Talk me out of barrel fluting

[Rick Richard]

As more of a hunter than a competitive shooter, my preference is fluted. I have unfluted, fluted and the Proof barrels and I find weight being more of a concern. To me it is more important where I hit in those first couple of shots and not what it will do in a series of strings. To each their own.

 

[JD222]

Probably doesn't affect accuracy at all on the big heavy varmint weight barrels.
But on sporter or standard magnum barrels I can see where it could cause a lot of accuracy issues, again depending on flute depth, how uniform they are cut, and at what point the barrel was stress relieved.
That's my 2 cents worth.

Jim D

 

[PNW EOD]

This has always been a hot topic, with men on both sides of the fence saying that their grass is greener. I have both fluted and unfluted barrels on my rifles, with my newest rifle having a fluted barrel. My reasoning revolved around going for a little stiffer barrel than planned, but wanting to shave a couple ounces if I could. I think this will always be an argument waiting to happen, but if you want a stiff barrel that can maintain strings of fire, don't flute. If you want to shave as much off as you can for that one shot that matters, go for it and flute it. As an ethical long range hunter, the first shot is the one that matters most, but that just comes with knowing your rifle.

 

[gj]

cut it to 16 inches and spiral flute it ,,, flute the bolt,,,, and put the whole action in a Balsa wood stock !!!

 

[FEENIX]

As an ethical long range hunter, the first shot is the one that matters most, but that just comes with knowing your rifle.

I totally agree! However, sometimes the follow-up shot(s) is just as important. While the one shot kill is ideal, that is not often the case as Murphy never discriminate.

Case in point, in 2013 I shot my MT bull elk at 931 yards with 190 Berger VLD off my .300 WM but the elk managed to run ~200 yards. My buddy shot another bull elk off the same herd at ~300 yards with 180 Berger VLD off his 7MM Rem Mag and it was DRT. Two weeks earlier, my other hunting buddy shot a bull elk but took him 3 shots of 180 Barnes TTSX off his .300 WM at <100 yards. IMHO, all shot placements were good, bullets did their job, but all 3 elk expired differently.

Cheers!

 

[PNW EOD]

I'm with you 100%. I'm not saying that knowing your shot strings aren't important, but a good 1st shot is the most important. Truely knowing your rifle means knowing where your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. shots are going to go. Just get out and shoot, take notes, and and keep learning. I would love to have a 6 lb. rifle with no recoil, capable of 1200 yard accuracy for a 20 shot string and a long barrel life. When someone can build this gimme a call. Until then, just flute your barrel, don't get a rediculously heavy stock, and work out. The OP can't go wrong fluting a hunting rifle if done by a reputable smith.

 

[Wedgy]

If it could be proved that fluting degrades accuracy someone would do and put all this to rest once and for all. Why would anyone pay more to ruin their barrel if that were the case ? If you took a large sample say 100 barrels or more from the same batch, 50 fluted and 50 not fluted, made 50 twins of various calibers with the only difference being flutes and shot a very large sample then compared the ag scores you MIGHT have a semi valid comparison. Some barrels never shoot good. Still probably too many variables to prove one way or the other.

 

[excaliber]

Fluting a Bartlein #3 barrel will only remove 2 oz of material at the most and it will not effect accuracy. This is straight from Bartlein as I too have a #3 .264 5R barrel I was inquiring about fluting. Fluting will not affect accuracy, if it did GAP wouldn't flute all their Bartlein #3 barrels on their extreme hunter build. Bartlein wouldn't offer factory fluted barrels if they thought it would degrade accuracy.

I'm still up in the air about fluting this barrel. I like the way it looks and it will remove up to 2 more ounces off the gun. What's another hundred dollars or so when the build is already going to be over 3K?

 

[Rich Coyle]

What's another hundred dollars or so when the build is already going to be over 3K?

I know the feeling!

 

[Georgiashooter]

If done correctly, it shouldn't affect accuracy. If cut too deep, it can induce stress and affect accuracy. Bartlein has a strict policy about their barrels being fluted by anyone other than them. Make sure your smith is staying within bartlein tolerances.

 

[Jumpalot]

I did a similar build but went with a #4 Bartlein barrel. My 'smith hogged some huge flutes out of it, can't remember how much weight, and it will still shoot sub-moa 3 shot groups at 1000 yds.

 

[stoti]

Ditto! Not a fan of radial muzzle brake.

Talking about fluting not muzzle brakes!

 

[concho]

Accuracy will be effected ! if weight is your problem with rifle go to Gym and workout !
I am 75 and never found a gun to heavy , Lighten the load you are carrying in back pack . Better yet hire a porter to carry the gun . I carried a M60 at age 26/27 never bothered me and I weighed 140 lbs 1968/69 !

 

[concho]

Accuracy will be effected ! if weight is your problem with rifle go to Gym and workout !
I am 75 and never found a gun to heavy , Lighten the load you are carrying in back pack . Better yet hire a porter to carry the gun . I carried a M60 at age 26/27 never bothered me and I weighed 140 lbs 1968/69 !