price premium to me over Bartlein. I also don't like that you are stuck with their limited catalog of twists, breech diameters, lengths, and contours. Compared to Bartlein which will make you any crazy barrel you want.

One observation about my Proofs:

They copper fouled like crazy during break in, for far longer than my Bartleins. I don't have a borescope, but it seems like they aren't finish lapped like a Bartlein. I can't say this affected the precision, just annoying. YMMV.

 

[Pre-64]

I have a couple - one on a 28 Nosler, one on a 284. They shoot great and they look even better. But unless I decide to build a super lightweight carry rifle, I won't be buying any more. Not worth the price premium to me over Bartlein. I also don't like that you are stuck with their limited catalog of twists, breech diameters, lengths, and contours. Compared to Bartlein which will make you any crazy barrel you want.

One observation about my Proofs:

They copper fouled like crazy during break in, for far longer than my Bartleins. I don't have a borescope, but it seems like they aren't finish lapped like a Bartlein. I can't say this affected the precision, just annoying. YMMV.

I’ve been thinking of building a PR barrel in 28 nosler, if you don’t mind me asking, what are the specs on yours? I’ve got 3 28 nosler, 2 custom and one nosler factory, they all shoot sub 1/2 but only with the lighter bullets, none of them will shoot anything in the 170 plus under 1 1/2.

 

[MSTN]

Maelestrom - Battle Arms Development makes the hand guard. Upper and lower receivers, too. Great stuff.

 

[CMP70306]

I have owned two, a 6.5 Creedmoor and a 6.5 PRC. Both were hammers but I only bought the Creedmoor because I was in a jam with no barrel one week before a shooting class and needed it overnighted to do load work ups. Easily shot under 1/2 MOA with the first five loads I tried so I loaded 300 of the fastest and went to the class.

After I got the original barrel I ordered I sold it to a friend and bought the 6.5 PRC for a hunting rifle. The primary reason was weight savings while still allowing enough threads for a suppressor. It finished at 9.75 pounds which is about half a pound lighter than the new Model 70 and within an oz of my Pre-War which was my go to hunting rifle.

 

[surgeon260]

I’ve been thinking of building a PR barrel in 28 nosler, if you don’t mind me asking, what are the specs on yours? I’ve got 3 28 nosler, 2 custom and one nosler factory, they all shoot sub 1/2 but only with the lighter bullets, none of them will shoot anything in the 170 plus under 1 1/2.

It is a Gradous-built Surgeon 1086, Manners EH-1, Huber 2 stage. The barrel is a Proof 1.250 diameter, 3" shank, Sendero contour, 8 twist, 28" finish. I was originally going to do a 7-300 Norma, but I got cold feet about barrel life. I don't think Proof even sells that exact barrel anymore, which is frustrating and one of the reasons I've kind of moved on from them.

I shoot Berger 180s around 3180 with N570. It's my dedicated pronghorn rifle.

Edited to add pic: