True-Flite NZ · Carbon-wrapped barrels

Less weight on the hill.
True-Flite at the heart.

A match-grade 416R stainless core made in Gisborne, wrapped in Kilwell carbon fibre in Rotorua. A big, stiff barrel profile for far less weight than steel. $2,400 fitted or $1,600 as a blank.

Build your carbon barrel ↗See weights & finishes ↓
650 g

Measured, not guessed. In our own test a carbon-wrapped barrel weighed 650 g (1.43 lb) less than its steel twin with the same calibre, length and outside profile.

416R stainless coreRifled in Gisborne
Kilwell carbonWrapped in Rotorua, NZ
16″ to 30″Three carbon finishes
0.136″ at 100 mOur first carbon wrap, 7 PRC

Carbon explorer

Pick a finish. Set the length.

Carbon wrap Unidirectional

Drawn to scale · true proportion

Estimated weight · wrapped blank~1.31 kg1.30–1.32 kg · based on a weighed steel core
A · B Knox Ø × length
31 mm × 60 mm
C Taper start Ø
26 mm
E Muzzle Ø
22 mm
D Blank length
647.7 mm

Steel at the breech and muzzle for fitting and threading, carbon over the full taper between. See the A–H template ↓

Carbon finish
16″20″24″30″

Steel weights are calculated for a 416R blank of the same length.

$2,400 fitted (chambered, crowned, threaded) or $1,600 as a blank. Lead time 6–8 weeks.

Build & price it ↗

Carbon contour template

Every dimension, to scale.

The standard carbon wrapped blank at your chosen length, drawn in true proportion. Blanks are supplied 1.5″ (38.1 mm) longer than the nominal length for docking at the muzzle.

Drawn to scale at 24″ nominal. Silver: exposed 416R steel. Carbon: Kilwell wrap. On a phone the letters match the list below.
  1. AKnox diameterFull diameter at the breech, in steel for fitting.31 mm
  2. BKnox lengthStraight steel section before the transition.60 mm
  3. FTransitionSmooth step from knox to taper.70 mm
  4. CTaper start ØThe same at every length.26 mm
  5. GMain taperCarbon-wrapped taper to the muzzle end. Changes with length.
  6. HMuzzle endExposed steel for docking, crowning and threading.58.1 mm
  7. EMuzzle ØThe same at every length.22 mm
  8. DBlank lengthNominal length plus 1.5″ for muzzle docking.

Weights by length

Carbon against steel.

Wrapped blank weights in kg, with calculated 416R steel blanks of the same length for comparison. Tap a row to load it into the explorer.

NominalBlank length DCarbon blankNo. 3 steelVarmint steel
16″406 mm444.5 mm~1.03
18″457 mm495.3 mm~1.10
20″508 mm546.1 mm~1.17
22″559 mm596.9 mm1.23–1.25
24″610 mm647.7 mm1.30–1.32
26″660 mm698.5 mm~1.38
28″711 mm749.3 mm~1.45
30″762 mm800.1 mm~1.52

Carbon: 22″ and 24″ from weighed steel cores plus a 100–120 g wrap; other lengths are length-based estimates. Steel: calculated for 416R at 7.75 g/cm³ with a .30 bore. All blank weights, before docking, chambering and fitting. The Varmint has a similar outside size to the carbon barrel.

Why carbon

Less to carry. Nothing lost.

Steel stays where the bore needs it. Carbon does the rest of the job around it.

Carry weight

650 g lighter than its steel twin in our measured pair. That is a scope’s worth of weight off your rifle.

Stiff for its weight

The wrap adds rigidity around the core. Kilwell designs its laminate for low weight and stiffness.

Vibration damping

The composite is designed to help vibration die away, as a working part of the barrel.

A True-Flite bore

Rifling stays in our button-rifled 416R core. The carbon complements the barrel inside it.

Proven on target

Excellent five- to ten-shot groups in our testing, and 0.136″ for three shots from our first carbon wrap.

Looks the part

Three carbon finishes with polished steel ends, made and wrapped in New Zealand.

How it is made

True-Flite steel. Kilwell carbon.

Two New Zealand specialists, one point of contact. You deal with us from order to delivery.

  1. 01 · GISBORNE

    The steel core

    We button-rifle a match-grade 416R stainless core in your calibre and twist.

  2. 02 · ROTORUA

    The carbon wrap

    Kilwell Fibrelab wraps it in low-resin prepreg carbon, with the laminate matched to the profile and a bonding layer between the plies.

  3. 03 · YOUR RIFLE

    Fitted or blank

    We chamber, crown, thread and fit it to your rifle, or supply it as a blank for your gunsmith.

Stiffness and strength

Stiffness is resistance to bending; strength is the load before failure. For a light rifle the question is how much rigidity you get for the weight, and carbon around a steel core gives a lot.

Heat, honestly

Heat moves through the steel, the carbon and the bond between them, so cooling depends on the whole construction. Our accuracy testing does not measure cooling speed, and we make no cooling guarantee.

More on the wrapping: Kilwell Fibrelab ↗

Carbon or stainless?

Both shoot. Pick by how you hunt.

Both have a True-Flite steel bore. The difference is what surrounds it.

Carbon-wrappedAll-stainless
Construction416R core, carbon-fibre body, steel ends416R steel throughout
WeightAbout 1.30–1.32 kg for a 24″ blank, with a stiff, full profileAbout 1.56 kg (No. 3) to 2.35 kg (Varmint) for a 24″ blank, calculated
Best forRifles carried a long way: mountain, backcountry, huntingAny contour, plus extra mass for target and bench
Options3 carbon finishes, 16″ to 30″15 contours, fluting, Aerocell, Cerakote, up to 34″
Price fitted$2,400 incl GSTFrom $1,750 incl GST

Compare steel profiles on our barrel contours page.

Carbon barrel questions

Answers before you order.

What is a carbon-wrapped rifle barrel?

A carbon-wrapped barrel combines a steel rifled core with a carbon-fibre exterior. True-Flite uses a match-grade 416R stainless steel core, with exposed stainless sections at the breech and muzzle.

Where are True-Flite carbon barrels made?

True-Flite makes the 416R stainless cores in Gisborne, New Zealand. Kilwell Fibrelab completes the carbon wrapping in Rotorua, New Zealand.

How much does a True-Flite carbon barrel weigh?

Our standard carbon-wrapped blank is about 1.03 kg at 16″ up to 1.52 kg at 30″. The 22″ and 24″ figures are based on weighed steel cores plus the carbon wrap; the other lengths are length-based estimates. Fitting, chambering and docking take a little more off.

How much lighter is carbon than steel?

In our own comparison, a carbon-wrapped barrel weighed 650 g less than its steel twin with the same calibre, length and outside profile. The calculator above compares the carbon blank with our steel contours at the same length.

How much does a carbon barrel cost?

$2,400 incl GST fitted, including chambering, crowning, muzzle thread and bead blast on the steel ends, or $1,600 incl GST as a blank. Lead time is typically 6–8 weeks.

Which carbon finishes can I choose?

Unidirectional, triaxial or 12K. You can see each one on the drawing above and choose it in the Barrel Builder.

Can True-Flite fit a carbon barrel to my rifle?

Yes. Choose Fitted in the Barrel Builder and add your rifle make, model and chambering. We confirm suitability before the order goes ahead.

Have True-Flite carbon barrels been accuracy tested?

Yes. In our own testing they have shot excellent five- to ten-shot groups, and the first True-Flite carbon wrap, a 7 PRC, shot 0.136″ for three shots at 100 m. Results depend on the complete rifle and ammunition.

What should I know about carbon barrels and heat?

Heat moves through the steel core, the carbon laminate and the bond between them, so cooling depends on the whole construction. Our accuracy testing does not measure cooling speed, and we do not make a cooling guarantee.

Order

Build it online, or talk it through.

Choose finish, calibre, twist, chambering and length in the Barrel Builder and see it drawn and priced. Or send us your rifle and we will recommend the spec.

Barrel Builder ↗Build a complete rifle ↗Ask us ↗
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