fluted barrels?
- Thread starter kidoggy
- Start date
HiMtnHnter
Active Member
My rifle has a fluted barrel. It shoots very well. Not sure of other advantages beyond weight savings. The heat disapation quality may be a plus also.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
More surface area because of the flutes will dissipate heat somewhat faster along with saving some weight. I don't own any rifles with fluted barrels, so I can't really speak about effecting accuracy. My guess is no effect.
If I were building a rifle today, I think it would depend on the barrel contour. The lighter, shorter "sporter" barrels, fluting might be a disadvantage because of an already thin barrel. Heavier barrels, probably an advantage.
But in my opinion, definitely worth it because of the "cool" factor and earn some style points for sure! LOL
If I were building a rifle today, I think it would depend on the barrel contour. The lighter, shorter "sporter" barrels, fluting might be a disadvantage because of an already thin barrel. Heavier barrels, probably an advantage.
But in my opinion, definitely worth it because of the "cool" factor and earn some style points for sure! LOL
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Slugz
Veteran member
Couple of our guns our fluted barrel, fluted bolt and drilled out bolt handle to really lighten it up.
Should not be an issue with a factory fluting job, as I recall, your Winny was factory? Any responsible gunny/shop that adds flutes should be keeping it within safe limits. So if done by the factory or a real pro, no worries. If unknown, have it checked by a pro.
fackelberry
Active Member
I have 2 rifles that have flutted barrels! The first one was a 7mm-08 Built by HS Precision. I wanted a lightweight mountain rifle based of of the ultra-light model but i don't like the looks of their action so i used a Remington 700 short action! The flutes they used on the barrel were pretty deep and look cool. The other barrrel i had flutted was a factory Remington stainless 25-06 i think close to a sporter weight. I wanted the rifle lightened up. It was a 700 BDL Remington 25-06, had the gunsmith flute the barrel, flute the bolt, mill the action down, and skeletonize the bolt handle. I weighed the gun before and after and it took off exactly 1 pound of weight total. Rifle with scope weighs 7.5 pounds. I read up on flutting awhile back and supposedly the flutes do disapate heat, but i don't know many people who shoot their hunting rifles that fast and often to get it really hot. I don't anyways. not good for them. I've also heard the way the flutes leave a metal ridge down the barrel it "stiffens" the barrel and has less harmonics after the shot, thus creating more consistent vibrations and a more accurate barrel. Not sure how much i believe on that. I just know when i flutted the 25-06 i didnt handload for it before i flutted it just incase i found a good load and then the flutting messed it up by having different vibrations. It is a dang good shooter though with 110 Accubonds. I gues my reason for flutting is to save weight and they look pretty cool. If it makes it more rigid and accurate, thats a bonus for me! That's my experience with flutting. Hope it helps.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I have always thought anytime you disturb the harmonics of a barrel, it could effect accuracy with a load you had used, especially with handloads. At one time I was thinking about doing some barrel work on my Ruger M77 in 25-06. I bought it in 1976 and it was only offered with a fairly heavy 26" barrel from the factory. As I have gotten older, it seems to have gained weight (wait that is supposed to be my excuse LOL!) and I've thought about lightening it up some. I just don't have the guts to do ANYTHING to it as it still shoots sub moa after literally 1,000's of rounds thru it.
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HuskyMusky
Veteran member
a fluted barrel of equal weight and length to a standard barrel is stiffer.
ie. a 24 inch #3 fluted that's the same weight as a #2 unfluted 24 inch, the #3 fluted would be stiffer and potentially more accurate.
ie. a 24 inch #3 fluted that's the same weight as a #2 unfluted 24 inch, the #3 fluted would be stiffer and potentially more accurate.
bghunter
Active Member
Fluted cost about $50 more, all other advantages/disadvantages are questionable. I have two fluted rifles and they are very accurate, not sure if it has anything with the fact that they are fluted.
Don't touch it, you are right. It might not make it less accurate but it will change barrel harmonics and might require new load work to find an accurate load. Not broke, don't fix it. The confidence I know you have in that rifle alone makes messing with it or it's loads a non-starter to me!
Lots of good replies. I'll go a touch deeper after building a few rifles fairly recently and my best friend's recent conversation with Bartlein barrels as he just purchased one for a new build.
A fluted barrel of the same weight as an un-fluted one should be stiffer. A stiffer barrel results in less barrel whip or vibration as the bullet travels down the barrel, theoretically making it more accurate. That doesn't mean every fluted barrel will shoot better than an equal weight unfluted barrel, every barrel is different.
There is a point as barrel contours get smaller where the difference is purely cosmetic and doesn't effect real world accuracy. A barrel with a limited amount of steel between the bore and outside diameter can only be fluted so deep, and at some point the flutes don't reduce enough weight to affect stiffness enough to matter. You will see more stiffness out of a barrel as the contour number increases, fluted or not. As a general rule though, a fluted #5 contour might weigh the same as an unfluted #4 and be stiffer.
I generally go with a fluted barrel on any rifle I might carry a good bit. That included almost all my big game or predator rifles. I want all the accuracy I can get. Also I shoot better from less steady positions with a bit more weight on the front end of the gun. I bought my Rifles Inc Lightweight 70 with a #3 fluted barrel instead of their standard lightweight barrel in 300 win. It shoots very well off the bench, but more importantly to me it has a bit of a front heavy feel to steady offhand shots. When I re-barreled the Kimber 84L I have I went with a Pac-Nor #3 in 270 win for the same reason. I like my mountain rifles to shave weight in many areas like using ultralight stocks and Talley aluminum rings, plus aluminum bottom metal or blind magazines. I will spend more weight in 40-44mm objectives on scopes for better low light performance, and a slightly heavier stiffer barrel. Having the scope that works until last light, and the slightly heavier barrel out front is worth it to me. My modified Kimber 270 still weighs 6lbs 14oz with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x and my Rifles Inc LW 70 weighs 7lbs 4oz with a Swaro 3.5-18x44. Rifles can now be much lighter. Still I shoot both pretty well offhand or kneeling and that is important to me in a hunting rifle.
A fluted barrel of the same weight as an un-fluted one should be stiffer. A stiffer barrel results in less barrel whip or vibration as the bullet travels down the barrel, theoretically making it more accurate. That doesn't mean every fluted barrel will shoot better than an equal weight unfluted barrel, every barrel is different.
There is a point as barrel contours get smaller where the difference is purely cosmetic and doesn't effect real world accuracy. A barrel with a limited amount of steel between the bore and outside diameter can only be fluted so deep, and at some point the flutes don't reduce enough weight to affect stiffness enough to matter. You will see more stiffness out of a barrel as the contour number increases, fluted or not. As a general rule though, a fluted #5 contour might weigh the same as an unfluted #4 and be stiffer.
I generally go with a fluted barrel on any rifle I might carry a good bit. That included almost all my big game or predator rifles. I want all the accuracy I can get. Also I shoot better from less steady positions with a bit more weight on the front end of the gun. I bought my Rifles Inc Lightweight 70 with a #3 fluted barrel instead of their standard lightweight barrel in 300 win. It shoots very well off the bench, but more importantly to me it has a bit of a front heavy feel to steady offhand shots. When I re-barreled the Kimber 84L I have I went with a Pac-Nor #3 in 270 win for the same reason. I like my mountain rifles to shave weight in many areas like using ultralight stocks and Talley aluminum rings, plus aluminum bottom metal or blind magazines. I will spend more weight in 40-44mm objectives on scopes for better low light performance, and a slightly heavier stiffer barrel. Having the scope that works until last light, and the slightly heavier barrel out front is worth it to me. My modified Kimber 270 still weighs 6lbs 14oz with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x and my Rifles Inc LW 70 weighs 7lbs 4oz with a Swaro 3.5-18x44. Rifles can now be much lighter. Still I shoot both pretty well offhand or kneeling and that is important to me in a hunting rifle.
Just had to add after thinking about it, those Rugers from that era with the tang safety and heavy barrels are pretty awesome guns. I had one in 220 Swift I never should have parted with. I had a high school buddy who needed my Swift to complete his set of them and traded me out of it. The rifle I got from him was a M77 stainless synthetic (skeleton stock) Ruger in 22 mag that shot great for me for 15 years. I got it plus cash for my rifle, but I was really fair to my buddy, he was completing the set of Ruger's his Dad had left him. I had that 22 mag until a couple years ago when a collector trying to finish his skeleton stock set wanted it way to bad. I got an American Rimfire in 22 mag to replace it that shoots even better, and is a great beater gun.
I was around several of those heavy barrel, tang safety, Rugers and all shot pretty decent to excellent. A couple were in 25-06 and that was a great fit for that rifle configuration.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Since I bought that gun 40 years ago, it has been my go to gun for deer, antelope and feral hogs. I have shot the same hand load in it too. I use Sierra Game King 117 gr bt bullets and 4320sc powder.I have a Leupold VXIII 4.4 x 14 on it with a Leupold ballistic turret for that load. MV on my chrono is 3210 fps. Today after literally 1000's of rounds thru it the barrel looks like new and it still shoots sub moa out to 500 yds (my self imposed yardage limit).
I almost didn't buy it because of the 26 " barrel, but I loved the tang safety as I shoot left handed and it is pretty slick for a lefty. I know I have shot over 100 deer and antelope with it and it would be hard for me to find something that performs any better in a new rifle today. I am sure I could get a lighter, sexier rifle made with all the new materials, but it just wouldn't be the same as my old trusty Ruger!
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Slugz
Veteran member
I don't have anything to add ,as my knowledge of fluted barrels is pretty much limited to this thread.
thanks for replies and keep em coming . all thoughts ,opinions, experiences with fluted barrels are welcome.
so far ,it seems, no one has had any real issues with one. can't wait to get out and shoot mine. pit where I sight in my guns has been flooded for past couple months and just been waiting for it to dry up some.won't be much longer.
thanks for replies and keep em coming . all thoughts ,opinions, experiences with fluted barrels are welcome.
so far ,it seems, no one has had any real issues with one. can't wait to get out and shoot mine. pit where I sight in my guns has been flooded for past couple months and just been waiting for it to dry up some.won't be much longer.
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About the only other piece of info I can think of relates to getting a barrel fluted. There are some top barrel makers that won't warrantee a flutted barrel, unless they do it. Now I am not sure why, but would guess at two possible issues. One, fluting it wrong and making it unsafe. Two, inducing stress during fluting that impacts accuracy by fluting a finished barrel.
The gunny that built my last rifle offered to flute it, said he'd done it many time w/o problems, but I declined due to it voiding the Brux warrantee. Little doubt in my mind fluting after the barrel is done could and probably would impact barrel harmonics, not sure if accuracy would change or just point of impact.
Makes one wonder if accuracy competitors favor flutted barrels or not.
The gunny that built my last rifle offered to flute it, said he'd done it many time w/o problems, but I declined due to it voiding the Brux warrantee. Little doubt in my mind fluting after the barrel is done could and probably would impact barrel harmonics, not sure if accuracy would change or just point of impact.
Makes one wonder if accuracy competitors favor flutted barrels or not.