Barrel fluting thickness around bore.

[borderghost]

Want to try my hand at fluting on a used barrel , just wondering what is a safe minimum thickness to leave around the bore.
I think i read but cannot find it that on a 6 flute barrel you should leave .150 of metal under each flute . this is a 6mm barrel ( PPC )
would this be a safe thickness in your opinion. Thinking of using a 1/4 or 5/16 cutter. suggestions on cutter profile . Barrel is a good shooter yet , so also want to see what the effects of fluting has on accuracy , better or worse , barrel at muzzle is close to .875. also want to go as deep as would be safe to see what the weight saving would be.
Any suggestions or experience would be great .

 

[Fuj]

I would suppose you could look up who is making the thinnest
muzzle (hunter type) in 6mm, and gage from there.....I only fluted
one barrel, screwing around with a beater. I used a 1/4 slotting
wheel on an arbor making eight grooves.

 

[borderghost]

I would suppose you could look up who is making the thinnest
muzzle (hunter type) in 6mm, and gage from there.....I only fluted
one barrel, screwing around with a beater. I used a 1/4 slotting
wheel on an arbor making eight grooves.

Thanks for the feed back information.

 

[DaveTooley]

I've fluted #2 barrels but not very deep. On the other end of the spectrum I've fluted MTU contours .150" deep on the muzzle tapering to .200" deep at the breech end. They shot fine in smaller calibers but were wild when chambered in magnum size cartridges. I don't go and closer than .100" to the bore. If you're using a radiused cutter width get's you the weight reduction. I use a flat bottom profile. Removes more metal so depth isn't as important.

 

[borderghost]

I've fluted #2 barrels but not very deep. On the other end of the spectrum I've fluted MTU contours .150" deep on the muzzle tapering to .200" deep at the breech end. They shot fine in smaller calibers but were wild when chambered in magnum size cartridges. I don't go and closer than .100" to the bore. If you're using a radiused cutter width get's you the weight reduction. I use a flat bottom profile. Removes more metal so depth isn't as important.

Thanks for the information , think i will try the flat bottom cutter, I had a couple of used barrels fluted by a friend at his machine shop on C N C , I think they shot better after fluting and i was able to use a tuner and still stay within the 10.5 lb class. My friend does not charge me any money to do them, just want to see if i can do them on my milling machine, want to see if i am able to take a little more weight off and be able to keep the barrel a little longer, i think the tuner will have a little more effect.