Carbon or Steel?
Steel. Hands down. Yes, we pissed off the carbon brothers out there, but hear us out at least.
Why would you go carbon? Carbon barrels are lighter – Did you know that you can get many steel barrels to weigh just as close to a carbon by fluting the correct barrel with the right flute? A barrel that is cut rifled ( not button) can get a smaller profile and fluted without risk of barrel tweaking after machining.
Steel rifle barrels as we know them have been produced pretty much the same singe the late 1890’s. Are there steel barrels that dont shoot? Yes. Are there carbon barrels that shoot really well? Yes. We are talking on average, we see more issues with carbon barrels (Especially certain makers) than steel.
If there are USUALLY less issues with steel, and the weight can be close to the same with steel, why risk it with carbon? There is also something to be said with accuracy by having a little more weight out front on your gun. Just like a stabilizer on a bow. A little more weight out front will help every time.
But I carry it in the mountains! If 1-2lbs is your issue, take a shit. Get your ass on some weight and cardio to lose 2-3 lbs off your ass instead. Hunting is expensive, don’t risk a missed shot or accuracy because you were too lazy to lose 2 lbs off your love handles.