Fluted Stainless Barrels

[82ndtrooper]

I was asked the other day what that was on my Wilson AR barrel for a recent AR build. What the individual was referring to was the "fluted" barrel.

The only two benefits that I could come up with are reduction in weight and faster cooling of the barrel. Are there any other benefits to fluting the barrel other than the two benefits that I mentioned ? I know I've seen fluted barrels on SPR type rifles, specifically some of the G.A. Precision barrels which I believe are Oberrmeyer, or Lalja barrels.

[The Reaper]

They are stiffer than a thinner profile barrel of the same weight, but not as stiff as a normal barrel of the same diameter.

The cooling effect is very minimal.

They do serve to make money for barrel makers and gunsmiths.

TR

[longrange1947]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

They do serve to make money for barrel makers and gunsmiths.

TR

And there is the primary purpose of fluting barrels.

Quick warning, there have been some makers, not big name of course, that have cut flutes too deep. I think all can see the problems this can create.

[HOLLiS]

I think part of the marketing is addressing the needs of hunters. Accuracy for hunters is not the same for 1000M competitive shooters or snipers. I have one fluted barrel, bought the rifle used at a good price. It is a hunting rifle and serves it's purpose well there. I have never really spec'ed it out for serious shooting. In hunting, there is a lot of "carrying the rifle", more than any thing else.

[82ndtrooper]

Originally Posted by longrange1947

And there is the primary purpose of fluting barrels.

Quick warning, there have been some makers, not big name of course, that have cut flutes too deep. I think all can see the problems this can create.

Roger that ! I've wondered if fluting can be cut too deep, but you've given me the answer. This is a Wilson barrel, 16" fluted stainless without threading for NRA competition. I purchased this barrel from a dealer here that stipped it out of a Wilson Combat rifle. I'll be throwing it in an LMT upper with a titanium bolt and bolt carrier.

I've purchased a Noveske stainless 16" without fluting for one of my other builds. It's a 1:7 twist with the Match Mod O chamber for the Mk262 77 grain. The final build is LMT lower and upper with National Match two stage trigger and the LMT SOPMOD stock, LaRue mounts, M68, SPR E, and the magnifier mount. I used a low profile gas block and the LaRue 11" SIR system with the propietary locking system. BUIS are a Troy Ind front flip up with an A.R.M.S 40L rear sight. It co-witneses the Aimpoint and the Eotech exactly on par with the reticle. I went with the KX3 hider, but then purchased the Phantom hider after deciding that the KX3 was a bit overkill and I wanted to mount a suppressor on this build also. I'm not mounting any white light as I'm not an operator and do not need to light up the outdoor range during the day. (sarcasm) I also took TR's advice and used the PRI Gasbuster charging handle.

Since I've had a bum right eye I haven't had the opportunity to fire this build as of yet. it's warm, in the 70's here this weekend and I was hoping to get out but this eye required yet another injection yesterday. I'll give a range report on the latest build when I do.

[Buffalobob]

The reputable barrel makers such as Lilja, Krieger, Rock, etc will not cut the flutes too deep.

When you build a hunting rifle and hang a 30 -34 inch barrel off of the action you have to make some compromises between wieght and stiffness. Fluting may be one compromise. The other routes are to use a very stiff action or to go to a barrel block. Such a rifle will normally be guaranteed by the gunsmith to shoot under 0.5 MOA and in reality will shoot something like 0.25-0.3 MOA .

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Buffalobob

The reputable barrel makers such as Lilja, Krieger, Rock, etc will not cut the flutes too deep.

When you build a hunting rifle and hang a 30 -34 inch barrel off of the action you have to make some compromises between wieght and stiffness. Fluting may be one compromise. The other routes are to use a very stiff action or to go to a barrel block. Such a rifle will normally be guaranteed by the gunsmith to shoot under 0.5 MOA and in reality will shoot something like 0.25-0.3 MOA .

A 30-34 inch barrel?

Are we talking .50 BMG or black powder here?

TR

[longrange1947]

Originally Posted by Buffalobob

The reputable barrel makers such as Lilja, Krieger, Rock, etc will not cut the flutes too deep.

When you build a hunting rifle and hang a 30 -34 inch barrel off of the action you have to make some compromises between wieght and stiffness. Fluting may be one compromise. The other routes are to use a very stiff action or to go to a barrel block. Such a rifle will normally be guaranteed by the gunsmith to shoot under 0.5 MOA and in reality will shoot something like 0.25-0.3 MOA .

As stated not big name. Wtih those barrels, what are you hunting? Why not use a hunting profile in your barrel instead of a fluted barrel? You see fluting on tactical barrels mostly due to weight reduction and so called "cooling effect". I would be hesitant to lug around a weapon with a heavy barrel fluted or not when hunting, unless you are tree stand hunting and not stalking. Even fluted, those barrels are heavy.

[Gene Econ]

Originally Posted by Buffalobob

When you build a hunting rifle and hang a 30 -34 inch barrel off of the action you have to make some compromises between wieght and stiffness. Such a rifle will normally be guaranteed by the gunsmith to shoot under 0.5 MOA and in reality will shoot something like 0.25-0.3 MOA .

BB:

.25 MOA is mighty good for a hunting rifle. Most good Bench Rest rigs will hold .25 MOA -- most of the time. I bet Hollis shot some sub .25 MOA groups a couple of times during his years of Bench Rest.

I guess these barrels are the barrels of choice for the Palma Team?

Gene