Fluting Barrels

[Bart B.]

Some think fluting makes a given barrel stiffer.

Others think it makes them less stiff.

What are the opinions and facts?

 

[dickn52]

It removes weight and adds cooling surface.

 

[muleman69]

I was told by a smith last week that they got stiffer. Not sure how you can take metal away from a bar and make it stiffer, out of my pay grade for sure

 

[Sniper338]

Mmkk ill bite.

It removes some weight. After that its all looks.

Never been able to justify a fluted barrel cooling any quicker than a non fluted. And to remove material and call it stiffer is counterintuitive and makes no since.

 

[BenPerfected]

Flutes can allow you to make class weight and I like the bling. Don’t see any easy way to measure accuracy with or without flutes. If you use a tuner, fluted or not they both can be easily tuned. Maybe similar to trying to decide which species of wood makes the best wood stock.
Ben

 

[AJC]

When you remove metal you reduce the size of the heatsink. Most flute patterns do not increase the area enough for cooling to be significant that i have seen. I would love to see some real facts that it provides significant benefit. It does increase machining and therefore cost. Is the cost benefit worth it, that is up to the person spending the money.

 

[Doug Beach]

A larger diameter fluted barrel will be stiffer than a smaller diameter barrel of the same weight, all else being equal. Fluting does not add stiffness, it reduces it somewhat, vs an unfluted barrel of the same diameter.

 

[carlsbad]

less stiff but higher stiffness to weight ratio. a 5 lb fluted barrel is stiffer than a 5 lb round barrel.

 

[Cloudrepair]

less stiff but higher stiffness to weight ratio. a 5 lb fluted barrel is stiffer than a 5 lb round barrel.

Yes because the flutted barrel is larger diameter then the same weight round barrel.
Like taking a heavy palma and flutting it so it weighs the same as a standard palma it will be stiffer then the standard palma but not as stiff as it once was.

 

[boltfluter]

Fluting does not add rigidity to a barrel, it reduces it. One thing I adhere to religiously, when fluting anything, bolt or barrel, is to always make my cuts 180 degrees apart. Takes a little longer, but I believe it is the correct way to do the job.

Merry Christmas guys and gals

Paul

 

[Bc'z]

It removes weight and adds cooling surface.

You forgot looks cooler

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

look up the word: Extrusion. Car and motorcycle manufacturers have found that that process makes for lighter, stiffer frames. It has resulted in zero deflection on bikes. The factories had to CAD test to provide the proper amount of deflection to help cornering. A truly rigid chassis does not provide the "give" to keep the tire contact surfaces on the road. That is closely akin to fluting. Fluting results in more surface area, which aids in slowing the heat buildup, and speeding the cooling. The flutes increase stiffness, by providing increased area to resist/control flex.
Lot of controversy, because no body has brought a couple million dollars to the table to properly separate fiction from fact.

 

[284winner]

It removes weight and adds cooling surface.

Seems if it adds cooling surface, it also adds heating surface. If it cools faster, it would also heat up faster as well.

 

[Intheshop]

Take a slick barrel and a fluted,mount tuners on both and see if you can get some feedback on "stiffness" by noting the difference dialing has on the tune.

I know,too many un-controled conditions....

Another,albeit rambling a bit,idea or consideration..... there are about say 10 reasons "not" to flute vs what,maybe one or two reasons "for"? Those ain't real good odds from the machine shop floor's prospective. And this coming from a a guy who likes,or enjoys a fluted brrl. I'm getting lazier carrying weight in the field,daily.

 

[Texas10]

I read somewhere there a well known custom barrel 'smith who says fluting his barrels will void any warranty. Can't remember the name but I'm guessing he's not a big fan of fluting.

 

[284winner]

I read somewhere there a well known custom barrel 'smith who says fluting his barrels will void any warranty. Can't remember the name but I'm guessing he's not a big fan of fluting.

I think more than one company follows that rule.

 

[cjames]

I read somewhere there a well known custom barrel 'smith who says fluting his barrels will void any warranty. Can't remember the name but I'm guessing he's not a big fan of fluting.

Shilen will void the warranty if you flute one of their barrels.

 

[Bart B.]

I think fluting is being confused with corrugation, Bart.

I'm not confused.

Your scenario is totally different than mine. Both your sheet shapes will have the same weight for a given sheet thickness. No diameters were stated. The moment of inertia for each would have to be calculated.

Let's stick with rifle barrels. And a given barrel before and after fluting.

 

[rhovee]

It’s my understanding that fluting needs to happen before final lapping. Tim North of Broughton Barrels requires this along with double heat stress relief. If a barrel is finished and shipped to you, and then you get it fluted I can see where a company wouldn’t want that. Tim contours the barrel then sends it out for fluting. Then he double heat treats for any stress and final laps. I had been very happy with Broughton barrels that are fluted. They are hunting rifles.

 

[4xforfun]

My "non scientific" research has found this. My 1000 yard 300 WBY BBLS...I have 5 of them for my LG...... HV contour at 30 inches. Several are fluted and 2 are not. Obviously the fluted tubes are lighter.....DUH. I couldn't tell you which one's are stiffer. What I can say FOR SURE.....in calm conditions I get MUCH more BBL mirage with the fluted tubes. It is noticeable. The 300 makes lots of heat and I FEEL (leftist scientific term) that the fluted tubes shed the heat faster. I also see the mirage EARLIER with the fluted tubes. Are they heating up quicker because they are lighter , or are the shedding heat quicker because they are fluted? IDUNO.

I do know this....cutting material away from a tube will make it LESS stiff....BUT Pound for pound, the fluted tube will be more rigid.

My .02,
Tod