Carbon fiber AR barrel

[spyder]

I'm about 6 months late on this... However, I've been talking with a lot of different people, manufacturers, and have found out some useful info... Basically, the uglier barrels, the ones without the prettier wrapping, are what I would call the better ones. Carbon fiber, graphite, is stronger than steel, sorry, but it is. It also disipates heat a hell of a lot faster. Also, graphite, what the main part of these things are made of, doesn't have a low melting point... seeing how it's, well, coal basically (carbon), and people who say this have no clue as to what they are talking about. These barrels, the better made ones, are strong as hell. I've watched a couple videos where they took a normal M4 profile, stepped on it with weight, and watched it bend a little. They did this with the graphite wrapped barrel, it slightly curved, but then immediately went back into place. They did add more weight, and the carbon barrel snapped where the M4 just got all bent to hell (didn't break, but still worthless). The thing is, the graphite wrapped barrel is a hell of a lot more tolerant of heat, and is a lot stiffer than a full steel barrel. Now the price, well.... You're gona pay for a good one. Where steel barrels warp because of the heat/cold difference in the inside and difference on the outside, a graphite wrapped barrel isn't going to, it's been tested, and proven. Graphite just isn't drastically affected by temp. like metal is, proven fact guys. Then comes the major question... Why aren't more companies going to them? One, the price is friggen high. Two, because there are so many people who believe that they know more about science than the people actually testing them, or the scientists and engineers making them. Ignorance is bliss. Three, they don't know how to make the damn things and buying one again, is a kick in the ass price wise. Price to benifit just isn't in it for them. Are the barrels worth the money? Not to me. Are they better? Ya, in every way, but not enough to make the drastic price worth it to my poor ass. It's when you talk about how much better, to what you're going to pay, is when it gets ridiculous. Now if I could pay another $100 for a good one, then ya, I'd say go for it. But when you're talking about an extra $400 and up for one..... You go for it..... Then there's the question of would I take one into battle? Um, if it wasn't my cash, hell ya I would. You're getting a lot lighter, stronger, and stiffer barrel for your rifle, why the hell wouldn't you take it into battle? What would break a well made graphite wrapped barrel, would still destroy a normal barrel. Of course if you're worried, you could always go with the .935 diameter wrapped barrels.....

I need to correct something that I said in this... the price. For a 16" barrel that is .935 in diameter, 1/7 or 1/9 twist in .223/556, you're looking at $960... That price doesn't include threading, chambering, or fitting. All of those other things need to be done by your gunsmith. So, in the end, are they better? Yes, but not worth the price....