Thread: Barrel Fluting - existing barrel

Gidday - I've been thinking about getting a barrel done to reduce weight (so it will be as deep as safely possible).

Overseas "interweb" advice says that the barrel needs to be stress relieved after fluting or it'll go to "hell in a handcart".

So - who here has had a button rifled barrel fluted on an existing rifle and just gone on shooting with no loss if accuracy??

I suppose a supplementary question might be "does anyone in NZ offer fluting with a post stress relief treatment"??

Cheers
Foster

I had an xbolt done in 7mm rem mag after the fact, made no difference to accuracy whatsoever. Cant say I noticed a weight difference either Haha. Did look cool though..

Edit: Also got my tikka 284 done once it had been rechambered in 284. That also didnt effect accuracy.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Gidday - I've been thinking about getting a barrel done to reduce weight (so it will be as deep as safely possible).

Overseas "interweb" advice says that the barrel needs to be stress relieved after fluting or it'll go to "hell in a handcart".

So - who here has had a button rifled barrel fluted on an existing rifle and just gone on shooting with no loss if accuracy??

I suppose a supplementary question might be "does anyone in NZ offer fluting with a post stress relief treatment"??

Cheers
Foster

I would like to know too haven't heard this before and am looking at getting a Tikka fluted.

Originally Posted by 308mate

I would like to know too haven't heard this before and am looking at getting a Tikka fluted.

Iv got flutted rifles but both factory flutted. But my views on getting one flutted after the fact is gunwords in Christchurch offer flutting services and for them to offer the service they must back the process and the result their reputation is excellent id go for it

One thing a warranty gunsmith told me, once you flute anything the manufacturers warranty goes out the door.

I've got my Contender 30-30 barrel and CZ527 223 fluted pretty aggressively, just carried on shooting afterwards. 30-30 barrel is 16.9" and 223 is around 12" so they're fairly short, not seen any issues as a result. But they're not long range shooters.

I saved 144gm on a Rem Model 7 7saum barrel with deep fluting.

@Friwi at dpt fluted my .338 bartlien. Shot very well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From the little I read up on the subject, it is most important to ensure the bore is central to the barrel along its whole length the barrel walls must be equally thick on every radius at any given point.
to avoid flutes of different depths. That is what causes variable distortion as the barrel heats, (and cools, for that matter) causing the rifle to shoot increasingly larger groups.

I’ve looked down a barrel that was fluted so deep that the bore was distorted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Barrel fluting really does not save you a lot of weight. Think 100-200 grams...

You could easily save that much weight by going to a lighter scope, with ZERO impact on harmonics...

If you do decide to flute the barrel, shoot your existing load to check what effect it had on harmonics/accuracy, and be prepared to re-do load-dev in case the harmonic have changed.

Barrel diameter is a bigger determinant on weight. Thinning the barrel profile is more effective.

If you're that worried about weight, I hope you're cutting the handle off your toothbrush and kicking the mud out of your boots every 20 yards

Originally Posted by McNotty

If you're that worried about weight, I hope you're cutting the handle off your toothbrush and kicking the mud out of your boots every 20 yards

Sheez - ya could'a just cut straight to the chase and talk about the extra 5 kgs above my belt!! But I bet you're not nearly 60, the fight gets a lot harder you know (and I know, ask anyone 6' tall who has tried to row "lightweight" as a young man)

@ebf

Yeah if you are just fluting the barrel it is not a huge difference in weight. But if you are lightening a few things like I will be doing e.g - carbon stock 130 - 200+ grams lighter depending on model, barrel fluting is 150 - 200 grams lighter, fluting the bolt at 80 - 90 grams and then lighten the action by removing a section of the top of the over the bolt ~ 70 - 100 grams.

At the end of all of those mods you're potentially almost at a half kilogram lighter..