Kinda what I'm wondering. My buddy who shoots a ton of completely anti carbon. But my other friend works for Proof and another friend has a Proof.
I was just thinking back to last season and how many miles I hiked a rifle. Buddy A says a rifle is not where you want to cut weight. But climbing up and down coulees and litterel cliff walls with a 15# rifle wouldn't be fun.
My 22-250 has gone on a few walks with me and it's just not fun after a few trips.
Well putting a deposit on a Big Horn Origin. Thanks guys.
Sent from my SM-G975U
Save weight everywhere. Proof CF is an easy button when it comes to the barrel.
The difference, if there is any, in weight and stiffness between a heavily fluted barrel and a Proof carbon fiber is minimal. Bartlein carbon fiber seems heavier than Proof. In the end, the difference is minimal and going steel isn't any "better" in any significant practical sense, but neither is steel significantly better. Get what makes you feel better.
I like and know Proof, so that's what I get. They were first to perfect it, and have never done me wrong.
I also like that they aren't as cold in the winter.
In the end, when I talk about stiffness in performance, it isn't overall "stiffness" measured by deflection so much I suppose as the ability to maintain the same point of impact when firing a string. All barrels whip, some whip less than others.
I think performance is the end all. Proof cf, cause that is what I have experience with, is a 100% performer. And, it provides known weight savings.
When it comes to cost, that can be close and some prefit CF can be less than a steel fluted that a smith chambers. An Origin can take the TL3 prefit with a Hunts Long Range recoil lug.