Proof Research is the company that made carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels a serious proposition rather than a gimmick, and this PXT blank in .257 caliber at 20 inches gives a gunsmith the starting point for a genuinely light custom build. The carbon wrap over a match-grade stainless core cuts substantial weight compared with an equivalent steel contour while dissipating heat faster, which helps keep groups tight across a long string. This is a Sendero-contour blank — unchambered and unthreaded — intended for a qualified smith to finish to your action and cartridge. For a mountain rifle build, it's where a lot of serious projects start.

In stock and ready to ship straight to your door from Dawson Defense, an Arizona-owned licensed dealer.