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The Gun Of The Future - Carbon Fiber Rifles

No matter how much it can be argued that items such as boots, coats, camo gear and tree stands are important parts of a hunter's equipment, there can never be anything more important to the hunt than the hunter's rifle. Just like manufacturers of all of these other items strive to make hunting easier or more comfortable, rifle-making companies are always researching ways to make their product just a little bit better.

One of the most recent major advances in this field is the use of carbon fiber technology in the manufacture of firearms. This technology combines long strands of carbon atoms woven together to form a very strong mesh with plastic polymers that can be molded into any shape. The resulting carbon fiber composite material can be used to form rifle stocks. Additionally, stainless steel rifle barrels can be wrapped with a protective layer of the composite, or barrels can be made entirely of the composite. The use of this technology provides a number of improvements to the hunting rifle.

Weight - Carbon fiber composite is significantly lighter than both wood and steel.  As stocks and barrels are replaced, the weight of the overall gun is considerably reduced. When hiking mountain trails on a hunt for several hours, the difference between a 9-lb. traditional rifle and a 6-lb. composite rifle will be noticeable. When looking to reduce rifle weight, consideration still needs to be given to the effect weight has on the recoil energy transferred to the hunter's shoulder. A lighter rifle will kick much harder than a heavier model of the same caliber.

Durability - Although traditional bluing on rifle barrels and finishes on wooden stocks work to help preserve these materials over time, exposure to the elements will eventually begin to break them down. By comparison, composite materials are relatively unaffected by high heat, light, water or humidity levels. While proper care and maintenance is still critical, anything that can help protect the hunter's most prized possession is always welcomed.

Accuracy - Composite material has a higher rigidity than steel, which, when applied to a rifle barrel, helps to minimize barrel vibration and improve overall accuracy of the weapon. The accuracy of composite barrels can be negatively impacted by the fact that composite materials heat up faster than steel. This, however, has little impact on a hunting rifle because the rapid firing of a large number of rounds is nearly non-existent in a hunting situation.

Whether a hunter is enamored with the latest and greatest or loyal to tradition, there is no denying carbon fiber composite will play a major role in the rifles of the future and the present.  

To learn more, contact a resource that carries hunting rifles.


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