AllTerra Carbon Rifle Review

The Allterra Carbon rifle is all Allterra, but not all carbon.

To my knowledge, an all carbon rifle isn’t possible. But this Allterra model comes as close as any, taking advantage of carbon where it pays dividends.

Carbon stock, carbon wrapped barrel. The rest is steel and aluminum.

The carbon parts of the Allterra Carbon make it lighter than an equivalent size all-steel and traditionally stocked rifle. And probably stiffer. Carbon is stiffer than steel for an equivalent weight. And lighter for an equivalent size. This rifle weighs 6.5 pounds. This makes its 1/4 MOA accuracy that much more impressive.

Yes, I wrote “1/4 MOA.” This rifle is guaranteed to shoot 3-rounds into a 1/4” circle at 100 yards or you can return it. Even after a 90-day trial. I’m returning my sample, but not because it isn’t accurate enough. Because it’s just a loaner sent me to review for some magazine articles. And this blog and video. I did get several 1/2” groups with factory ammo and at least one with Allterra’s supplied custom tailored ammo. The chambering, by the way, is 6.5 PRC, the current “hot property” among our many new 6.5mm cartridges.

The “short-action” 6.5 PRC (3rd from left, red tip) is poised to steal the 6.5 Creedmoor’s thunder, adding 200 fps to its muzzle velocity. The PRC is slightly faster than the 6.5-284 Norma to its left, about 100 fps slower than the 264 Win. Mag. on the right. It’s ballistic performance is quite similar to that of the old 270 Winchester with same-weight bullets, but the higher B.C. of the .264 bullets gives the PRC a slight long-range advantage.

Despite all the sound and furry over the carbon in this rifle, the main contributors to is precision are its patented elliptical locking lugs, rear bolt body/receiver ring fit, and double tenon barrel mount system. The slightly undersized bolt body with wide flutes reduces any tendency to jam or lock up from dirt, ice, or similar field debris that often compromises rifles with tight tolerances. For more details, click on the video above and watch as we put this rifle through its paces.

This photo shows the double tenons on the barrel breech at left. They mate to mortises in the receiver ring at right for a match-grade, tight fit. Note that recoil lug, too. It is integral to the receiver, milled from the same block of steel.  

This Allterra is no kind of bargain basement started rifle. Expect to pay a premium price well north of $3,000. Such is the price of the latest technology and space-race materials coupled with extremely tight tolerances where needed and precise machining.

High price notwithstanding, the Allterra is an excellent example of the melding of cutting edge materials and engineering combined with precision construction to make one of the most accurate, out-of-the-box hunting rifles you’re likely to find. Guaranteed. 

Author and photographer Ron Spomer regularly tests rifles and shotguns he can’t afford to buy. He says it’s frustrating, but he’ll dry his tears and keep on reviewing.