Abstract: A composite gun barrel comprising an elongated cylinder with a carbon fiber coating. The coating comprises one or more of a stiffening layer, a strengthening layer, and a heat transfer layer. The stiffening layer comprises plies of ultra-high modulus carbon fiber oriented in a unidirectional configuration along a longest axis of the elongated cylinder. The strengthening layer comprises carbon fibers oriented in a unidirectional configuration perpendicular to the stiffening layer. The heat transfer layer comprises carbon fiber oriented in a unidirectional configuration at about a 45° angle to the stiffening layer.