Fluted Barrels: Good or Bad?

Fluting will increase barrel stiffness. A crude example would be I-beams in large buildings. If you took the same material and made a solid bar it will not be as stiff as the I-beam.
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I must admit, I used to believe this to be true. I cannot provide the necessary links to prove it, but have seen enough to believe this is wrong.

Several people have hit on the right answer.

Nutshell version:

A fluted barrel is a compromise between stiffness/accuracy, and light weight.

An unfluted barrel of the same diameter as a fluted barrel will be a little stiffer, and theoretically more accurate

A fluted barrel of the same diameter as an unfluted barrel will be a little lighter, but slightly less stiff.

A fluted of the same weight will be stiffer and more accurate than an unfluted barrel which has to be thinner to weigh the same.

I don't think it will make a bit of difference in longevity. If you want the stiffest, most accurate barrel buy a standard, or heavyweight non-fluted barrel. If you want a trim lightweight rifle buy something with a pencil thin barrel similar to the Remington Mt Rifle. If you are looking for a compromise, buy a gun with a standard weight, but fluted barrel.
 
Fluted barrels look great if you like that sort of stuff. I like the looks of octagon barrels too, but you don't see them on too many modern rifles. Haven't seen a fluted octagon barrel yet! LOL

For the most part, I don't see the cost/benefit, but Like most things, to each his own.

JIMHO...

...bug:)
 
for bumblebug:

DJV26-Z-F1-L.jpg
 
I've never shot one, but tend to believe the benefit is that of the machinist making a extra few bucks
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Heavier rifles are harder to sell, so it is the mfg that wants them made to sell more of their rifles. Fluting works well on bull barrels and provides a weight reduction. Bull barrels heat up slower than standard profile, but also take longer to cool down the fluting helps in the cool down process by providing additional surface area.

Use then or don;t depending on your preference, I use them and have no problems.

Jim
 
Most match shooter have a weight limit their rifles can weight and pretty easy ordering a barrel to make that weight so fluting won't be an option they use.

I have a custom 30-338mag with fluted barrel and another without fluted same with 30-06's.

In a good barrel I don't think accuracy would be an issue fluted or unfluted. Most of the fluted barrels I have they start 5" forward of the recoil lug flutes may run 16" to 18" long and I like 6 flutes that means 4 fluted out of barrel channel and 2 under so you have more cooling on top and 2 under are at angle along barrel channel.

When you start fluting #5/6 contour barrel depend on cal you can get fluted little deeper save more on weight myself I do it for looks.
 
[QUOTE]What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of fluted barrels? [/QUOTE]

As commented earlier in this thread._ "Fluted barrels aren't as popular as they once were"_ If I were to have a custom Varmint rifle made. Instead of fluting my barrel for slightly better accuracy. I would ask my Gunsmith to have this technique preformed at the proper time during my rifles build.

http://www.cryogenicsinternational.com/shooting.htm
 
Id be interested to see just how much cryogenic treatment improves accuracy. I know it helps the metal, and I know some high end knife makers stand by it, but I wonder if the improvement is worth the cost
 
In theory, by getting a fluted barrel you can get a larger diameter barrel for the same weight. So for the same weight you will get a stiffer more accurate barrel. The fluted one won't be as accurate as a non fluted one of the same outside diameter, but will be more than a smaller non fluted on of the same weight.

It will also heat up faster than the same diameter non fluted barrel, but will cool quicker. I don't think they claim to be better than the same diameter non fluted barrel, but they allow you to get slightly thicker one for the same weight.

That's what my friend was told by Trueflight barrel's.
 
I've no direct experience, okay? But I've been reading threads about this for a bunch of years.

As near as I can tell, a fluted barrel may cool more quickly, but not by any large amount.

It may well be a bit stiffer, but not by a large amount.

Depending on various factors, there can be a benefit, but (depending on use) it may not be significant.

Given the amount of success of non-fluted rifles in hunting, I would not pay any extra money for a fluted hunting rifle. Were I a serious target shooter, I might give consideration to a fluted, large-diameter barrel.
 
Ahhh, mid winter threads.

I'll offer my two bits worth....FWIW:)


My actual experience has been good. I had a rifle built a number of years ago and wanted good accuracy but also planned on carrying it around. I went with a #4 weight sporter contour and then had flutes put in to reduce the weight.

What I got was a very accurate rifle that weighs slightly less than a similar rifle with an unfluted barrel. About the only difference I have noticed between flutes and no flutes is the flutes tend to get more dirt build up on them after a day or two of extended use.

I am not convinced that a fluted barrel is stiffer, more or less accurate, or stays cooler for target shooting - but I'm not going to argue it either way as I as I lack the technical background to be correct with certainty.

When it's all said and done I probably would not repeat the process as I think more can go wrong than right when having it done and the weight savings, which are the only certain benefit, are slight.
 
I just picked up a stripped AR lower and will proceed with the build. Regardless of weight, rigidity or cooling efficiency I intend to go with a fluted S/S barrel because I like the contrast next to an otherwise all black military configuration. As far as cooling, I don't run my guns particularly hard but let me state that I am a 25 year commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, thermal dynamics are my thing. Fluted barrels will cool faster than non fluted barrels of the same thickness/diameter, the flutes act as cooling fins much like an air cooled engine. I work with some very knowledgeable men and the general agreement is 2 barrels of the same material/thickness with one being fluted the other not is that fluting a barrel will add rigidity, not saying we're right, just agreeing.
 
Fluted Rifle Barrels

603Country wrote:

.....

As for barrel fluting, I've just heard the same stuff you have, and would also like to hear the truth. Unfortunately, I just might not recognize the truth if I heard it.
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I'm right there with you 603 - I'm not sure I'd recognize the truth either!

I don't have a rifle with fluted barrel. But, do have 2 with bull barrels that are very accurate. I'm good with the thinking that a fluted barrel has an advantage with the combination of being more ridged at a lighter weight. Also, good with the accuracy relationship where a more ridge barrel will reduce harmonics.

Here's the part that I don't fully understand - Nor can properly test:

Once a barrel blank is manufactured it is machined.
1st) bored, 2nd) grooves cut, 3rd) turned to contour
A fluted barrel adds an additional step when the flutes are milled.

My limited understanding is that; Each of these steps can leave a residual heat stress in the barrel's steel. And that, if this stress is not properly relieved, the barrel will "walk" shots as it heats up.
 
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Ray, machining can put stresses into a barrel. Poor machining can put lots of stresses into a barrel.If I were in the barrel making business Id do some serious stress relieving because , as you heat up a barrel it wants to go back to the unstressed shape.! BTW a cold forged barrel is OK because the stresses are concentric. Machining can ruin that.:)
 
mete,

Yes - Exactly!

Your describing the processes that I don't have a very good understanding, but believe they are very important in the manufacturing of a good barrel.

And obviously the rifle dealer won't know the answers - Even if I knew the right questions to ask!
 
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