At SHOT 2005 we met up with Mike from ABS and sealed a deal for taking one of the 458 SOCOM barrels and making it a carbon fiber version. As part of a complete project (I need a new personal 458 upper as I have sold the last one I built for myself), here is the start, the barrel
The original barrel was one of the 20" Lothar Walther stainless steel versions weighing in at 3.25 lbs (not bad but no light weight either)
Following the CF treatment, and WITH ABS brake installed, the result is a solid 1 lb drop in weight
Here are the CF barrel next to a similar SS barrel.
The complete rifle will be a longer range version, meant for harassing larger targets at increased range. The parts are here, the initial fit test has been done and we are thinking of dubbing her "Night Shade" (pretty but deadly) Pictures will follow