New Carbon-Wrapped Barrels from Helix 6 Precision
Are you looking to shave POUNDS from your hunting rig or varmint rifle? There is a new option for folks looking for a weight-saving, carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. You’ve probably heard about Proof Research. That’s a good company that crafts good products. But now Proof Research has some competition — Helix 6 Precision in Washington State.
Helix 6 Precision crafts button-rifled, carbon-wrapped barrels in both conventional and “pre-fit” configurations. Pre-fits are offered for Savage rifles as well as the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) series. These pre-fit barrels are not cheap. A 6.5 Creedmoor RPR pre-fit costs $995.00, while the Savage pre-fits are also just under a grand. The conventional barrel blanks cost $895.00 in .224, .243, .264, .284, and .308 calibers. The larger .338 caliber barrels run $945.00.
While Helix 6 barrels do offer significant weight savings, the founders of Helix 6 say low mass wasn’t the number one design goal: “Accuracy was paramount and weight reduction was secondary. We’ve taken the industry’s most advanced carbon fiber engineering and pushed the technology further with our proprietary … carbon fiber process.”
The founders of Helix 6 Precision say they build some of the best carbon/steel hybrid barrels on the market: “Our unique carbon fiber-layup design dampens barrel harmonics for better accuracy. Each barrel is cut from a 416R stainless steel core, and carbon fiber-wrapped using the Helix 6 Precision’s advanced process. This creates match-grade accuracy barrels with high heat dispersion that are 30% lighter than a steel barrel of the same contour. The bores are … hand-lapped for precision accuracy.” Helix 6 claims its barrels are “lighter, stronger, and faster cooling than anything else available on the market.”
Myth vs. Reality — What Carbon Can and Cannot Do
Carbon fiber is formed using thin strands of carbon bonded together with a plastic polymer resin. The resulting material is very strong and light weight. There’s a reason Formula 1 cars are crafted with carbon-fiber composites. But is a carbon-wrapped barrel the right option for you? Here are some factors to consider:
Weight Savings — There’s no doubt that a carbon-wrapped barrel will weigh less than an unfluted stainless steel barrel with identical length and contour (outside diameters). Helix 6 claims a 30% weight reduction compared to a conventional stainless steel barrel. That’s significant.
Accuracy — Carbon-wrapped barrels are NOT commonly being used for F-Class or Benchrest competition. However, Proof Research carbon-wrapped barrels have performed well in PRS competitions in the hands of top shooters. So, we can conclude that carbon accuracy is good enough for the PRS/NRL tactical game, at least at the local club level.
Heat Dispersion — Carbon-wrapped barrel-makers claim their hybrid design disperses heat better than an all-steel barrel. Some independent testers disagree, saying: “hold on now — the carbon actually acts as an insulator, so more heat is retained in the barrel”. The jury is still out. One thing that is true is that the carbon barrels seem to generate less mirage from barrel heat. Ask yourself, “if less heat is coming OFF the barrel, where is that heat retained?” But the reduced mirage could be a function of the black woven surface which may release heat differently than polished steel.
Standard, Pre-Fit, and Custom Barrel Options
Helix 6 Precision barrels are available as pre-fit barrels for both Savage and the Ruger Precision Rifle in many popular long-range cartridges. Barrel blanks are sold in five calibers from .224 to .338. Helix 6 can also thread and chamber a barrel for any precision rifle. Helix 6 Precision also builds one-off barrels to fit individual needs.
Similar Posts:
- Helix 6 Carbon-Wrapped Barrels — Pre-Fits and Blanks
- Carbon-Wrapped Savage Pre-Fit Barrels Now Available
- Technology Insight: How Carbon-Wrapped Barrels Are Made
- How Carbon Fiber-Wrapped Barrels Are Made — Video Feature
- PROOF Research Video Reveals Carbon-Wrap Barrel Technology
Tags: Carbon Barrel, Helix 6, hunting, Lightweight Barrels, Mirage, Proof Research, Savage Pre-Fit
Finally someone has acknowledged that cf is an insulator. Back when I started college to be a metallurgical engineer, carbon and all the resins (around 150 then) acted as an insulator. I’ve been watching all these claims that the barrels run cooler. Cooler? Why, because you can touch it? Look, if the heat isn’t radiating out the barrel away from the chamber, it’s going somewhere, like the receiver. Heat travels from a hot body to a cooler body. That’s simple physics. So, what’s the gut check? Does anybody have any proof that barrel life is shorter or longer because the metal tube is wearing a jacket? I’d love to see two identical rifles have a test with different barrels under a thermal vision camera. Make it 3 barrels; 1 carbon-wrapped, one bull, and one light-contour. It’ll be a lesson in heat transfer (or retention.)
I say ask yourself are you worried about heat or how the heat effects your shot placement. if I have a light weight barrel looking for a light weight build how mant shots on a bench can I ge during my load development am I going to get. my extensive experience in building ultra light mountain rifles has proven at max 3 shots and your done bullets start walking. now a carbon barrel of the same weight it acts more like a heavy steel barrel allowing for a few more before you start seeing the issues that you do in a ultra light barrel. Am I sold on carbon barrels yes helix-6 builds the fines carbon barrels on the market hunting, f class and ELR I have them all.