Barrel cross-sections - Round - Fluted - Octagonal - Triangular??

[Broncazonk]

Weight restrictions aside, do the various exterior cross-sections of barrels offer any advantages and/or disadvantages.

Round is wonderful, but really, really boring.

Has anyone experimented with r-e-a-l-l-y eccentric barrel shapes looking for an unknown property that confers extreme whatever??

Bronc

 

[fdshuster]

I'll continue using the "round and boring" Krieger, Hart & Shilen barrels that have been serving me well for over 25 years now, you can experiment with the oddities.

 

[Preacher]

Remington is always doing dumb stuff like that, and very few seems to want to run right out and buy them...
If it works very well it don't need fixed.......

 

[ChrisNZ]

Yes, I have a similar level of cynicism but I'll pass on an observation from a buddy who's a pretty keen shooter. His brother has one of those triangulated barrel Rems in .223 and it a total tackdriver straight out of the box. He says as good or better than his Sako .22PPC and that's no slug

ChrisNZ

 

[fdshuster]

Yes, and "round" factory barrels have also been known to be "tackdrivers", on occasion. When I see Bartlien, Kreiger, etc. and other premium barrel makers producing "triangular" barrels, and the top benchrest competitors winning with them, then I'll sit up and take notice. Until then, to me, it's just more unproven advertising hype. Those of us who have been around long enough remember the Remington Etronic primer ignition system. We were told they would make traditional primers ("The American Rifleman") obsolete in a very short time. Which system is obsolete now?

 

[Broncazonk]

What about steel / carbon fiber hybrid barrels?

Some companies are still making these. Discounting savings in weight, do these barrels have any merit?

Bronc

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I've read gentlemen claiming certain rifles being the ugly redhead stepchild of the rifle community, well I'm gonna make my claim. The Remington VTR is an ugly rifle, uglier than Tammy Faye Baker and with more makeup on. Whats worse is they're charging an arm and a leg for these guns. If I were "given" one, I would pass it on! I just can't see how they shoot well, no floated barrrel or anything like that. Just don't get it!

Mike

 

[ChrisNZ]

Yeh, have to agree, those VTRs are butt ugly.
I'm entirely happy with the out-of-the-box accuracy of my old VS, even if it doesn't look fashionable.

ChrisNZ

 

[Rust]

The proof is determined by the target. So far it seems to be advertizing hype with no data, either calculated or empirical, to justify any claims.

Now if Remington were to show up at a match with a rifle based on that barrel profile, and perform well, it might mean something then.

Oddly, I don't consider placing well or winning a match with a round barrel boring....

 

[Broncazonk]

What about carbon fiber barrels??

Does anyone have any experience with these??

Bronc

 

[Laurie]

Carbon fibre (composite) barrels?

You see no end of tricked-out Ruger 10-22 and similar rimfire match rifles using these barrels, but I've never heard of one being used in a centrefire competition rifle.

My local gun dealer has had a .22-250 Remy 700 Varmint with a composite barrel on sale for as long as I remember without takers, at least five years now. I suspect it'll sell when ordinary steel barrel models eventually catch up with it price-wise. (It was getting on for 100% dearer than a 700VS when it first appeared on the rack, today it's maybe 'only' a quarter to third dearer.)

Whether composite barrels are or aren't better than conventional steel barrels, I think the market has made its mind up on them so far as centrefire rifles go, and it's obviously not favourable.

 

[wapiti25]

I have considered a carbon fiber coated barrel as weight saving for a given stifness. carbon fiber is very strong for its weight but cost is the trade off. I have not wanted to pay the price yet. I saw a statement that said: "Triangular is stiffer" I don't believe it, fluting does not make a barrel stiffer, it can make it stiffer than a "skiny" barrel of the same weight and length, bore size, ect.