Effect of Fluting on Barrel Harmonics

[58weasel]

It is well known that a "tuner" can improve accuracy (even in a little 22 LR), as well as barrel contour (fat short vs long thin). Fluting I would suppose has a similar effect, particularly if only applied to the muzzle-half or breech-half of the barrel. Does anyone have any experience, suspicions, or data on this subject?

Mining the "mother lode" again . . .

Thanks in advance for your insights!

 

[4xforfun]

I have no idea how one would test . You would need to stress relieve the tube. Which process changed the groups...the fluting, or the stress relief?

 

[FatBoy]

I have had several 6.5s, five fluted and five or six un-fluted. I can't see any difference in accuracy, but then 100% of the ammo was handloads developed for that barrel. I will say flutes sent a massive amount of barrel mirage into the scopes FOV, so I just buy medium or light Palma now and save the cost of fluting.

I'm with 4x. Not sure how you can test this scientifically. Too many variables introduced with the installation /deinstallation and new stress put on the metal when cut, as well as the possibility of changing the bore dimensions.

 

[mshelton]

Varmint Al has a ton of information about this on his site.

 

[savagedasher]

Varmint Al has a ton of information about this on his site.

Some is correct and some isn't. If you had a straight bore and the fluting was done exact. you should have a barrel that is stiffer with less weight. But you also have to take heat factor in it. If the flute is close to the bore on one side then the other. The metal will expand at a different rate on the thin side then the thick.
Larry

 

[CatShooter]

If you remove metal, the barrel cannot be stiffer - it is impossible.

 

[savagedasher]

If you remove metal, the barrel cannot be stiffer - it is impossible.

You have more external surface area on a fluted barrel and the ridges make it stiffer. Larry

 

[hogpatrol]

 

[Scott Harris]

http://precisionrifleblog.com/?s=fluting

Summary, AI performed testing and determining fluting adversely affects accuracy. As a result, they no longer offer fluted barrels as an option. Additionally, 49 out of 50 top-ranked long-range tactical competitors do NOT use fluted barrels. This is the community where you expect fluting to be widely used.....not by the top shots though

 

[CatShooter]

If you remove metal, the barrel cannot be stiffer - it is impossible.

You have more external surface area on a fluted barrel and the ridges make it stiffer. Larry

Then they should remove much more metal, and make the flutes much deeper.... the barrel will be soooooooo stiff, it would win every match in the country

People have tested this stuff, and it does nothing (except lighten your wallet a little)... and it does nothing for cooling.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[Sniper338]

If you remove metal, the barrel cannot be stiffer - it is impossible.

AGREE 100,000%%%%!!!!!!!

 

[Sniper338]

All fluting is is a cosmetic cool look....

 

[chkunz]

If you remove metal, the barrel cannot be stiffer - it is impossible.

Any second year mechanical engineering student will agree.

 

[savagedasher]

Varmint Al has it covered .Reducing the weight of a barrel by fluting makes a stiffer barrel then reducing the weight by decreasing the diameter. Larry

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Varmint Al has it covered .Reducing the weight of a barrel by fluting makes a stiffer barrel then reducing the weight by decreasing the diameter. Larry

Larry, that is correct. Fluting makes a stiffer barrel than and un fluted barrel of the same weight.

 

[CatShooter]

Varmint Al has it covered .Reducing the weight of a barrel by fluting makes a stiffer barrel then reducing the weight by decreasing the diameter. Larry

If you actually weigh the metal removed in fluting, it amounts to pixie dust.

But feel free to spend your monay anyway you like.

 

[CB11WYO]

To settle the "Stiffness" debate...

2 barrels of the same outside DIAMETER... one fluted, one not, the UN-FLUTED one will be stiffer.
2 barrels of the same WEIGHT... one fluted, one not, the FLUTED one will be stiffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMwCXO2gbU

 

[savagedasher]

To settle the "Stiffness" debate...

2 barrels of the same outside DIAMETER... one fluted, one not, the UN-FLUTED one will be stiffer.
2 barrels of the same WEIGHT... one fluted, one not, the FLUTED one will be stiffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMwCXO2gbU

NO 2 is correct. Larry

 

[tdogg]

To settle the "Stiffness" debate...

2 barrels of the same outside DIAMETER... one fluted, one not, the UN-FLUTED one will be stiffer.
2 barrels of the same WEIGHT... one fluted, one not, the FLUTED one will be stiffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMwCXO2gbU

2 barrels of the same weight and length... one fluted, one not, the fluted one will be stiffer

Essentially the only way it weighs the same is because the outer diameter is increased to match the mass. Moving the barrel material farther from the bore will increase the barrel stiffness. Look at an I-Beam used in building construction, most of the mass is at the top and bottom plates and generally the rib connecting the top and bottom is less substantial.

I have a hard time believing that fluted barrel doesn't cool faster? I guess I'd have to look at the amount of heat and the dominant mode of heat transfer. I guess considering there isn't a constant heat source maybe having a more massive barrel is enough to dampen the effects of the short pulses of heat? Until you saturate the barrel the fluting isn't helping?

Cheers,
Toby

 

[CatShooter]

I have a hard time believing that fluted barrel doesn't cool faster? I guess I'd have to look at the amount of heat and the dominant mode of heat transfer.

Cheers,
Toby

Exactly, what is the increase in surface area on a fluted barrel??