Proof Research Carbon Fiber Barrels - AR10 Rifles

With the release of its new patent-pending Caliber Matched Gas System (CAMGAS) barrels, PROOF Research has eliminated the issues traditionally associated with building 6.5mm and .260 rifles on 308AR/AR-10 platforms. Until now, AR-variant shooters looking for ballistic advantages from either of these calibers were faced with excessive bore pressures that necessitated makeshift solutions such as clipping buffer springs, adjusting buffer weights, and/or relying on adjustable gas blocks, to keep their rifles functioning properly.

PROOF’s R&D team has solved the overpressure issue with gas systems tuned specifically to the cartridge/barrel-length combination. “By moving the gas port, the pressure in the bore is given time to reduce to that comparable of a .308 Winchester with a rifle-length gas system, which is what the 308AR/AR-10 system was designed around,” said Greg Hamilton, PROOF’s research-and-development weapons specialist who’s also a 3-Gun and PRS competitive shooter. “The recoil impulse is noticeably smoother, which helps keep you on target while taking advantage of a more efficient projectile. Case extraction is also easier, with less case-head smearing, so the brass is in much better condition for reloading.”

In recent years, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington have become increasingly popular in long-range shooting competitions. The .260 in particular represents an outstanding caliber for a military counter-sniper role—out to roughly 1,000 meters—in smaller- to mid-sized weapon systems. It offers exceptional accuracy and superior ballistics over the ubiquitous .308 while dishing out substantially less recoil and enough energy to make it a legitimate contender for military and law enforcement applications.

“I’ve been using prototype CAMGAS barrels, in both .260 and 6.5 Creedmoor, in competition for almost a year with excellent results,” Hamilton explained. “Both rifles ran flawlessly through high-round, fast-cadence stages, firing hundreds of rounds with 100 percent reliability and zero maintenance or cleaning. From recoil to reliability, every aspect of performance was improved compared to the typical un-tuned barrel.”

PROOF Research currently offers Caliber Matched Gas System barrels chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington in three separate lengths: 20, 22, and 24 inches. Every CAMGAS barrel comes standard with an easy to install custom-length gas tube.

THE ONLY CARBON FIBER-WRAPPED BARREL APPROVED FOR USE BY THE U.S. MILITARY.

This patented manufacturing process begins with full-profile, match-grade 416R stainless steel barrel blanks that are made in our firearms division. These blanks are then turned down to a significantly reduced profile greatly reducing weight. This reduced contour barrel is then filament-wrapped with high-strength, aerospace-grade carbon fibers impregnated with a high-thermal conductivity matrix resin developed by our aerospace materials division.

The aerospace-grade carbon fiber used is 10 times stronger than stainless steel and has a specific stiffness nearly 6 times greater than steel. But strength and stiffness are only part of the equation. Heat conductivity and thermal expansion are also of paramount importance when developing a match-grade, carbon fiber barrel. Our helical wrapping pattern favors the longitudinal thermal diffusivity of the carbon fibers (along the length of the barrel) allowing them to dissipate the heat emanating from the steel liner rather than insulate it. This is achieved through phonon transport in the direction of the continuous fibers and greatly reduces the mirage effect intrinsic in heavy steel barrels.

However, because our unique bonding agent contains a high-thermal pitch fiber—similar to those proven in Formula One and aerospace applications—our barrels also conduct heat very effectively through the wall (thickness) of the barrel, greatly increasing thermal conductivity and resulting in barrels that stay cooler and maintain accuracy over longer sessions of fire.

After wrapping, barrels are cured and consolidated then ground to their final contour. The end result is an aerospace-grade, high-fiber volume fraction composite barrel with less than 1% porosity suitable for the most extreme environments and capable of shot-after-shot accuracy that will impress the most veteran hunter or precision marksmen.

PROOF Research’s match-grade carbon fiber barrels are stronger, lighter, as accurate as the finest precision steel barrels and will maintain their performance in the harshest conditions. PROOF didn’t invent carbon fiber-wrapped barrels. They just perfected them.

• Up to 64% lighter than traditional steel barrels
• Match-grade accuracy
• Improved heat dissipation for cooler and longer lasting barrels
• No point-of-impact shift during high-volume fire
• Reduced harmonic barrel vibration
• Unprecedented durability

Barrels are available for both bolt-action and AR-style rifles, in a variety of calibers, lengths and twists.  This is the AR-10 page.

Your barrel comes pre-chambered and headspaced in selected cartridges, ready-to-install by a qualified individual.

All AR-10 308 barrels are headspaced for the JP EnhancedBolt™ part # JP308-MP. The 260 Rem and 6.5 Creedmoor barrels require the High Pressue EnhancedBolt™ part#JPEB308-HP. Get your new bolt here.